I have a 1998 Sierra Z71 that leaked some coolant in the front right corner by the radiator and bottom radiator hose. Its not pouring out, it's about 10-15 drips. It happened Saturday but I have not seen this since. when i looked under the bottom of the truck i could see radiator coolant (green) on the bottom of the panel. I had a brand new radiator put in last week. where can the leak be coming from? i have not replaced any hoses or checked the water pump. Oil looks fine so i'm not too concerned with a head gasket. what does this sound like? hose?? water pump? radiator?? 5.3L
1998 GMC Sierra Z71 Coolant Leak
- Thread starter bigcoaxum
- Start date
Molson02536
New member
Hose down the area and keep an eye on the area, it could just be the over flow tube from the tank leaking and draining if they over filled your coolant. the other issue that it could be is the Radiator clamp not on right and your getting a cold water leak where it only leaks when the engine cools down over night.
If it was the water pump, the leak would be running down the lower hose toward the radiator. What ever you do, don't use radiator stop leak. They tend to cause circulation issues throughout the cooling system.
Start with these simple things and post back to us. BTW just a little FYI, you should be using http://www.getahelmet.com/jeeps/maint/dexcool/ and not the green antifreeze.
Molson02536
I'll hose it down but i dont think it's a cold water leak because i had been driving the truck when i noticed it. overnight, nothing is leaking at all. i could see little sprinkles where the fan was blowing water toward the driver side of the truck while i was looking down toward the bottom of the radiator trying to determine the leak. i could not see anything coming from the water pump area. the majority of the antifreez was on the bottom right of the radiator location. i'll hose it down and check. the overflow tank reads perfectly, cold when the engine is cold and hot when the engine warms up. the water level is where it should be.
I'll hose it down but i dont think it's a cold water leak because i had been driving the truck when i noticed it. overnight, nothing is leaking at all. i could see little sprinkles where the fan was blowing water toward the driver side of the truck while i was looking down toward the bottom of the radiator trying to determine the leak. i could not see anything coming from the water pump area. the majority of the antifreez was on the bottom right of the radiator location. i'll hose it down and check. the overflow tank reads perfectly, cold when the engine is cold and hot when the engine warms up. the water level is where it should be.