How To Identify A Lexus Coolant Leak
The coolant in your Lexus vehicle is important in preventing your engine from overheating, so it is crucial to identify any leaks as soon as possible before it causes bigger, more costly problems. If your coolant is low due to a leak, it can turn too hot, affecting both its fuel consumption and performance. Your engine could even overheat, resulting in expensive and permanent damage. Here are some tips on how to identify Lexus coolant leaks so you can save on problems down the road!
Signs of a Leak
If you notice a sweet smell coming from your vehicle after driving, you might want to check for any potential coolant leaks. Antifreeze – a part of the coolent, are dyed certain colors to distinguish coolants from other fluids. So if you notice puddles of pink, orange, lime-green, or blue-green under the car when you have parked, that is a sure sign that your car is suffering from a coolant leak.
How to Check if You have a Coolant Leak
Below is a step-by-step guide to checking if your vehicle is suffering from a coolant leak.
- Fully warm up your car by driving, then park on dry, clean pavement. For example, your driveway.
- Shut the car off and allow the vehicle to cool down for 15 minutes or more.
- Check under your car for any puddles of fluid that are the color of antifreeze.
- If there are none but the smell of antifreeze is present, check if any parts are damp or covered in liquid by kneeling down and inspecting the vehicle’s underside.
It is vital to let your car cool sufficiently as when the vehicle is running, the coolant is under pressure and at boiling temperature. Remove the recovery-tank cap or radiator cap under the hood before the car has cooled could result in injury. Note that the air conditioning systems in your vehicle can also form condensation that drips onto the ground. However, you can identify the difference between condensation and antifreeze through its color. Condensation is pure water and thus will appear clear.
How to Identify its Source
If you’ve ascertained a coolant leak, it is time to identify the source of the leak.
- Lift up the hood of your vehicle and check the engine bay.
- Examine the engine bay to check for any coolant leaks – look out for a light-colored stain or residue on the radiator, on hoses in the engine compartment including the endings clamped to other segments, and around the radiator cap.
If you spot coolant around the hose around a clamp, the solution is simple: whip out the toolbox and tighten the clamp with a screwdriver. However, if there are no noticeable indications of leakage, examine the rest of the engine compartment to check if the coolant is leaking from elsewhere.
If the aroma of antifreeze is more noticeable inside your car, the leak could come from the heater. Leaks from the heater core are notoriously hard to find and even more challenging to fix as the heater is concealed behind the instrument panel.
Thus, unless you are a mechanic yourself, Prestige Lexus offers an award-winning Lexus service and repair department to fix any coolant leaks or other servicing and repairs your Lexus might need. Contact us to find out more!