big coolant leak can't see from where?!

**ls1fan74** · 08-03-2009, 02:40 PM

Went to the bank (5 min drive) about an hour ago, on the way home cruising around 40 mph i smell coolant coming thru the vents, 10 seconds later the "Low Coolant" alert flashes-got it home (only 1 mile, temp gauge stayed put) to see dex-cool leaking from the left, middle and right side of the front bumper. Water pump and thermo look fine, but there's coolant splashed in the battery tray, some on the pass. side manifold and hoses etc....what happened?!

Front of car (I'd already started cleaning it but you can see where its wet on both sides, and since then its started dripping in the middle too)

You can't really see in the 2nd pic but theres antifreeze on the a/c compressor, a/c hoses, back of the radiator, battery tray etc.....

edit: The reservoir is completely drained to the bottom....I'm gonna crawl under and see whats what but I dont feel like taking the bumper off and pulling the rad tonight if I dont have to

**7camaro7** · 08-03-2009, 02:50 PM

put water in the radiator, start it up, open throttle by hand if yours does that, look around while revving to about 2000rpms

**racer426** · 08-03-2009, 03:00 PM

Maybe go get a pump-up pressure tester They will usually expose a leak pretty quick.

**gihonda00** · 08-03-2009, 03:15 PM

There is stuff you can get at any auto store that you can put in your radiator and with a black light you can locate the leak. I would get a pressure tester first so you don't damage any internal components. I asked a friend that I work with and he had mentioned perhaps the heater hose has a leak. Best of Luck

**ls1fan74** · 08-03-2009, 03:33 PM

thanks, yeah I'm gonna get a pressure tester and try that- as far as I can see, all the hoses are fine-I pulled the intake and the reservoir and the leak seems to be coming from the bottom of the pass. side of the radiator

edit/update: pulled the cooling fans as well; all the hoses look fine, going into the block, the water pump and running along the bottom of the rad, however there's still coolant puddling under it and dripping from random spots :

**foxman92** · 08-03-2009, 05:51 PM

just seems that you might have a pin hole in the radiator, or a crack in the resivor..

**ls1fan74** · 08-03-2009, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by foxman92

just seems that you might have a pin hole in the radiator, or a crack in the resivor..

can i patch that up w/ one of those kits? Or am I looking @ a new ($378) radiator

**Spikito** · 08-03-2009, 10:17 PM

I was thinking hose...maybe not on of the main two...but theres plenty of small ones...also check your intake gaskets...not a common problem on the LS1...but you never know

**foxman92** · 08-03-2009, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by Spikito

I was thinking hose...maybe not on of the main two...but theres plenty of small ones...also check your intake gaskets...not a common problem on the LS1...but you never know

coolant doesnt flow through the intakes on ls1's, they have the cross over tube in the front..

also i personally dont like to use the radiator leak sealers, just because i dont want all of that to get into the block, i know $378 seems high, but honestly if it is the radiator, i would just replace it.. that way you dont have to worry about that sealer plugging up the block

**qwkgto** · 08-04-2009, 03:04 AM

sounds like a hose or a radiator,the plastic tanks on these rads are known for leaks,have you done any recent mods to car like heads etc..head gaskets can cause your radiator to blow as well.

**02Sweet** · 08-04-2009, 03:47 AM

Originally Posted by qwkgto

sounds like a hose or a radiator,the plastic tanks on these rads are known for leaks,have you done any recent mods to car like heads etc..head gaskets can cause your radiator to blow as well.

sounds like a hose to me or the reserve tank

**BKHgto04** · 08-04-2009, 05:37 AM

Check the plastic tank on the radiator. Going thruogh the same problem right now. For some reason they like to split right down the seam of the tank.

**02Sweet** · 08-04-2009, 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by BKHgto04

Check the plastic tank on the radiator. Going thruogh the same problem right now. For some reason they like to split right down the seam of the tank.

had the same thing happen in my old C/10

**ls1fan74** · 08-04-2009, 05:41 AM

Originally Posted by BKHgto04

Check the plastic tank on the radiator. Going thruogh the same problem right now. For some reason they like to split right down the seam of the tank.

Do you mean the reserve tank?

**02Sweet** · 08-04-2009, 05:42 AM

Originally Posted by ls1fan74

Do you mean the reserve tank?

yes

**BKHgto04** · 08-04-2009, 05:50 AM

Originally Posted by ls1fan74

Do you mean the reserve tank?

no,the plastic tank on the side of the radiator.

**02Sweet** · 08-04-2009, 05:51 AM

Originally Posted by BKHgto04

no,the plastic tank on the side of the radiator.

oh sorry i thought you meant the other one

**allbaugh_04** · 08-04-2009, 05:56 AM

So did you start it up with water yet? i skimmed through the thread pretty quickly.

I'd look for a leak on the radiator since you think all the hoses are good.

**BKHgto04** · 08-04-2009, 06:19 AM

Originally Posted by 02Sweet

oh sorry i thought you meant the other one

oh its cool. The damn thing just split right down the side. Tried to fix it with tank repair putty but that didnt work.

**Spikito** · 08-04-2009, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by foxman92

coolant doesnt flow through the intakes on ls1's, they have the cross over tube in the front..

also i personally dont like to use the radiator leak sealers, just because i dont want all of that to get into the block, i know $378 seems high, but honestly if it is the radiator, i would just replace it.. that way you dont have to worry about that sealer plugging up the block

well that might help explain why its not a common problem