Coolant drain?
#1
Coolant drain nipple?
Noticed a pair of these drain nipples underneath the car today, one driver’s side and one passenger’s side.
When the car gets up to temp it leaks/drains a fair amount of coolant from each nipple. I recently flushed and refilled the coolant so wondering if that has anything to do with it.
Here’s a video: https://youtu.be/88RagCOdt9M
Normal or something I need to fix? What is this a sign of?
When the car gets up to temp it leaks/drains a fair amount of coolant from each nipple. I recently flushed and refilled the coolant so wondering if that has anything to do with it.
Here’s a video: https://youtu.be/88RagCOdt9M
Normal or something I need to fix? What is this a sign of?
#3
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#5
I also disconnected the AC compressor completely since it wasn’t working anyways (and again being an old swap car with some odd electronic issues, I figured it safer to keep the AC totally off until I get a chance to take a closer look at that system).
Is shutting off the heater hose valve and disconnecting power from the compressor part of my problem?
#6
No. The valve probably only shuts off the inlet side. The outlet side is still connected to the cooling system and is under pressure, so a leak in the heater core would still leak antifreeze. If you car is an 86 or earlier, the dash is supposed to come out to replace the core. 87 and later with the Delanair 3 system, the core can be replaced without removing the dash. Some people cut the pipes to the heater core on the earlier system so they can replace the core without pulling the dash, but you have to spice the pipes on the new core with heater hose to do that.
#7
No. The valve probably only shuts off the inlet side. The outlet side is still connected to the cooling system and is under pressure, so a leak in the heater core would still leak antifreeze. If you car is an 86 or earlier, the dash is supposed to come out to replace the core. 87 and later with the Delanair 3 system, the core can be replaced without removing the dash. Some people cut the pipes to the heater core on the earlier system so they can replace the core without pulling the dash, but you have to spice the pipes on the new core with heater hose to do that.
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#8
No. The valve probably only shuts off the inlet side. The outlet side is still connected to the cooling system and is under pressure, so a leak in the heater core would still leak antifreeze. If you car is an 86 or earlier, the dash is supposed to come out to replace the core. 87 and later with the Delanair 3 system, the core can be replaced without removing the dash. Some people cut the pipes to the heater core on the earlier system so they can replace the core without pulling the dash, but you have to spice the pipes on the new core with heater hose to do that.
#9
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The coolant is going thru the drain tubes rather than into the cabin, just as the a/c condensate does. If the leak was worse, or the tubes clogged, it might be a different story.
However......
With a leaky heater core you'd typically get the sweet-ish smell of coolant in the cabin. And/or steamed-up windows. OTOH, not every failure is typical
At the end of the day, though, if you're getting coolant thru the a/c drain tubes I don't see how it could anything except a heater core.
Cheers
DD
However......
With a leaky heater core you'd typically get the sweet-ish smell of coolant in the cabin. And/or steamed-up windows. OTOH, not every failure is typical
At the end of the day, though, if you're getting coolant thru the a/c drain tubes I don't see how it could anything except a heater core.
Cheers
DD
The following 3 users liked this post by Doug:
#10
#12
#13
The coolant is going thru the drain tubes rather than into the cabin, just as the a/c condensate does. If the leak was worse, or the tubes clogged, it might be a different story.
However......
With a leaky heater core you'd typically get the sweet-ish smell of coolant in the cabin. And/or steamed-up windows. OTOH, not every failure is typical
At the end of the day, though, if you're getting coolant thru the a/c drain tubes I don't see how it could anything except a heater core.
Cheers
DD
However......
With a leaky heater core you'd typically get the sweet-ish smell of coolant in the cabin. And/or steamed-up windows. OTOH, not every failure is typical
At the end of the day, though, if you're getting coolant thru the a/c drain tubes I don't see how it could anything except a heater core.
Cheers
DD
#14
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#17
I have to pressurize the cooling system. I suspected a heater core leak and when I pressurized my system it would drip out the AC condensation drains.
For reference, here is what my heater core looked like after I removed it.
For reference, here is what my heater core looked like after I removed it.
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Greg in France (01-03-2022)
#18
Update
This is the kit I have to pressurize the cooling system. I suspected a heater core leak and when I pressurized my system it would drip out the AC condensation drains.
For reference, here is what my heater core looked like after I removed it.
For reference, here is what my heater core looked like after I removed it.
Photo doesn’t do it justice. Looked like it came off the Titanic. New one comes in Friday. I’ll pressure test it tomorrow just for fun, but I think I know how that’s going to go.
The following 3 users liked this post by MrAndersonGCC:
#19
#20
@JayJagJay I went the unconventional route of completely removing the Delenair MkIII box and controls, but with small enough hands you can remove the heater core relatively easy on the cars with the Delenair MkIII system.