How to Prevent Coolant Leaks With This One Simple Maintenance Service

July 06, 2023

Coolant leaks are not something to be ignored.

In fact, coolant leaks could indicate significant and potentially catastrophic damage within your vehicle, causing noticeable issues and severely impacting performance or rendering your car undriveable. Coolant leaks are a symptom, not a cause. Below is a list of the possible complications that cause coolant leaks:
coolant leak
  1. A blown head gasket: A head gasket is the seal between the engine block and cylinder heads. If it blows, your engine will have to work harder, creating more heat. It can also result in a loss of coolant, compounding the issue. Watch out for:
  • Coolant leaks
  • Overheating engine
  • White exhaust smoke
  • Milky oil
  • Cylinder misfires
  • Bubbles in the radiator coolant reservoir
  1. A damaged radiator hose or loose hose connections: There are two hoses in your radiator—in a typical setup, the upper hose that usually connects the top of the radiator to the engine’s coolant outlet and the lower hose that normally connects the bottom of the radiator to the engine’s water pump. If either of these is cracked, your radiator system is compromised and most likely leaking coolant, leading to engine overheating. Watch out for:
  • Coolant leaks
  • Overheating engine
  • Visible damage or cracks
  • Soft or spongy hoses
  • Collapsed hoses
  • Engine performance issues
  1. A broken radiator: This can occur due to corrosion weakening the metal components of the radiator over time. It can also be caused by overheating, pressure issues, clogging, or manufacturing defects. Watch out for:
  • Coolant leaks
  • Overheating engine
  • Visible physical damage
  • Discolored coolant
  • Rapid coolant loss
  • Unusual noises
  1. While most coolant leaks are caused by legitimate issues, there are a few instances where seemingly silly reasons can lead to coolant leaks. Even though these are smaller issues, they should still be corrected immediately to avoid complications.
  • Loose or improperly secured coolant cap
  • Overfilled coolant reservoir (you will likely see a puddle of coolant underneath your car)

To avoid a headache down the road, educate yourself on the importance of preventive maintenance for your vehicle’s cooling system and how to recognize these telltale symptoms of engine exhaustion and radiator damage before it’s too late.

How to Spot a Coolant Leak

You can’t get a coolant leak fixed if you don’t know how to notice when there is one. So, if this article has made you uncertain, look for these signs:

  • Check for puddles of coolant underneath your car. Coolant leaves brightly colored fluid stains because it is typically bright green, orange, pink, or blue, depending on what type of vehicle you drive.
  • Monitor coolant levels by checking your vehicle’s coolant reservoir or radiator. If there is a noticeable amount missing for no apparent reason, you probably have a leak.
  • Check your engine compartment for signs of steam or vapor or a sweet smell coming from your engine. Be cautious as the engine may be overheated.
  • Watch for engine temperature changes. Without the correct amount of coolant, your engine will be overheated.
  • As mentioned above, look for milky white exhaust smoke. It is caused by coolant leaking into the combustion chamber (which is not good) and can indicate a more severe issue, like a damaged head gasket.
  • Open the hood of your vehicle and inspect the engine, hoses, radiator, and coolant reservoir for any signs of wet spots, stains, or visible drips.

If you do notice something unusual, address the issue immediately. Consult a qualified mechanic or automotive professional to diagnose and repair the problem to prevent further damage to your vehicle.

BG Cooling System Service

Cooling system damage can often be pointed to corrosion, a result of poor maintenance. An easy way to avoid that, is by getting a BG Cooling System Service.

To offer you full transparency of what you get with a BG Cooling System Service, if you take your car into an authorized BG Shop, they will perform the following steps:

  1. They will start with our BG Universal Cooling System Cleaner to remove damaging corrosion, scale, rust, sludge, oil, and harsh mineral deposits.
  2. Once the system is cleaned, the BG MVP2 Coolant Exchange or the BG CT2 Coolant Transfusion System will remove old, degraded coolant and introduce new, high-quality fluid. 
  3. Then they’ll boost the new coolant’s anti-corrosion capability with the BG Universal Super CoolⓇ conditioner. This final step will restore critical coolant additive balance and pH so you can feel confident your cooling system is protected. If there is a leak in your system, once the coolant transfusion is complete, your professional technician will use the BG Universal Cooling System Sealer to prevent future leaks.

How and When to Get Your Vehicle's Cooling System Serviced

You may have never had a cooling system service before, and it’s worked out for you (for now). But if you really want to make sure your cooling system is functioning optimally, get a service about every two years. Don’t wait until you see a leak, because it might be too late.

You might not know that there can still be issues with your cooling system even if there isn’t a leak present.

To prevent further issues down the road, we suggest you get a cooling system cleaning if:

  • Coolant is contaminated, low, or more than five years old
  • At 30,000-mile intervals
  • Engine temperature is running high
  • Coolant tests positive for acidity
  • Pair with cooling system repairs such as radiator, water pump, or thermostat issues

By empowering yourself with this knowledge, you will know what services to request and how to find the right dealership or shop to work with.

To find a shop that offers this service, visit bgfindashop.com


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