Coolant leaking from front Left (Drivers side)

[Hot-Rod]

G'day people,

was driving along at 6am this morning when suddenly the HOT sign came up and the temp gauage was on max. Pulled over.

Then had a closer inspection and saw this:

This is a picture of under the front of the car on the drivers side looking up at the bottom of the radiator. I touched the top radiator pipe that runs into the top of the engine, it was extremely hot but the rest of the pipes were cold as it was like 10 degrees this morning.

Wondering if anyone else has ever had the same problem? The weird thing is i drove the car for 4 minutes it continued to heat up and then it came down to normal temp, i stopped and looked but no coolant leaking.

This after noon same thing, the temp gauge went high, pulled up looked turned off and back on, no leak and normal temp.

Whats the issue people? advice sought, cheers.

[accentstencil]

Possibly a leaking radiator or a loose hose clamp.

[BOGANV8]

I dont knkow if the v6 do it but in my v8 the radiator split down the side of the tank... And would also leak only under pressure needle would move and then i would stop switch off then on again all good....

drive home and it woudl drip drip then in 2 hrs or so it would not be dripping.....

Run the car till op temp and have a look down the battery side of the radiator and you will prob see a split expanding

[pablo]

Sounds to me as if the thermostat is holding closed, over heating the coolant and raising the system pressure till a crack opens up in the radiator. Thermostat then opens and all is normal again. Had my right side tank split last year. Radiator repair bloke said he was allways replacing R/H tanks.(hot side) Lift radiator out and get it pressure tested.

Pablo

[Hot-Rod]

Sounds to me as if the thermostat is holding closed, over heating the coolant and raising the system pressure till a crack opens up in the radiator. Thermostat then opens and all is normal again. Had my right side tank split last year. Radiator repair bloke said he was allways replacing R/H tanks.(hot side) Lift radiator out and get it pressure tested.

Pablo

Looks like Pablo was on the money, spoke to mechanic, he picked up on the problem, said its very common, occurs all the time.

Mechanic quoted $400 with everything included, bit pricey,

Spose its better then Holden Suttons parts radiator by its self $390 with no install hahaha.

[vxcalais_01]

Thats too expensive shop around, not even NAtrad are that dear. You can get an approved radiator from around $280-$300.

[vxcalais_01]

That includes fitting flush and fill. Theres alot of competition now since the cheap **** taiwanese radiators hit the market and they are crap. But now the others, Calsonic etc have come down to try and match the cheapies.

[chargedvx6]

I'd be tipping a seperated plastic end tank. If you want to suss it more take of the radiator cover and you will get a better view of the radiator.

I had this problem for a month then one day I woke up and was going to the shops only to find all of my coolant on the driveway.

Make sure you do the thermostat at the same time as the radiator.

[pablo]

When my R/H tank split, the local radiator repair shop charged me $140 to fit a new tank. I removed and replaced the radiator myself.
Then I found out after that I could buy a new radiator complete for $170 from a mate who has a small repair shop.(and he would still be making his cut) I am of the understanding that the one offered was an Adrad brand, locally assembled. From memory the replaced tank had Adrad brand on it. Don't know where the core is made, or the tanks?..probably in China, like everything else!
Pablo

[Cursed CX8]

i bought an entire new radiator for $112. Then installed it in about 1 hour