Help with 2011 leaking antifreeze (1 Viewer)

[Mayphly]

I have a 2011 200 series with 175000 miles and tesreday after returning from taking my dogs to the river I noticed a good amount of coolant leaking on to the ground in my driveway. I took the skid plates off to get a better look. It appears that the coolant is coming from the bottom drivers side of the radiator. I topped off the overflow and started the truck to let it warm up. The temp guage came up but the heater was blowing cold? Anybody have ideas of what this might be? Cracked radiator? Bad thermostat? All of the above? I need to take my daughter to college this weekend. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Kinnada]

I have a 2011 200 series with 175000 miles and tesreday after returning from taking my dogs to the river I noticed a good amount of coolant leaking on to the ground in my driveway. I took the skid plates off to get a better look. It appears that the coolant is coming from the bottom drivers side of the radiator. I topped off the overflow and started the truck to let it warm up. The temp guage came up but the heater was blowing cold? Anybody have ideas of what this might be? Cracked radiator? Bad thermostat? All of the above? I need to take my daughter to college this weekend. Any help would be appreciated.

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looks like water condensate to me not the pink antifreeze

 

[Mayphly]

It is definitely pink antifreeze. The picture does not pick up the color very well.

 

[doru]

There is no thermostat at that location. The drip is from the radiator itself. Time to get a new one.
If this is the original radiator you should have replaced it anyway due to the crack at the top. If you have not removed the engine covers yet to take a look, do that as it might actually be the crack at the top.

 

[AZBoatHauler]

I’d bet on a cracked radiator. You can’t see any leaking from the top?

 

[doru]

Stop diving the truck till you fix it.

 

[Mayphly]

Yes, I have parked it. I examined the top of the radiator closely and there are no cracks or fluid. It all seems to be coming from the bottom drivers side. I am still confused as to why no heat is coming out when it is up to temp?

 

[cboyd]

Could be an air bubble in the heater core if the level got too low. Probably needs to be burped after the leak is fixed (or will happen if the rad is replaced”

 

[Sandroad]

Being low on coolant can cause odd issues with the HVAC. How low was the expansion tank?

 

[Mayphly]

Expansion tank was drained before I filled it back up. Air bubble makes sense. I ordered a new radiator, hoses, thermostat and a water pump. Hope that will do it.

 

[tbisaacs]

I had my second radiator fail in this location. The metal fins separated from the plastic.

 

[Mayphly]

I had my second radiator fail in this location. The metal fins separated from the plastic.

That is what it looks like on mine. I have not heard of them failing there, good to know. Thanks

 

[Sandroad]

Expansion tank was drained before I filled it back up. Air bubble makes sense. I ordered a new radiator, hoses, thermostat and a water pump. Hope that will do it.

And coolant?

 

[bloc]

If you don't already plan on them, I'd strongly advise changing the Heater T's while you're in there. Just the T's are available, but new hose/T assemblies come with T's made of a better more durable plastic.

Could be an air bubble in the heater core if the level got too low. Probably needs to be burped after the leak is fixed (or will happen if the rad is replaced”

Yep.

The fix is to drive around for a while in a lower gear in S mode to get some sustained RPM's. The air will push right out. The rear heat is more stubborn in this case, for the record.

 

[Mayphly]

And coolant?

Yes, 2 gallons of oem pink coolant.

 

[Mayphly]

If you don't already plan on them, I'd strongly advise changing the Heater T's while you're in there. Just the T's are available, but new hose/T assemblies come with T's made of a better more durable plastic.


Yep.

The fix is to drive around for a while in a lower gear in S mode to get some sustained RPM's. The air will push right out. The rear heat is more stubborn in this case, for the record.

Ordered new T's, thanks for the heads up!

 

[Haggis]

I just recently had to replace the radiator due to a crack, very similar looking photos compared to my situation. Had the dealer do it and it was very expensive. I'm at 125,000 miles

 

[KLF]

You probably already know this, but make very sure that there is no puddle of coolant left under the truck, where your (or other) dogs can get to it and drink it. It will taste yummy to them, but it's very poisonous.