How to Diagnose an Engine Coolant Leak

If your car is leaking something you are unsure of, take a few minutes to check the liquids. Keeping an eye on your vehicle's internal temperature preserves engine longevity. Read on to learn how to diagnose an engine coolant leak.

Instructions

1. Coolant is combustible. Check the coolant levels in your vehicle when it is cool. If the engine is hot, it could explode coolant when you open the cap.

2. Find the reservoir marked coolant under the hood. Look on the side of it for a fill line. It usually says 'cold level' or has a mark where the level must be when the engine has cooled.

3. Add a little coolant to the fill line, and look for any coolant in the overflow chamber located below the reservoir.

4. Look back under the hood in a day or two to see if the coolant level has gone down again. If it has a leak is a possible cause.

5. Keep an eye on your temperature gauge. A car loosing coolant runs hotter than normal. If there is an unusual odor or smoke, that is also an indicator of trouble with the coolant. Get the car to a shop for further inspection.

6. Note any spills or leaks under the places you park. When you see a puddle of green colored fluid it is typically a leak. Wave your hand six inches from the puddle to smell it. Coolant has a smell that some describe as sulfur or sweet.

7. Listen for a whistling sound. An engine leaking coolant may make a high pitched boiling sound.

Tips & Warnings

• Coolant is usually added with the same amount of water. In a pinch, you may be able add water to get you down the road a few miles.

• Clean up coolant leaks immediately. The liquid is hazardous to animals and people if ingested. Sprinkle dry cat litter on the spill to soak up as much as possible before scrubbing with soapy water.