Weird issue
 

Ok so as of the last week I've been finding coolant stains on my driveway. So I decided to do some digging and thought it was my upper rad hose so I changed that. Then did a full coolant exchange and now it's leaking again but I think I know from where. I just want someone to confirm my logic.

So here's what I know and what I've did

The hose that routes to the ground from the reservoir is draining excess coolant from what I'm guessing. I may have put too much coolant in when I refilled the car.

Reservoir is bubbling as well

Changed rad cap with one from advance auto

So any ideas? Oil looks fine and I drove this car 5he week before on a 3 hr road trip and all was well.

While the engine is hot are you getting constant bubbles into the radiator? That can be signs of head gasket failure but there's a lot of other things to rule out first.

Do you have hot air blowing from the AC when you turn the temp to MAX on the highest fan speed.

Have you pressure tested the system yet?

Thanks for the reply cleric, it appears that it happens after shutdown. I'll confirm it when I get to work. I have cold ac on max setting. Haven't gotten it pressure tested as of yet. Wanted to rule out all small issues first I guess

Turn the AC heat on to make sure there's no air in the system that will slowly work it's way out.

Ok just took a 20 min drive to work, Temps held until I made it into the parking lot. Sat for sec and let the car idle with the ac on and car Temps started to rise and overflow started to push out coolant.

Cleric did you mean leave the heat on max?

Is it possible more air is in the system?

So confirming bubbles in the overflow tank at idle, and overheating without the ac on. Bubbles are concerning me a bit but I remember not seeing bubbles when the overflow was at the correct level.

Just got back to my car from Roll call and overflow is empty and radiator coolant is low. Definitely a bit confused 😕

Yeah I mean run the car with the AC turned off, temperature on 90F and the fanspeed on max.

Unfortunately I think you need to start looking into a head gasket leak detector. I prefer the Lisle one because it's absolutely simple to use. Here's a video of how it works, fill the tube with fluid to the line, if the fluid changes color from blue to yellow you have a head gasket leak. If it stays blue you're fine.

Ok great I'll order one today, I was hoping a bad rad cap may have been the culprit because I bought the cheapest one from advanced auto. Maybe it wasn't holding pressure as well. Hmmm.

Normally you hook a hose up to the top of that particular tester and plug the other end of the hose into something like the PCV vacuum port at the front of the engine so it can draw any air from the coolant into the leak tester, this guy has a HUGE head gasket leak so he didn't even need to do that, so much air is forcing it's way out it didn't need the vacuum line even hooked up.

Well you should still pressure test the radiator AND the cap but a steady stream of bubbles in the coolant is a bad sign.

Yeah I agree, I'll see can I get the kit local to speed things up a bit.

They all pretty much work the same, I just happen to like Lisle.

Ok I can rent the Lisle tool local and get the fluid for about 8 bucks. So I'll know something in the morning. I'll keep the thread updated

So if the head gaskets are confirmed as the culprit what's next?

I just bought the car less than 5 months ago and it's been a blast to drive and it's in pristine condition.

But incurring such a hefty repair bill in such a short amount 9f time will definitely leave a bad taste in my mouth.

I could swap engines like I did with my previous car but these sweltering Temps are definitely advising me against that.

I'm assuming a head gasket repair will be very pricey at a local shop so now I have to figure out what can be done if the test confirms the head gaskets (which in kinda leaning towards)

Hmmmm...