question

[jbsupra89t]

Just got everything back together on the car... (fucking finally). Took it for a quick spin, and when I got back, I noticed there was coolant dripping, BUT, from the bottom corner of the radiator around where the lower hose connects. It also looked like dry coolant on the top of my rad and upper pipe. The temps were fine, nothing out of the ordinary, and it didn't occur right when I started the car. Even when I parked it, temps were fine, even dropping. The hell happened? Did my radiator just explode? Did I fill it too much? Any insight appreciated... oil pressure and all else was fine, A/Fs at idle within stat, and boosting before I got home was mid 10s A/F. No CEL.

What's interesting tho, is that now my stock temp gauge doesn't work... doesn't bother me so much as I have a DEFI, but still thought it might be pertinent. This is a 1jz btw, but I figure this is more general than anything.

EDIT: Upon further inspection, I am lead to believe it may be my lower radiator hose. It was fine in the early stage of driving around, and wasn't leaking when I pulled it out of my driveway. When I returned however, there was coolant all over the place, which may have been aided by the 2j fan I have in there (coolant sprays up, hits fan, goes apeshit). Does that sound reasonable?

-J

 

[LexusTech117]

Get a cooling system pressure tester. It's like a handheld bicycle tire pump with a fitting on the end that locks onto where the radiator cap usually goes.

Check out this page in the TSRM

-Dave

 

[Nick M]

If you think just the lower hose is dripping and not the upper, the water pump internal seal is leaking and coolant is running out of the weep hole.

Follow the drip and see where it comes from.

 

[jbsupra89t]

Thanks guys. And before I went back to school, I checked the fins on the radiator and also noticed that when my hand hit the fan (ouch), it must've pushed the blades into the fins, somewhat hard too. In fact when I ran my hand over the affected section, there was noticeable coolant, vs. other places with just "bent fins" not obliterated fins. I did some searching on SF about the weep hole, and as a result if indeed it is just coming out of there, I'll need to pick myself up a new water pump anyhow. Appreciate the suggestions once again.

-J

 

[jbsupra89t]

Bump... in addition, does this logic make sense? There's a chance if not those things, it may be a small hole in my radiator. Reason being, if it were the hose, it should've almost all drained out similar to pulling the drain plug, but it's not all gone. Appreciate the suggestions guys...

-J

 

[supra_G]

sounds like you made a small hole in your radiator when your hand pushed the fan blade into it btw that shit musta hurt..