Fluid Leak
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 35
From: LaUgH, mOrE!
Difficult to tell from the photo, but looks greenish - like coolant. See if it has a 'sweet' smell and feels like water, not thin oil like.
If it's coolant, check around your radiator hose connections, around the thermostat housing (possible gasket failure), and around the hoses to/from the heater core.
If it's coolant, check around your radiator hose connections, around the thermostat housing (possible gasket failure), and around the hoses to/from the heater core.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 192
Likes: 54
Difficult to tell from the photo, but looks greenish - like coolant. See if it has a 'sweet' smell and feels like water, not thin oil like.
If it's coolant, check around your radiator hose connections, around the thermostat housing (possible gasket failure), and around the hoses to/from the heater core.
If it's coolant, check around your radiator hose connections, around the thermostat housing (possible gasket failure), and around the hoses to/from the heater core.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 192
Likes: 54
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 1,213
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
Jack it up (support with jack stands!) and get under there with a light. Then you'll know where it's coming from.
Last edited by resdoggie; Feb 6, 2016 at 01:52 PM.
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Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Different engine fluids SHOULD be different colors, different viscosities, and have different smells/tastes. Get some on your finger and smell it...taste it, if necessary. (Note: Wash hands first!)
Then, get a bit of the 'known' stuff out of a fluid reservoir and compare it. Should be easy to determine what it is.
P.S. Observing what component is just above that leak is NOT a good method for determining where it came from.
Then, get a bit of the 'known' stuff out of a fluid reservoir and compare it. Should be easy to determine what it is.
P.S. Observing what component is just above that leak is NOT a good method for determining where it came from.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Feb 6, 2016 at 06:42 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 192
Likes: 54
Different engine fluids SHOULD be different colors, different viscosities, and have different smells/tastes. Get some on your finger and smell it...taste it, if necessary. (Note: Wash hands first!)
Then, get a bit of the 'known' stuff out of a fluid reservoir and compare it. Should be easy to determine what it is.
P.S. Observing what component is just above that leak is NOT a good method for determining where it came from.
Then, get a bit of the 'known' stuff out of a fluid reservoir and compare it. Should be easy to determine what it is.
P.S. Observing what component is just above that leak is NOT a good method for determining where it came from.
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 1,213
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
Seems to be is not a guarantee. Wipe all the fluid off the end cap and the rest of the control valve and take a quick scoot. Check for signs of fluid. I just rebuilt my valve yesterday, lol. Mine was leaking a fair bit and it was coming from the cap. The rubber seals inside had hardened with age and weren't sealing anymore. It's not leaking now!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 192
Likes: 54
Seems to be is not a guarantee. Wipe all the fluid off the end cap and the rest of the control valve and take a quick scoot. Check for signs of fluid. I just rebuilt my valve yesterday, lol. Mine was leaking a fair bit and it was coming from the cap. The rubber seals inside had hardened with age and weren't sealing anymore. It's not leaking now!