5 days ago when I checked the oil, my coolant reservoir level was fine. Then 2 days ago I started to smell coolant and today I checked it and the reservoir was empty! The only evidence I could see was a little puddle on the splash panel under the rad BUT I just had the car running held at 2500 RPM for 5 min and nothing could be found (yes I topped up the reservoir first).

Putting a new rad in the car is no problem but I'd hate to put one in and find out it was something else, like a 10 cent hose or something.

Anyone had a coolant leak where it also puddled in the plastic panel below the rad?

Here is a bad picture...

Behind the Rad


Front of rad

 

To really check how much coolant is in the engine, you remove the cap from the radiator and look inside. You don't want to do this when the engine is hot, you wait until the engine is cold. The radiator should be full all the way to the top.

Adding coolant to the overflow tank doesn't help an overheating engine to run cooler because the coolant in the overflow tank is not in the engine where it is needed. But the engine will suck the coolant out of the overflow tank when you shut off the enginge and it cools.

It seems that a common place for a coolant leak is the top corner of the radiator on the driver's side where the hose attaches to it. The seal between the plastic tank and the aluminum core section likes to leak. So look around in that area for a leak. It usually appears as a whiteish coating once the coolant dries.

 

look at the picture in front of radiator, u see that metal piece that is covered in white crud? im pretty sure thats dried up coolant doing that, ur radiator is done. this is what i believe, go to www.rockauto.com and get the TYC radiator, best $60 i ever spent !! might as well get the top and bottom radiator hoses just in case.

 

Yep, it was the rad. Split apart and was spraying coolant out at the top in the spot where the Nissan logo was. Just had a new one put in.