I've got a 2005 Toyota Camry 2.4L (4 cylinder) automatic with about 150K miles.
Installed a new radiator in June (4 months ago. It had a huge crack, I figured it was old and anyway I hadn't changed the coolant in a long time - my bad) and now have a new leak but can't find where it is, even with UV dye.
I drained the coolant and filled with water so I at least won't keep wasting coolant every time I have to top it off (about a gallon every day or 2).
The leak seems to happen when I top it off because after I fill with water, I'm still getting green coolant leaking out even days after I drained the stuff.
It also seems to be leaking (large quantities) after I drive and shut the car down rather than during the drive. I say this because it will drive just fine for even longer drives right after I top it off, but seems to start getting hotter because of low coolant only if I start the car and shut it down multiple times, even if they're short drives.
I don't see leaks at the hoses. I can't see leaking at the water pump, but maybe I'm missing it? The dripping, when I see it under the car, seems to be more towards the front of the car where it drips on the chassis somewhere and then trails down.
Things I'm thinking: Thermostat? Water pump? I realize that whatever it is, it may have damaged the radiator now as well.
One other thing of note is that one of the 2 fans isn't working (driver side).
Thanks!
You may have a bad radiator cap allowing the coolant to overfill and drain from the reservoir. Then again, it could be overheating because you never properly bled the air out of the system. A new thermostat is a must. You have to find the source of the leak.
@doc THANKS!
OK just to respond to some of that:
1. New cap is cheap enough, but when I fill with water, even without replacing the cap or starting the car, THAT's when I see obvious pooling of coolant under the car. So maybe the cap should be replaced, but I think there's gotta be a different leak source, no?
2. I tried my best to get the air out. Squeezing the hoses a bit, etc. Also, that might explain overheating, but not a leak, right?
3. Totally agree on finding the leak source. I guess I'm trying to figure out where else I should be looking based on all these factors. Because it's not an obvious leak. And UV dye didn't make it easier and I don't have a pressure tester.
A gallon a day is a very large leak, since the system only holds about 2 gallons. Finding the source is the key.