Antifreeze Leak

Driving a car without the required amount of coolant in it is like calling for a disaster. It is bound to result in damage to the engine of the car, and hence is best avoided. The moment you see any warning signs of antifreeze leak, you should stop the car and fix the problem. These warning signs may include soaring temperature beneath the hood, (which would obviously reflect on the temperature gauge), steam coming from the hood, and of course warning lights indicating trouble.

What is Antifreeze?
In order to put it in the simplest words possible, the definition of antifreeze would be 'a liquid added to water in the cooling system of the vehicle, in order to lower its freezing point'. Also known as coolant, antifreeze is basically a cryoprotectant used in a range of heat transfer applications, to ensure that the enclosures are not subjected to any sort of physical stress as a result of expansion that takes place when water turns to ice. Interestingly enough, antifreeze has a lower freezing point and a higher boiling point, when compared to water. Antifreezes are most often made from some compound of ethylene. It also as corrosion inhibitors in it, specifically to ensure that the various components of the engine are not subjected to corrosion.

What is it Used for?
In our day-to-day life, we use antifreeze as an additive in the radiator of the vehicle, mainly to make sure that the engine doesn't get damaged due to over heating. In vehicles with an internal combustion engine, the antifreeze draws of the excess heat from the system, to ensure that the engine doesn't overheat while the vehicle is in motion. Using antifreeze with water ensures that the liquid mixture doesn't freeze and flows through the internal combustion engine smoothly. one of the best example of antifreeze used in cars is glycol, a thick, colorless liquid, produced artificially from certain ethylene compounds.

How Can You Diagnose if it is Leaking?
Antifreeze leak can be internal as well as external. In case of an internal leak, there are significant chances that the problem might be something major, such as a cranked engine block, and you may require to toe the car to the mechanic to fix it. On the other hand, external leak is much more easy to diagnose and attend to. Determining the spot from where antifreeze is leaking can be of great help in diagnosing the problem. If it is leaking from the back of the engine, the chances are that the problem lies with freeze plug, and replacing it with a new one will serve the purpose. On the other hand, if it is leaking under car, it may be a sign of damaged lower hose, and you will have to try to fix this damage.

How Can Antifreeze Leak be Fixed?
The simplest possible problem that you can face in terms of external leaks is a bad radiator cap, which has lost the ability to curb the flow of liquid. In such a case, replacing it with a new one is enough to solve the problem. But if you are not lucky enough, the problem may be with the radiator hoses, or the radiator in itself. There are significant chances that your antifreeze leak can be traced to a crack or split in the radiator hoses or a loose hose clamp. In case of a crack or split, you will notice a fountain of liquid oozing out from the spot. In such a case, you will require to replace the damaged hose, either upper hose or lower hose, with a new one. You may also require to replace hose clamps, which tend to get weakened with time, and can't handle the pressure of the steam.

If the problem persists with the radiator itself, you can resort to some readily available additives, which need to be poured into the radiator to fix pinhole radiator leaks. You need to keep in mind though, that this is just a temporary solution. These pinhole leaks are in fact the proof that excessive wear and tear has left your radiator unsuitable, and it has to be changed at the earliest. Lastly, a crack in the overflow reservoir can also cause the coolant to leak. In this case, you will have to fix this crack - ideally with some adhesive, or replace it with a new one.

In terms of money and efforts, fixing antifreeze leaks by initiating timely repair is much more convenient than repairing any damage caused to the engine. In case of internal leaks, which may require professional interference, you may have to shell out around $1000 or so. However, external leaks would be relatively inexpensive to attend to, and more importantly, you can do it on your own.