Antifreeze on driveway. How do I find leak? How do I refill?

heater core may have a leak.

refilling is a good idea-but you need to find where its leaking at-be carefull if you jack it up-always use jack stands -cheers Denny

It sounds like your thermostat is sticking closed. Changing the thermostat should solve this.

If the water pump is leaking, it will leak at idle in the driveway. Are there no leaks at all in the driveway? If not, check the tail pipe for excessive moisture/steam. Your coolant may be leaking thru a blown head gasket into one of the combustion chambers. Let us know if you have more questions.

May not be either. Does the van run hot? If it doesn't then the coolant when it is heated is going to the overflow reservoir and if that fills up then out the overflow line to the driveway or the garage floor but everything is O.K.

fill it up and wait for it to leak again. Its about the only way your going to find it for sure. Rev it up and let it get hot in the driveway.

It could be either hose or the pump. Introduce no more antifreeze to this car until you have found your leak as you are just wasting your money.

You are going to have to visually inspect it for the leak. Typically if it is a pump, the pulley and the underside of the pump will be wet.

Is it leaking from your car on the ground? It is a sticky substance so if you have leak in the driveway or garage you will see it as it does not evaporate like water does. If you have a leak, find out where it is coming from. could be a cracked hose fromt he engine to the radiator, going to the heater core or you r water pump could be going bad and them leaking is a good indicator of that.

If it is not leaking then chances are you have a small leak in the head gasket of your engine that is allowing antifreeze by and it ends up going through your exhaust system. Can you smell antifreeze in your exhaust? When the car is idling, and warmed up does it have white smoke coming out of your exhaust?

Hi Oscar

First: If you have pets, keep them away from the puddle. Antifreeze can kill them. Use sawdust, kitty litter, whatever to soak it up.

Did you see where it was leaking from?

If the shop you mentioned were the ones that replaced it, I'd give them a call, tell them what happened, that you want it TOWED back to their shop to have it done right. Any damage caused by the over heat will be their responsibility too.

Document everything, Dates, times , who talked to, Whether or not your new radiator looks new (or spray painted)

Something isn't right.
Mike

Check the oil for traces of coolant (oil will be milky in color) and oil cap too. If oil has coolant in it head gaskete needs to be replaced. Also check the floor inside the cabine (espetially passenger side)
If it is dump there is leak from heater core. Also open engine block
Coolant might spray onto hot engine and evaporate.
Please kindly let me know if the information was usefull for you or you need more info
Good Luck