Warning Signs of a Coolant Leak
Sweet, maple-syrup-like smell inside or outside the vehicle. Green, orange, pink, or yellow puddle under the vehicle (color depends on coolant type). Temperature gauge rising above normal. Low coolant warning light. Heater blowing cool air when it should be warm (the heater uses coolant for heat). White smoke from the exhaust (may indicate an internal leak — head gasket). Steam from under the hood.
Common Leak Sources
Radiator — plastic end tanks crack with age and heat cycling. Radiator hoses — rubber deteriorates over time, especially near clamps. Water pump — the shaft seal or gasket fails. Heater core — leaks into the passenger compartment (sweet smell inside, foggy windshield). Thermostat housing gasket. Intake manifold gasket. Head gasket (most expensive — internal leak that mixes coolant with oil or combustion).
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Free written estimate. 12-month warranty. $10-down financing. Walk-ins welcome 7 days.
What Happens If You Ignore It
Running an engine with low coolant causes overheating. Overheating warps cylinder heads ($1,500-$3,000 to repair). Continued overheating cracks the engine block (engine replacement needed — $3,000-$7,000+). A $100 hose repair ignored can become a $5,000 engine replacement. If your temperature gauge goes above normal, pull over safely and turn off the engine. Do NOT open the radiator cap on a hot engine.
Diagnosis and Repair at Nick's
We use a pressure tester to find external leaks quickly — it pressurizes the system and shows exactly where coolant escapes. For suspected internal leaks (head gasket), we test for combustion gases in the coolant. Most external leak repairs are $100-$500. Head gasket repair is $1,200-$2,500 depending on the engine. We always show you what we find and explain your options.
RELATED SERVICES
Bring it in. We'll show you the problem before we fix it.
Free written estimate before any work. 12-month warranty on parts and labor. Free Uber within 5 miles if you drop off. Walk-ins welcome 7 days a week.
- 12-mo / 12,000-mi warranty
- $10-down financing available
- Most repairs same/next day
- Text updates throughout
