cold coolant leaks

[blubuckaroo]

Can someone explain the theorem of why coolant hoses will only leak when the car has been parked in a cold garage for more than a week? I can idle this thing at 110 degrees with the A/C on for an hour without a wet spot. Now it sits in a 40 degree garage and the top radiator hose dribbles a couple of drips. What's that about?

 

[BRONCROB]

Are you using hose clamps or spring type? It may be caused by metal shrinkage?

 

[blubuckaroo]

Are you using hose clamps or spring type? It may be caused by metal shrinkage?

I'm using the regular "worm drive" stainless hose clamps. Yea, it needed tightening but I've seen this before. No leak till it's parked for a couple days. You'd think that 13psi @ 195 degrees would leak before zero psi at 40 degrees. ?:?

 

[BRONCROB]

Weird.You may just have a small crack inside the hose that seals with heat and pressure but who knows.Just one of those things.

 

[Viperwolf1]

It may well be leaking when hot also but evaporating before it can hit the ground. I have a water pump that only leaks when cold and runs back along the pan rail, dripping off the bellhousing. Looks just like a rear intake leak.

 

[blubuckaroo]

It may well be leaking when hot also but evaporating before it can hit the ground. I have a water pump that only leaks when cold and runs back along the pan rail, dripping off the bellhousing. Looks just like a rear intake leak.

Looks like the top radiator hose connection to the thermostat housing. It was a bit loose and I tightened it. We'll see in a couple days. This is the original thermostat housing, so it might be a bit pitted on the neck where the hose fits.

 

[ChrisC74]

This happens to me all the time and I cannot find the leak. It is never very much, a few drops to small puddle but starts showing on the painted garage floor a few days after I drive it. I thought it was just me.

 

[00gyrhed]

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This happens to me all the time and I cannot find the leak. It is never very much, a few drops to small puddle but starts showing on the painted garage floor a few days after I drive it. I thought it was just me.

this is typical of an intake manifold in need of re-torqueing. just finished doing mine for the third time in less than 6 months today.

 

[carmi]

Just had same problem. No leaks until parked overnight in 20 degrees and almost every hose and water pump to timing chain cover leaked. Tightened hose clamps a little and put another half turn on water pump bolts and all seems good. Haven't seen 20 degrees again but it has been down to mid 30's. Glad to hear I'm not the only one experiencing this.

 

[CopperRanger]

My hoses were leaking a few years ago when it got cold, the hose clamps were a little loose, I really cranked them tight and they haven't leaked since. All I can think of is expansion and contraction with the up and down temperatures causing this to happen.

 

[knack]

Just had same problem. No leaks until parked overnight in 20 degrees and almost every hose and water pump to timing chain cover leaked. Tightened hose clamps a little and put another half turn on water pump bolts and all seems good. Haven't seen 20 degrees again but it has been down to mid 30's. Glad to hear I'm not the only one experiencing this.

I've all but given up on solving this problem. Re-torqued and tightened everything I can find. If you think it's bad with your temps, we usually see mid 20's to 30's below zero here a few times a winter.

I had another 1970 model when it was only about 5 years old. Don't remember that one leaking so much. That engine was assembled at a Ford plant, the one I have now was assembled by a local engine rebuilder - maybe that's the difference? Maybe the problem lies with the Flow-Cool water pump? Other than that, there aren't any non-stock components that hold coolant.
Maybe everything leaked more in those days so I didn't notice it. Didn't have a garage then either, it was either parked on dirt or snow.

 

[68rustbucket]

I have the same problem. It's always been the lower radiator hose at the water pump that leaks.

 

[sykanr0ng]

Different materials shrink at different rates in cold temperatures.

Would it harm anything to put a little RTV around the outside of the metal when assembling the hose connections?

 

[savage]

I was having the same problem, and talk to are truck mechanic at work, and he showed me the clamps they use on are tractors. Bought some on EBay and know more problem. They keep tension on the clamp, when the temperature change.

 

[74strokerbronco]

Different materials shrink at different rates in cold temperatures.

Would it harm anything to put a little RTV around the outside of the metal when assembling the hose connections?

I do it all the time , especially on old farm equipment where the neck of the pump or therm housing has been pitted pretty bad. Works great but obviously the real cure would be fresh pump or housings. I have noticed that if you don't clean the surface well with brake cleaner or = that when torn back apart years later the pitting can be much worse then before from trapped moisture I'm guessing. .