Expert: All Wheel Drive Auto Date: 7/1/2008 Subject: Coolent Leaking from Lower Radiator
Question I have 96 Legacy Outback 2.5. Yesterday, i noticed a leak from lower radiator. There is smaller hose (thin one) beside lower radiator hose (thick one). I notice the leak is coming from that smaller hose. Subaru dealer is saying that samller hose is oil hose for transmission fluid, i am very confused, if it is a oil hose then why there is coolent leaking out of it. Leak stops after the car is parked and not running, however, when the car is running, leak starts again. I have no idea what is going on. Most of the mechanics dont even know if what is going on. Please help.
Answer Has anyone actually looked at the car?
The hose just above the radiator hose at the engine side is the water pump elbow hose. It attaches to the water pump and then to a pipe that goes up to one of the heater hoses.
There are two transmission cooler lines at the radiator side above the lower radiator hose and yes they would leak transmission fluid but if the radiator is leaking at the fitting where the transcooler line goes into the radiator then it may drip down the line and give the appearance of a coolant leak at the line when in actuality it is somewhere else.
Have someone who is familiar with Subaru look at the car you wont get very far with the dealer over the phone and yes most average general repair technicians may not be Subaru experts.
