I checked the fluid yesterday and it is red, so I will get some matching coolant.

Rather than a leak, my first guess is that a while back when I was replacing the valve cover gaskets, I broke one of the brittle small rubber hoses and coolant leaked out. I replaced it with a metal gas line that I shaped and connected.

A few days ago while replacing the air filter, I broke the other rubber tube and put another metal gas line in place. The good news, had I not done this, raising the expansion tank up with brittle tubes would surely have snapped one or more. On the other hand, the metal tubes are less flexible and it will be harder to raise the tank up very high to bleed.

I am hoping I lost the fluid when I snapped these brittle tubes, because there is still a little fluid in the expansion tank.

 

What? What? What?


Get rid of the metal lines and just buy yourself some rubber hose from auto parts store. You need to get that coolant out and put in green its much more user friendly and less corrosive.

You can take the garden hose and spray off your motor or even the power scrub at the car wash, you need to get any leaking coolant stopped and please for your sake go with rubber lines and not metal. There will be other times where you will need to have the flexibility of a rubber line or hose.

The cooling system is very complex and you reservoir need to be full at all times or your risking a toasted motor and without a ultra gauge or similar it will be to late once you find out you have over heated.

 

Sure, I would be happy to get some rubber lines.

I do not see any coolant leaking. When I broke the brittle lines some coolant leaked, then I cleaned it up. I have no other visible signs of a leak. I do not think I have a leak. I'll re-fill the system and see if I lose any to know for sure.

Thanks!
Jamie

 

Okay great keep a close eye on everything until your sure. Get in the habit of opening the hood once a week to look things over. Green coolant will be easier for you to maintain!

 

I just read on another post that I can use 5/16" heater hose to replace my brittle tubing that broke.

I'll replace that today and ditch the fuel line tubing.

 

OK, update with a couple questions please:
1) I went to AutoZone last night to get some Red antifreeze. All they had was "Safe to mix with all colors." I did not buy this. I added about a quart of water to top up the expansion tank. I do not want to flush and replace with green right now. When I replace the tubing to the expansion tank, I will bleed the system. I called the Dealer, told them I had Red coolant and he said to just put Dexcool in it.

2) I want to replace the metal tubing I used to replace the 2 brittle tubes to/from the expansion tank that broke. I looked at 5/16" which was apparently the inner diameter. This is not a problem, but the existing tube is the diameter of a pencil and fits inside the connecter tubing. The new 5/16 has a larger outer diameter and will butt against the connecter tubing - requiring inside couplers.

Is that fine to just get hose couplers and go with 5/16 tubing for the coolant tubing?

Thanks!