Small coolant leak

WYATTPHELPS

MEMBER
1990 CADILLAC DEVILLE
4.5L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
150,000 MILES

I have a small coolant leak coming from the driver side front of the engine bay, it looks like right where the radiator would be but it’s hard to tell there’s some shrouding in the way. I haven’t been able to take it off and look yet. This only happened last night but I would like to know some likely possibilities. Side note, the leak is new I had a dead battery in the car for about a month and it was sitting for that period of time and it started leaking one I started it back up.

5 Replies

PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO

MECHANIC
1,853 POSTS

The best way to go about this is to rent or borrow a cooling system pressure tester and with the engine cold, top off the cooling system with water, then screw on the pressure tester, pump the cooling system up to like 15 psi, then look for the leak. It should be a lot easier to find since the pressure is going to make the leak larger.

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Friday, December 28th, 2018 AT 10:51 AM

WYATTPHELPS

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Okay this may be a dumb question, but there should be instructions on how to use that right? I’ve never used one before.

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Friday, December 28th, 2018 AT 11:03 AM

PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO

MECHANIC
1,853 POSTS

The kit should have instructions but basically you screw the tester on in place of the radiator or degas cap, then pump the handle until the gauge reads 15 psi.
Here is a link explaining the procedure: https://www.2carpros.com/articles/radiator-pressure-test

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Friday, December 28th, 2018 AT 11:20 AM

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