oil and coolant leak with PICS
I have several questions about my problem.
1. I tried to bleed the cooling system so I opend the coolant cap, uncrew the bleed bolt on top of thermostat housing, and started the car.
When I started the car, it took several seconds to start the car and whole car shook really bad while doing it. Is this normal?
2. I found coolnat leak here. What is the name of the hose and what is the part number?

I also found oil leak under the car. I don't know what are these parts. Any advices?
This is right below the power steering pump



The top one is passenger side of oil pan.
I also noticed oil drips on the front swaybar.

While I was under the car, oil didn't drip or form after I wiped the area. I guess it's a slow leak, but I want to know about it.
Thank you.
Last edited by gorillajin; Aug 26, 2009 at 08:47 PM.
Those lines that you are talking about are transmission cooler lines. I dont think those are leaking though. I think the oil is dripping down and decieving you into thinking that they are leaking.
The first picture you posted of the back of the radiator is the return line from the radiator to your engine. If it is leaking, it is likely a broken inlet for the hose. The plastic on these becomes very brittle over the years, and WILL crack eventually. You can slow the process by making sure the clamp that holds the hose to the inlet is as close to the base as possible, and making sure to use distilled water to prevent rust corrosion.
But alas, you will need a new radiator in the not too distant future. I would say that if you have a local junkyard and you happen to see a good one, nab it and swap it in even if it's still holding up. Decent ones are not hard to come by, until you absolutely need it.
Rivcal4life, thank you for the detail information. I touched the hose and I could feel plastic thing inside of the hose.
So are you saying that I can't just replace the hose? I have to replace the whole radiator?
If I just replace the hose, do I have to drain the coolant? I just flushed coolant system...I hope I don't have to drain it again.
One more thing that I noticed...the coolant leak only happens when I open the coolant cap when engine is warm. When I opened it, the coolant level went up.
Any ideas?
Last edited by E3002.8; Aug 26, 2009 at 10:48 PM.
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I was checking where it's from, but I couldn't trace it....maybe next time, I will just stay under the car and watch it....
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I was checking where it's from, but I couldn't trace it....maybe next time, I will just stay under the car and watch it....
As for the first pic, you can just replace that hose. Maybe first just try pulling it off completely, cleaning it up and retightening it. If its cracked though, ditch it.
Thank you for your suggestion.
I have been searching for this and I found a smiliar thread, and it was timing chain guide seal leaking. I hope it's not my case. I guess you are right ps2cho. m104 engine also has timing chain area oil leak problem. Do you guys check oil level and add oil when it goes low?
Last edited by gorillajin; Aug 27, 2009 at 11:36 AM.
Nah, on these engines just keep the air flap and spark plug's covered and don't spray anywhere near the battery or fuse box and you'll be fine. I recommend going to Walmart and buying their brand engine degreaser. You can get a can for $1.50 IIRC...its dirt cheap and works great. Just spray all over and let it sit for 10 minutes before hosing off.
Last edited by ps2cho; Aug 27, 2009 at 11:41 AM.
Thanks.
YNVDIZW124, I guess it is timing chain cover leak. I will check the oil level and see how much I need to add every oil change. I just have owned this car for 2 weeks and it's been sitting in my garage to be fixed. I heard that leaky timing cover seal needs to be fixed with HG, correct?
Last edited by gorillajin; Aug 27, 2009 at 08:09 PM.
If you look at the photo closely, you'll notice where the metal ends, and the plastic begins. The metal is clamped around the plastic reservoir every couple inches or so. I suppose if you find a decent plastic reservoir at the junkyard or online, you could bend back the metal tabs and swap it out with yours, but you may end it with a bigger leak than you have now, and will have ruined a potential replacement in the process.
I still don't get the inlet thing. So if the plastic thing is broken, how can I fix it? There is no part to order, then...
I guess I have to take out the hose and see it myself. Am I going to loose lot of coolant by doing it?
The leak seems only happen when I open the coolant reservoir cap when the engine is warm or little hot. Usually nothing leaks there.....isn't it strange??
( and i am sure that is not engine oil because it is very clear and the level is allright)
Last edited by todor-ivanov; Dec 18, 2009 at 02:03 PM.
I believe I may be having the same issue as you. I flushed my coolant system two days ago and noticed a lot of brown gunky material in there that had formed a gelatin like substance under the radiator cap. After flushing for about 10 minutes the water began running clear, but, when I'd wait about 2 minutes then I'd start to see some of this redish brown substance slowly trickle out the hose. At some point the brown color fluid became so insignificant I just said to hell with it and finished flushing and replenishing radiator fluid. I notice my transmission fluid is quite low actually. I'm planning to replace the transmission pan gasket, drain torque converter and trans, replenish, replace trans mount, and trans oil seal on Monday. Was thinking about trying to figure out what the deal with that brown gunk in my radiator reserve was then. Anyone have any ideas? At first I thought maybe a blown head gasket? But then theirs no smoke coming out from under my hood and no billows of white smoke. I have noticed that theirs a bit of blueish white smoke coming from my exhaust that smells very rich with fuel. Anything to with a failed Air Mass Meter by chance? Oh, and I'm doing a valve cover gasket change Monday as well, as I have an inside and outside leak.



