So, just as the title says, i found a puddle under my truck thats a slightly orange/light yellow color but mostly clear. heres what i know so far about it:

-it tastes like coolant (sweet)

-It only leaks when the engine is cold, and stops leaking when its hot

-Its leaking from a heater hose plastic "T" connector where the two hoses coming out of the firewall (look like they go to my heater core) and another hose coming down from my engine block (right behind my alternator) where all those hoses meet at the "T" is where its leaking from.

-The hoses are warm once the engine has been running (makes me think its coolant hoses.)

-The hoses look KIND OF swollen and the clamps are corroded on all of them at that "T" connector.

-My coolant overflow tank was empty when i noticed the leak.

Oh, my truck is a 1998 2.5L SOHC

Anybody have any advice? What it is that could be causing the leak or best way to fix it? Thanks.

 

Sounds life your heater core is leaking and might be causing your hoses to swell up. If you don't use much heat you can bypass it for now.

 

sorry, re-read your post and noticed you said its leaking from the T. just go to your friendly neighborhood auto store and get a new T and might wanna get new heater hoses while your at it.

 

Rust in your coolant or deposits, possible leak location, your supply hose to heater block?

I know jack about heating or A/C systems, hopefully someone knowledgeable will chime in soon.

 

you tasted it....?

 

Yeah really you tasted it...???

 

Sorry I didn't reply sooner, I had to go bang my head on the wall. Do you often taste puddles of yellow liquids on the ground???

None the less, replace the T and the hose clamps. If the hoses are failing, you should replace those too. Lots of coolant will spill when you do this. Please do not lick it up. I suggest using a container of some kind and then bring it for proper disposal.

 

Off topic but I have heard that fire stations will take old coolant. Is this true or am I thinking old gas?

 

Neither. That may be something one town somewhere did sometime as a community service. It sure isn't a regular thing. If someone brought a container of crap gas to our station, I'd point them to the nearest hazwaste place.

 

Thanks for the info. The reason I ask is because I need to change the coolant in my truck but I'm not sure where to take it.

 

First call the town public works or dump. Sometimes they have collection there. Then try your local water company, they may know where you can take it. Yellow pages under hazardous waste or something maybe.

Or just pour it on the ground and some goof will lick it up.

 

The neighbor's dog. LOL

 

lol yeah i dabbed my finger in it and tasted it then spit it out, tasted just like coolant...(Im sure that will end up as someones sig now hahahah)

 

Man I when I first started reading this thread, the first few responses said nothing about the fact he tasted the mysterious fluid on the ground. I thought I was going to be the first to realize this problem lol


Is this a candidate for the Darwin Awards? I think so!


aahahah (no offense Lance)

 

um gas is flammable....learn the match throwing trick and have a bon fire. Gas problem SOLVED!

 

hahaha its all good.

So, everyone agree just to replace the coolant T connector and the hose clamps?

 

So? I eat yellow snow....

 

if you want i can make you some.. i got snow and well lets just say yellow is limitless.

 

The hardest I laughed in a long time. Especially at 6:30 am!

 

Back on topic
Isn't that "T" in the hose actually a valve that is controlled at the heater panel ?

 

Bingo

Upon closer inspection (in actual daylight when i could see something) it was the Heater Valve, I replaced it and now theres no leak....But now my check engine light is on.....any reason why this could be? (i removed my intake tube and unplugged the 1 sensor on it....no, not the MAF sensor the one closer to the throttle body.) so other than the engine light being on because of that one sensor being unplugged for about 10 minutes, why would my light be on?

 

Get the code read and see what it is. If someone lives near you with a Scanguage you can use it to read the code.

 

Yeah i dont have one and Autozone doesnt loan them out anymore....i was just there haha.



I still havent replaced my motor mount either christian haha

 

Nice. Well I have a scanguage but I'm not usually in that area. Well I will be for the meet.

 

which meet?