Coolant leak
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: ontario
Coolant leak
Hi everyone, I have an interesting problem with my 77. Living up here in Ontario my car has been garage bound, but when I start it I get more than a little coolant leaking from what looks like the end of the lower rad hose that attaches to the engine. The thing is after the car warms up the coolant stops leaking. Has this happened to anyone else? 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 34
From: Ontario
Check the clamps on both ends of the hose are tight , also check the weep hole on the underside of the pump . If the clamps are tight you could remove the hose , clean the inside of the hose and the matinig surfaces on the rad and pump . Apply some gasket sealer to the inside of the hose and re-install it .
Bill
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
Replace the clamp. Buddy of mine chased a similar leak for months. Tightened the (worm-gear) clamp many times. Finally pulled the clamp to find the strap was damaged and tightening was not effective. New clamp solved the problem.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
"Hat" clamps take much lower torque than band clamps. If you overtighten, both will fail and start slipping.
With engine OFF, clean and dry everything in that area so that you can see where the leak is actually initiating. Then, have someone start the car while you are under that area watching for it.
It's nearly impossible to fix a leak (oil, water, etc.) if you can't find EXACTLY where it starts.
With engine OFF, clean and dry everything in that area so that you can see where the leak is actually initiating. Then, have someone start the car while you are under that area watching for it.
It's nearly impossible to fix a leak (oil, water, etc.) if you can't find EXACTLY where it starts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
While making sure the clamps are correctly tightened, never assume a leak is coming from the exact location you see the coolant. Pressure test the system, see if it holds pressure and look for the leak.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: ontario
Thanks to all who have responded, I have removed and replaced two other hoses that looked pretty narly. one was the transmission line that goes to the rad and im not sure what the other was called but it connected to the rad as well. I also replaced the lower rad hose but haven't finished getting it on. very tight fit to the bottom of the rad. I will let you know if that turned out to be the leak..... Thanks again
