Ugh, another coolant leak. <<<PICS>>>

SummerallGuard04

SummerallGuard04

New member
Ugh, another coolant leak (with PICS).

Hey guys,

As you all know, temperatures dropped this past weekend. Because so, I ran the compressor today with the heat and noticed a new leak coming from the radiator hose:

cool1.jpg~original

cool2.jpg~original

cool3.jpg~original


I tightened the clamp on the hose but it wasn't that loose. Maybe that will do the trick?

Also, I bought this truck over the summer and this was the first day that I had run the heat. Could that have anything to do with it?
 
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Running your heat won't have anything to do with it, coolant is always flowing through that hose, its the coolant return.

I might try moving that clamp closer towards the end of the hose, might give the clamp a little more bite
 
Since you bought this 4runner with low miles but it had been sitting for some time if I remember correctly, the hose may be dry rotted, to where there is a split in the hose. Or worse, there is a split at the radiator connector (although this usually happens up top) but not as likely.

If you have some radiator hose pliers, clamp the hose and pull it off for inspection without draining the coolant. Otherwise, bite the bullet by draining the radiator and then pulling the hose off.

Or, as Dous pointed out correctly, redo the clamp.
 
LittleCaesar said:
Since you bought this 4runner with low miles but it had been sitting for some time if I remember correctly, the hose may be dry rotted, to where there is a split in the hose. Or worse, there is a split at the radiator connector (although this usually happens up top) but not as likely.

If you have some radiator hose pliers, clamp the hose and pull it off for inspection without draining the coolant. Otherwise, bite the bullet by draining the radiator and then pulling the hose off.

Or, as Dous pointed out correctly, redo the clamp.
Click to expand...

You're spot on. Don't know why I haven't had problems with this until I ran the heat today--weird. That's a lower hose, not upper, right? It looks original; I might just go ahead and replace it. I actually don't have any radiator hose pliers. Probably gonna just do that and drain the coolant. *Noob question--If I drain, the coolant is coming from the radiator itself or the reserve?
 
Dous said:
Running your heat won't have anything to do with it, coolant is always flowing through that hose, its the coolant return.

I might try moving that clamp closer towards the end of the hose, might give the clamp a little more bite
Click to expand...

I'm gonna try moving the clamp first to see if I can get more bite out of it. Good point.
 
SummerallGuard04 said:
You're spot on. Don't know why I haven't had problems with this until I ran the heat today--weird. That's a lower hose, not upper, right? It looks original; I might just go ahead and replace it. I actually don't have any radiator hose pliers. Probably gonna just do that and drain the coolant. *Noob question--If I drain, the coolant is coming from the radiator itself or the reserve?
Click to expand...


The coolant would be coming from the radiator itself.

The best way to drain it is to go to the opposite side of the radiator from the hose in question, where you will find a drain plug, it's a white plastic piece. Just loosen it and the coolant will stream out into your bucket
 
Hose is bad. You need a new hose. $12 -$17 from the dealer. If you tight it too much, you might brake the plastic!
 
nissanh said:
Hose is bad. You need a new hose. $12 -$17 from the dealer. If you tight it too much, you might brake the plastic!
Click to expand...

Should I just go ahead and replace both upper and lower? Why not, right? Is one harder than the other to replace? I can reuse the same clamps, right? Anything else I would need other than the hoses?
 
Dous said:
The best way to drain it is to go to the opposite side of the radiator from the hose in question, where you will find a drain plug, it's a white plastic piece. Just loosen it and the coolant will stream out into your bucket
Click to expand...

Good looking out. Thanks. I probably would have just loosened the hose and had it spew out.
 
probably about the same price range at a parts house for the gates hoses.

bottom is probably a tad bit harder but nothing special.

when you open the petcock (the white plug) make sure to remove your radiator cap if you don't want to wait for it to slowly piddle out.
 
mikebontoft said:
probably about the same price range at a parts house for the gates hoses.

bottom is probably a tad bit harder but nothing special.

when you open the petcock (the white plug) make sure to remove your radiator cap if you don't want to wait for it to slowly piddle out.
Click to expand...
Good call. This is probably a good opportunity to do a coolant flush, huh?
 
Go for the flush and replace both hoses. It's affordable insurance and peace of mind. Yes, all those little parts add up, but its still cheaper than a new ride or overhaul. I try to do one thing at a time, as the pocket allows. Doing my plugs, the coolant and hoses.
 
yeah you might as well. as for coolant, I guess that's up to you. whatever it had in there works though. save some money though, get one bottle of straight coolant and fill it up with water after its empty. the system should take right about two gallons. and let it run with the cap off of course (to bleed the system). Never understood why people buy two gallons of 50/50. its twice the cost.

btw those yellow funnel coolant things are excellent for filling and bleeding.
 
mikebontoft said:
probably about the same price range at a parts house for the gates hoses.

bottom is probably a tad bit harder but nothing special.

when you open the petcock (the white plug) make sure to remove your radiator cap if you don't want to wait for it to slowly piddle out.
Click to expand...

by draining the radiator this way, will it also empty out the fluid in the overflow reservoir?
 
So, I tightened that clamp yesterday and power washed the underside earlier this am. I'm waiting for it to dry but, so far, that might have done the trick.

I did notice another wet spot (of course). It's not leaking but doesn't look that it's too far from progressing into a leak:

cool4-1.jpg~original


:ybrick:
 
SummerallGuard04 said:
Any recommendations on emptying the reservoir? Turkey baster?
Click to expand...

With my truck, I remove the battery holder and pull the reservoir out.. or take tubing and put it in, suck on the other end and drain it into a bucket.

Wait for the truck to cool down. Nobody likes scolding coolant. Change out all of your plumbing that connects to your radiator. Eliminate those problems. Get new clamps for the tubing. Good luck!



SummerallGuard04 said:
So, I tightened that clamp yesterday and power washed the underside earlier this am. I'm waiting for it to dry but, so far, that might have done the trick.

I did notice another wet spot (of course). It's not leaking but doesn't look that it's too far from progressing into a leak:

cool4-1.jpg~original


:ybrick:
Click to expand...

Did you circle the bracket that connects the alternator to the assembly? If so, theres nothing to leak from that area. Haha. It could just be leaking from the radiator onto that area. Or your engine cooling fan is blowing coolant all over your bay.
 
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