So you’re traveling down the freeway and suddenly you see a big cloud of steam coming out from under your hood. It is important to keep calm in this situation and get to a safe area where you can shut the vehicle off then get it towed to the nearest repair facility in order to avoid any damage to the engine.
I know, the last thing you want now is to have to pay a tow fee. Keep in mind however that this is a small cost compared to a hefty repair bill from a severely overheated engine. After the leak has been properly diagnosed and repaired, your vehicle will be back on the road in no time.
There are really only a few number of ways your vehicle could be losing coolant.
The first is that the coolant is leaking externally. Over time rubber hoses, plastic components or gaskets start to fail from wear and tear and allow coolant to leak. You may start to notice small drips or puddles when the car has been sitting for a while.
Another way coolant is lost is the radiator cap can no longer handle the pressure of the cooling system. When the cap fails and can’t hold pressure, coolant will boil and usually leak out from the radiator cap.
Last but not least, it can be leaking internally and burning out through the combustion chamber. This will also cause a noticeable difference in how the engine runs, in that it will either no run correctly, overheat or cause excessive white smoke exiting the tail pipe. This type of leak can also be the most costly, and is usually a result of running the engine too long while it is overheating.
Not all coolant leaks happen suddenly, but it doesn’t mean you should put a coolant leak off until it is too late. Always make sure your vehicle has enough coolant because it is vital to it’s proper day to day operation. If you do not know how to check, the good folks here at MR Auto SD are here to help educate you or help you with your repair needs. Feel free to stop by or give us a ring!
