{"id":17705,"date":"2020-08-04T11:21:20","date_gmt":"2020-08-04T10:21:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/what-causes-coolant-to-leak-k-seal"},"modified":"2026-01-30T13:20:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T13:20:49","slug":"what-causes-coolant-to-leak","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/da\/what-causes-coolant-to-leak","title":{"rendered":"What causes coolant to leak from your car?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Why is my engine coolant low?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes your vehicle will lose engine coolant, as if by magic. However, the reason your car\u2019s losing coolant is far from magical: it\u2019s almost always thanks to a <\/span><b>coolant leak<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are three main causes for coolant leaks: <\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">External leaks<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Radiator cap leaks<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internal leaks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3>How much coolant loss is normal?<\/h3>\n<p>Providing that the engine is running well, with no leakages or damage, you can expect a coolant loss of 0.25% every four to six months. This means a <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">coolant loss<\/span>\u00a0of two to three ounces a year is completely normal. However, anything over that is the sign of a more significant coolant leak and you should investigate the problem further.<\/p>\n<p>If you do discover a larger coolant leak, use <a href=\"\/?page_id=8\"><strong>K-Seal<\/strong><\/a> or <a href=\"\/?page_id=10\"><strong>K-Seal Ultimate<\/strong><\/a> to seal the leak <strong>fast.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><b>Coolant leak symptoms<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following can be signs of a coolant leak:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pool of coolant<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> underneath your car when you\u2019re parked. This can look like green, pink, orange, blue or yellow puddles under your vehicle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Overheating engine<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Some car owners have also reported noticing the \u2018Check Engine\u2019 light displaying on the dashboard before identifying a coolant leak. Low coolant levels affect engine temperature, causing the sensor to trigger a false reading and light up the \u2018Check Engine\u2019 or coolant warning sign.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>A sweet \u201cburn off\u201d smell<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can suggest that there is a coolant leak.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Low coolant levels<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which require replacing the coolant more often than usual.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17649\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17649\" style=\"width: 430px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17649 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Temp-Guage-300x197.jpg\" alt=\"A 'check engine' light glows on a car dashboard.\" width=\"430\" height=\"283\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Temp-Guage-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Temp-Guage.jpg 579w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 430px) 100vw, 430px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17649\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A &#8216;check engine&#8217; light on a dashboard.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><b>What causes a coolant leak?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poor vehicle maintenance, as well as general wear and tear, contributes to the majority of coolant leaks. Some of the most common reasons behind an external coolant leak are included below:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Radiator hoses:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The rubber hoses may degrade over time. Common signs of damage to these include swelling, cracks, unusual softness or holes, which are the most likely cause of an external coolant leak.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Radiator cap: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A secure radiator cap maintains system pressure, ensuring coolant circulation to cool the engine, while a loose or leaking cap reduces pressure and hinders cooling.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-17661 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Coolant_Hoses-300x195.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"443\" height=\"288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Coolant_Hoses-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Coolant_Hoses.jpg 578w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 443px) 100vw, 443px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve checked your car for external and radiator cap leaks but found nothing, check your coolant levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your coolant levels are still going down despite there being no evidence of a leak, you may have a bigger problem: an internal coolant leak. The most common reason behind an internal coolant leak is head gasket problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A<\/span> <a href=\"\/?page_id=1128\"><b>leaky or blown head gasket<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is often what causes coolant to leak internally. Forming a seal around the combustion chamber, a head gasket is critical to preventing engine coolant and oil from contaminating that chamber and causing serious, <\/span><a href=\"\/?page_id=16047\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">costly damage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to your engine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fortunately, there are a number of <\/span><a href=\"\/?page_id=16055\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">common symptoms of a leaky head gasket<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you can watch out for to prevent this happening.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>How to fix a coolant leak<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on the cause of the coolant leak, the fix could be fairly simple and cost effective. For an external coolant leak, the radiator hose may need replacing, or you could simply just need to use a <\/span><a href=\"\/?page_id=1131\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">radiator stop leak<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your coolant leak is internal and caused by something such as a head gasket issue, it\u2019s likely that you\u2019ll need to take the car to a mechanic for repair.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the issue, all coolant leaks should be further investigated and repaired to avoid <\/span><a href=\"\/?page_id=36\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">risking further engine problems<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">How much does it cost to fix a coolant leak in a car?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engine coolant leaks can be straightforward to fix, but costs can vary significantly. Repairs typically range from $70 to $400<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, depending on the vehicle&#8217;s make, model, age, and type.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If extensive work is needed, such as removing and repairing the radiator or head gasket, costs could exceed $1,500.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can you drive a car with a coolant leak?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019d strongly recommend against it. Keep driving despite the warning signs, and you\u2019ll only do more damage to your engine. And that means more costly repairs!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you do need to drive to a mechanic or to pick up a bottle of coolant leak repair, that\u2019s completely understandable. Just make sure you keep an eye on your coolant levels.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17685\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17685\" style=\"width: 374px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17685 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Coolant_Levels-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"A dashboard shows a coolant warning message: 'Coolant level low - add coolant'.\" width=\"374\" height=\"280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Coolant_Levels-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Coolant_Levels.jpg 444w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 374px) 100vw, 374px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17685\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Watch out for low coolant levels in your engine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your coolant levels start dropping even more quickly, then you have a serious internal coolant leak that needs fixing, fast.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to fix a coolant leak, with K-Seal<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Catch a coolant leak early and you can avoid costly repairs by grabbing a bottle of<a href=\"\/?page_id=14\"><strong> K-Seal<\/strong><\/a> Coolant Leak Repair<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/da\/where-to-buy\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from your local supplier<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trusted by millions of customers and mechanics worldwide, its <\/span><a href=\"\/?page_id=24\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">scientifically proven formula<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> seeks out any holes and cracks and holes in your engine, sealing them. Follow the simple instructions on the label and your coolant leak will be repaired in minutes\u2014getting you back on the road, fast.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\" role=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/da\/where-to-buy\">Find your nearest K-Seal supplier<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why is my engine coolant low? Sometimes your vehicle will lose engine coolant, as if by magic. However, the reason your car\u2019s losing coolant is far from magical: it\u2019s almost always thanks to a coolant leak. There are three main causes for coolant leaks: External leaks Radiator cap leaks Internal leaks. How much coolant loss<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17705"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17705"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17705\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21050,"href":"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17705\/revisions\/21050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kseal.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17705"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}