Engine Coolant (antifreeze) Leak
#1
Engine Coolant (antifreeze) Leak
I noticed some white smoke coming out from under the hood with hissing sound when I parked the car on Saturday night. In the morning when I checked, found there was green liquid under the hood all over the engine. So I test drove it for a mile or so and then I noticed that if I give a lot of gas the engine was making a strange grinding noise. So I slowed down and noticed the engine was heating up like crazy! Brought it back home just in time because white smoke was coming out of the hood.
Somewhere in the forum I found many had experienced this (http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=483756). Further I found that the leak is from the upper hose of the radiator right under the clamps near the engine. I tried the local Advance Auto Parts store but they gave a bigger S shaped hose. Doesn't seem to match. Is anyone selling this here? Or does anyone know from where can I get a new one? I am assuming the hose should be under $15.
I will try some duct tape first before finding a permanent solution. I would appreciate if someone can give good advise or share their experience.
Thanks in advance.
Somewhere in the forum I found many had experienced this (http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=483756). Further I found that the leak is from the upper hose of the radiator right under the clamps near the engine. I tried the local Advance Auto Parts store but they gave a bigger S shaped hose. Doesn't seem to match. Is anyone selling this here? Or does anyone know from where can I get a new one? I am assuming the hose should be under $15.
I will try some duct tape first before finding a permanent solution. I would appreciate if someone can give good advise or share their experience.
Thanks in advance.
#2
I have a 92 SE but basically the same setup.
I bought my upper hose from Autozone ($9) and it didn't really fit too well. Haven't replaced the bottom hose yet but I think I'll get that from Nissan.
Duct tape should work okay until you get a replacement. I'd go with Nissan OEM replacement, which should be about $15.
I bought my upper hose from Autozone ($9) and it didn't really fit too well. Haven't replaced the bottom hose yet but I think I'll get that from Nissan.
Duct tape should work okay until you get a replacement. I'd go with Nissan OEM replacement, which should be about $15.
#4
Originally Posted by MyGreenMax94
Try napa for the hose...They seem to be a little better with getting the right parts for the maxima...
Tip: Take the old hose to the store so you can match it with their part...![Smilie](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Tip: Take the old hose to the store so you can match it with their part...
![Smilie](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
![Oh noes](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/ohnoes.gif)
#7
Thanks for the response guys. Well, I am not too sure about which is upper or lowe hose! In a parts store (online) I saw lower hose more like what I needed. My belief was lower hose is the toughest one to reach and upper hose is right on top. Anyway, I took a photo of the hose in question so my next trip to the store will be easier. Sure, I have NAPA and OEM in my mind.
#9
For now the duct-tape is holding it (barely). Got the part from Nissan shop for $20. Didn't want to drive around for cheaper one (for NAPA there was a wait of 3 or 4 days, but only $16). Is there anything special that I should be doing when installing it? Adhesives etc?
#10
Originally Posted by mukundan
For now the duct-tape is holding it (barely). Got the part from Nissan shop for $20. Didn't want to drive around for cheaper one (for NAPA there was a wait of 3 or 4 days, but only $16). Is there anything special that I should be doing when installing it? Adhesives etc?
No adhesives,just transfer the clamps to the new hose and tighten them up..
![Smilie](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#11
sorry to ask a dumb question...but:
i bought a 91 maxima and replaced the coolant in my car (without flushing the system) for the first time. - the coolant went a milky brown colour within a few days. this means the radiator is probably rusty right??
additionally - after the car has been on the top hose from the thermostat down to the top of the radiator is always quite hot - but the bottom of the radiator is never anything but ice cold. i'm worried the cooling system is about to kill this car. any advice??
i bought a 91 maxima and replaced the coolant in my car (without flushing the system) for the first time. - the coolant went a milky brown colour within a few days. this means the radiator is probably rusty right??
additionally - after the car has been on the top hose from the thermostat down to the top of the radiator is always quite hot - but the bottom of the radiator is never anything but ice cold. i'm worried the cooling system is about to kill this car. any advice??
#12
Originally Posted by yesterday'shero
sorry to ask a dumb question...but:
i bought a 91 maxima and replaced the coolant in my car (without flushing the system) for the first time. - the coolant went a milky brown colour within a few days. this means the radiator is probably rusty right??
additionally - after the car has been on the top hose from the thermostat down to the top of the radiator is always quite hot - but the bottom of the radiator is never anything but ice cold. i'm worried the cooling system is about to kill this car. any advice??
i bought a 91 maxima and replaced the coolant in my car (without flushing the system) for the first time. - the coolant went a milky brown colour within a few days. this means the radiator is probably rusty right??
additionally - after the car has been on the top hose from the thermostat down to the top of the radiator is always quite hot - but the bottom of the radiator is never anything but ice cold. i'm worried the cooling system is about to kill this car. any advice??
#15
Originally Posted by yesterday'shero
sorry to ask a dumb question...but:
i bought a 91 maxima and replaced the coolant in my car (without flushing the system) for the first time. - the coolant went a milky brown colour within a few days. this means the radiator is probably rusty right??
additionally - after the car has been on the top hose from the thermostat down to the top of the radiator is always quite hot - but the bottom of the radiator is never anything but ice cold. i'm worried the cooling system is about to kill this car. any advice??
i bought a 91 maxima and replaced the coolant in my car (without flushing the system) for the first time. - the coolant went a milky brown colour within a few days. this means the radiator is probably rusty right??
additionally - after the car has been on the top hose from the thermostat down to the top of the radiator is always quite hot - but the bottom of the radiator is never anything but ice cold. i'm worried the cooling system is about to kill this car. any advice??
Sounds like your thermostat is not opening up. open the valve(peacock) at the bottom of the radiator to drain the brown liquid, and flush it clean. Close the valve, fill it with clean water and let the engine run. This will get some of the brown stuff from the engine. You will most likely have to drain the brown stuff from the radiator again. Once u bleed the system, then check the temperature of both hose a normal operating engine temperature.
Forgot to ask, you check the temperature of both hose at normal operating engine temperature, right?
#16
I installed the new hose and it is working great now! I have to top it off with some coolant mixture now. Since the 90K servicing had taken care of flushing the system, coolant is pretty clean (it is now 95K). Now I have to clean up the mess this leak created. I guess a wet towel would do it.
Thanks to you all for helping!
Thanks to you all for helping!
#17
Originally Posted by phat
Sounds like your thermostat is not opening up.
...Forgot to ask, you check the temperature of both hose at normal operating engine temperature, right?
...Forgot to ask, you check the temperature of both hose at normal operating engine temperature, right?
i think the thermostat is (sometimes) working because the top hose between it and the radiator is often very hot. the bottom of the radiator is always very cold even when i have been driving in very hot weather.
i will flush the system and put in a new thermostat and see what happens. just seems strange though.
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