A coolant leak is a relatively common issue car owners may have to deal with at some point during the life of their vehicle. We are going to tell you all you need to know about coolant leaks. While they can be an inconvenience, driving without addressing the problem for too long can cause significant mechanical issues in the future. We have researched this critical topic to make sure that you have all the information that you need.
Even though your car may still run with a coolant leak, we recommend taking it to a professional to get fixed as soon as possible. Driving with a coolant leak can damage an engine by allowing it to overheat or get worse. Bigger leaks could cause even more significant problems.
What are the signs of a coolant leak? How long can you drive a car with a coolant leak? What happens if you run an engine without coolant? Keep reading for more details.
What Happens If You Run An Engine Without Coolant?
The first thing which will probably happen is a warning light will turn on. This is the car's way of telling you something is wrong with the engine temperature, and you should check it out. On top of this, driving with no coolant may result in certain parts failing, being damaged, or ruined. These parts may include the water pump, cylinder head, connector rods, head gasket, or more.
Modern vehicles are equipped to be able to deal with this issue better. Many of them have the technology installed to help regulate the temperature of the car when a problem is detected.
What Are The Signs Of A Coolant Leak?
There are many signs of a coolant leak. Having the ability to notice them can save you time and money by preventing any further damage a coolant leak may cause. This section will go over each of these signs.
Visible Liquid Under Vehicle
The first place to check for signs is under your vehicle. Coolant often comes in many different colors, depending on the type of car you drive. Look for green, pink, or blue puddles under your vehicle as this is an obvious sign of a leak.
Overheating
Coolant is made to regulate the engine temperature. When coolant levels are low, the engine is prone to overheating. Luckily, almost all vehicles have a temperature gauge located near your gauge cluster. You can use this to see if the engine is heating up.
If you see your engine heating up, we recommend taking it to a professional immediately as continuing to drive an engine hot can be dangerous.
Sweet Smell
While it may seem odd, if you smell something sweet after driving your car or even while driving it, you may have a leak. The aroma should be the strongest near the engine after driving the vehicle for an extended period.
Radiator Troubles
The radiator plays a significant role in engine cooling. If there is a hole in the radiator, this could be causing a coolant leak. Also, the radiator cap could be leaking coolant, which can turn into a major issue. Recognizing these symptoms may require the help of a professional since they are under the hood.
How Long Can You Drive A Car With A Coolant Leak?
It would be best if you drove it as short of a distance as possible. Driving with a coolant leak can cause permanent damage to your engine as you are forcing is to operate at harsh temperatures. If you notice signs of a leak or see your temperature gauge rising and you are not close to home or a mechanic, you should pull over and make a plan. This can also give your engine a chance to cool down.
If you have to drive a more extended distance to get your vehicle fixed, make a habit of pulling over every few miles to let your engine cool down. The important things to remember are driving as little as possible and keeping the engine's temperature under control until you get it fixed.
How Much Does A Coolant Leak Cost To Fix?
If your leak has not caused any damage to your vehicle, you can expect to pay around $100. This would be to fix the leak. However, the price goes up if there is any damage the leak has caused by unregulated temperatures or failing parts.
Unfortunately, most people are not able to catch the issue early on. This makes the average cost of the repair somewhere around $786. We will look at why this cost can be so high by looking at the expense of repairing parts that can potentially be damaged from this issue.
Water Pump
The cost of replacing a water pump can be anywhere from $300 to $750. Add this price to the total cost of fixing your coolant leak, and you are looking at quite a large bill. This is why fixing the problem early on is so important.
Cylinder Head
This part can be on the more expensive side, costing you at least $500. This is because the part can cost anywhere from $200 to $300.
Connector Rod
Connector rods may be one of the most expensive parts to replace and can range anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000. The good news is these rods will only need to be replaced if there has been more significant damage to your vehicle.
Head Gasket
Head Gaskets cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 for parts and labor. The high price tag does not come from replacing or repairing the parts, it comes from the labor charges. This work is very time consuming and therefore requires a lot of working hours.
Why Is My Car Leaking Antifreeze But Not Overheating?
This a generally a great sign! It means you will probably be able to get the leak repaired for around $100 or so. Not overheating means the leak has not had the chance to negatively impact the engine yet, meaning you probably won't need any extra repairs.
The downside is your vehicle needs a repair, but the upside is you have caught it before it has caused any lasting damage. Take your car to a professional as soon as possible.
How Do I Prevent A Coolant Leak?
While there is no surefire way to prevent a coolant leak, you can minimize the risk by regularly checking your coolant levels and making sure you have a mechanic look over your vehicle every few months. This will ensure you will catch the problem early rather than later. In the end, this will save you money and the trouble of dealing with further issues.
Summary
All in all, coolant leaks are a common issue that cars experience. Understanding the implications of ignoring the problem is essential and will make the repair process much simpler if you catch it early. If you treat your engine with care and keep it well maintained, it will take care of you in return by lasting longer and costing less to maintain. Ensuring you know the symptoms of leaking coolant will ensure you take the best possible care of your vehicle.
Are you interested in learning more about engines running hot? Check out this article: Are Car Engines Supposed To Get Hot?
Read more about the safety of driving with low engine coolant in this article: Driving With Low Engine Coolant – Is It Safe?