QuestionQUESTION: Dear Tom,
You just answered a similar question as this one around Aug 12.
Over the past year and one half/two years we've noticed a tablespoon amount of red coolant fluid under our car when parked in the garage.
Since that time I had it in for the leaking fluid and they replaced the pump and did an oil line change (when they thought it was oil-- which it wasn't)
Today the "Check Coolant" light came on, and when taken in to the dealer they found the coolant level was low and the local dealer say "we need to replace the head gaskets-- which would run $3500-4000". And they were anxious to show us the used cars on their lot.
About 9 months or so ago the coolant light also came on, it was topped off by the dealer at that time. We have had no problem with the light coming on until now. It has not been running rough or having trouble starting.
I don't have much confidence in our dealer. Since we first took the problem of fluid drips under the car to them, we've gone to Arizona and back, and several other long trips. So I'm wondering if given the small amount of leak showing under the car, and the long time between "Check Coolant Light" warnings, is it possible the leak is so gradual that all we need to do is start paying periodic attention to the coolant level-- instead of relying on the coolant warning light, and continue to drive the car as we have been doing for almost two years?
Or is a catastrophic failure likely to be just around the corner for our vehicle?
Thanks for your advice.
ANSWER: Parts failures can happen tomorrow or not for 5 years. You never know. Just keep the fluids topped off and watch for a larger leak to develop then fix it.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: We have a fellow in another town who we trust.. is there some type of compression test or something which could tell us how substantial any gasket leak might be? And what do you think of using the "sealers" which are advertised. Do they work, or instead do any harm?
AnswerDo NOT use any type of sealer. When you change the anti-freeze at the recommenede intervals you add 3 sealant pellets to the anti-freeze per the manufacturers instructions. If you go adding a different type of sealant you can over load the system with sealant and start plugging up the coolant channels.
Are you POSITIVE that your leak is anti-freeze ?. If you are, Install a RADIATOR PRESSURE TESTER in place of the radiator cap and pump the recommended amount of pressure as stated on the radiator into the system via the radiator pressure tester and start looking for leaks.
