Coolant Leak Near Engine Firewall

[onthekeyboard]

Here's an old trick to a coolant leak that seems to start at the engine (the components near the engine are drenched with coolant but the firewall is dry). If you're not sure whether the leakage is from the engine or the heater core in the passenger compartment, perform this routine: Disconnect both heater hoses from the heater core. Take a suitable pipe of short length (cut it if you have to) and connect both hose ends with 2 clamps in order to bypass the heater core. Fill the radiator with plain water and start engine. If the leak disappears then it's the heater core that's leaking. If the leak is still there the engine might have a bad freeze plug, bad hose connection at engine, leaking cylinder head gasket, or there is a crack in the engine. Also, if you are using ramps for newer-model cars that sit very low to the ground (especially the front end) take 2 thick planks or boards that are long enough to clear the front end above the ramps when driving up. Place the boards about halfway on the ramps (the boards should be wide enough to fit unto the track of the ramps) and drive the car up on the boards and on the ramps.

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