leaking from my radiator?

1997 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER PRADO
170,000 MILES • 4 CYL • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
PREZZIE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I see some form of fluid (oil) apparently leaking from my radiator. i was advised that it is possibly a leak in the cooling system as some radiators have an oil component. Is that true.
May 25, 2009 at 1:11 AM
Advertisement
Avatar
SQM
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 6,383 POSTS
Hello,

Typically a radiator will have cooler lines for the transmission. So you can see transmission fluid leaking out of a radiator but not engine oil.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-radiator-works

If you have oil in coolant, that is a sign of a blown head gasket.
Check your oil to see what color it is. If it is milky white they you have coolant mixed in the engine oil.

There is a test you can do to see if you have a blown head gasket. That test checks for combustion gases in the coolant. When a head gasket is blown you will have combustion gas leak into the coolant from the engine.

Here is a helpful video:

https://youtu.be/5zpNjYmmiYY
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Please let me know of any questions.

Thank you.
Aug 24, 2021 at 8:24 PM