Coolant leak when it is cold out

[Kitt]

Hi all.

My 05 was new to us this year and we are just now getting some nights below freezing. I noticed yesterday that some coolant was dripping from the engine in a few spots. On closer inspection it was a very very slow drip (an ooze?) from a bunch of the flexible hoses. I don't think the coolant froze at all to cause this issue - it is green and not icy though I did not test it with a hydrometer or refractometer.

I went out today and tightened up the clamps and hope that takes care of it for now if the leak was either from the hose not being flexible enough in very cold weather and/or the metal pipes shrinking just a little bit.

Is this "normal" and would I be better off using constant torque clamps on the hoses, or are there better hoses to use, or something else I'm not thinking of?

Thanks.

[luvrbus]

If you have silicone hoses the constant torque clamps are a must, for me the Gates Green Stripe hose is a tough product to beat at about 1/2 the cost of silicone

[gus]

More leaks is pretty much normal for coolant in cold weather, shrinkage and all that stuff.

[Mike in GA]

The metal bibs that your coolant hoses slip onto will shrink/draw up a little in cold weather. You will notice that a leaky hose on a cold morning is often a dry hose after a run down the road and after the thermostats open. As said above, the best solution is spring clamps or constant torque clamps. Much more expensive but worth it.
Mike in GA

[eagle19952]

i like the spring loaded type clamp, one thing i have found to help is to warm up the hoses with a heat gun and then re-tighten.

[buswarrior]

With all of this said, simply tightening the old style clamps when it gets cold also works just fine.

For those busnuts on a budget, don't rush out thinking you have to buy the really nice constant torque clamps.

You will, more than likely, have higher priorities for spending cash.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Kitt]

Yes, plenty more calling for cash. This year for sure I will just be tightening the clamps. Thanks for everyone's input!

[luvrbus]

Yea but BW if he has silicone hoses he keeps tightening the clamps he will spend money for more than clamps

[bobofthenorth]

I picked up 4 constand torque clamps from a DD dealer in Regina about a month ago now.  I don't remember exactly what they were but I was astonished how little they were.  I'm thinking maybe $4 or $5 per each for 2.25" clamps.  Not worth messing with IMHO, if that's what it takes. 

[Lin]

No doubt, better clamps are better.  However, I have not gotten to doing that yet.  I do double clamp anything that I am concerned about though.

[Dave5Cs]

I was told by a guy at Valley to put silicon on the end of any casing and let it dry before you put on the hose, that way they don't eat through the silicon hose layer by layer.

Dave5Cs

[Ace]

I found that a simple fix for a simple "cold" leak is to just bring the unit up to operating temp and tighten all connections!
This happened to me last year and this advice obviously worked because no leaks since!


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[sledhead]

What Ace said .Worked for my silicone hoses                 dave

[luvrbus]

I don't think he ever told us what hoses he has on the bus,I use the green stripe Gates and the clamp torque wrench from a plumbing supply and never have leaks I can go from 100 degrees in Phoenix to below freezing in Idaho the best advice is to buy good clamps the HF clamps don't cut it

[Kitt]

I don't know what brand the hoses are that I have - there isn't any writing on them and no stripes. They look like similar to the EPDM hoses with a fabric outer wrap. And the clamps are the standard (cheap?) kind - nothing fancy.

After tightening the clamps a few days ago there haven't been any more leaks despite all of the below freezing / above freezing cycles we have had lately.