How to detect a coolant leak and determine the cause?

Determining the leak

First, you need to understand that an antifreeze leak is most often just a symptom of more serious problems. Therefore, you should pay attention to the following points:

1. Puddles and stains under the car. It is worth noting that this is not always a sign of a leak - in the summer, when the air conditioner is running, condensation comes out

2. Increased humidity in the cabin. Wet dashboard, interior trim, floor mats. At the same time, the smell of antifreeze is felt, and the liquid itself is oily to the touch.

3. Engine overheating, steam from the expansion tank

4. White exhaust color

5. A drop in the liquid level in the expansion tank; also, leaks often cause the coolant to foam.

6. Cold air when the stove is on.

The most common reasons

Most often, the cause of a leak is a banal seal failure. Broken expansion tank, hoses, radiator and pumps. Signs of such a leak are a drop in the level of antifreeze, at which point the interior is dry, there is no smell, and the engine does not overheat

If, along with a drop in the level of coolant in the cabin, a smell appears, and the carpets and interior surfaces become covered with an oily film, but the engine does not overheat, then the problem is in the radiator of the heating system.

Finally, if in addition to the previous problems there is overheating of the engine, white smoke from the exhaust system and foam in the expansion tank, a white coating on the spark plugs and an emulsion on the oil dipstick, then the reason is antifreeze getting into the engine. It should be noted that not all signs may be present, but even if one of them is added to overheating, this is a reason for a serious check.