Is Your Car Leaking Antifreeze? These Reasons Might Be Why

November 20, 2020

Antifreeze, or coolant, is an essential fluid that your vehicle must have at all times for proper functioning. It’s responsible for preventing your engine from overheating. In addition, it protects your car when the weather turns colder. Antifreeze also acts as a rust inhibitor to protect your engine and related components from corrosion. If you’ve noticed an antifreeze leak, you need to get your car towed to a repair shop promptly or else you may risk further damage.

Blown Head Gasket

The head gasket rests between the cylinder head and the engine block. It prevents the antifreeze and the engine oil from mixing together. If the head gasket fails and allows the antifreeze and oil to combine, your engine could fail next. Some signs of a blown head gasket include the following:

Leaking antifreeze when the vehicle is parked
Poor fuel economy
Poor engine performance
Engine overheating

Eventually, a blown head gasket will cause the engine to completely fail.

Corroded Radiator

Another common cause of an antifreeze leak is a hole in the radiator. When the radiator tubes get corroded, holes can develop. As a result, antifreeze can leak from the car. Another common scenario involves damage from wear and tear to the gasket on the radiator, which can also cause a coolant leak.

Cracked Radiator Hose

Radiator hoses are made from very thick rubber. They are designed to be quite durable because they transport hot engine coolant to and from the engine and the radiator. However, despite their durability, radiator hoses aren’t invincible. Over time, they can develop cracks. If a cracked radiator hose is responsible for your antifreeze leak, you’ll need to replace it promptly. A related possibility is the failure of the clamps responsible for connecting the hoses to the radiator.

If your car has broken down, you can rely on the friendly and courteous tow truck drivers at Barnett’s Towing, LLC. We serve the entire state of Arizona with 24/7 towing services for all types of vehicles. You can reach our dispatcher around the clock at (800) 722-2302.