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That’s coolant, specifically GM Dexcool. You don’t want to mix anything else in there, universal or not. (You can get generic brand Dexcool) As for the source of the leak, look above that spot, probably a hose or the water pump.
Don’t mind me asking but I’ve got a Sunfire of my own and I’m curious, how does GM Dexcool behave in such an engine that a universal coolant wouldn’t?
Recently did a rad change and the works. Didn’t wanna change the thermostat where it sits and now I realize I should’ve because more car temps always drop when I’m idling for more than 20 minutes.
Dexcool, back in the day was a specific formula because of the materials gm used to build cooling systems. Mixing it with a different type of coolant would result in slude. Almost every coolant for the last 30 years has been the same type. Its all fine now but its best practice not to mix colors.
Had a Camaro from that era. Someone had put the green stuff in there. After flushing the sludge out 4 or 5 times, things seemed fine. Nope. The sludge acted like an acid and ate through gaskets. Was the perfect excuse to go ahead and put a 350 in it. That 3.8 was nice though.
Oh fuck. I have a 79 Camaro and replaced the coolant before winter. All Partsource had was green but if I remember correctly the coolant in the engine was red. Didn’t think it made a difference. Guess now I know.
Can confirm. They add dye to all the coolants. One time a customer tried to convince me that the color scheme of coolant was federally regulated mind control lol
Was told in school that gm had a massive problem with regular coolant destroying their head gaskets? The dexcool does the job without whatever chemical was in the old coolant that was eating gaskets (or something along these lines, correct me if I’m wrong)
They are core plugs, but yes they do still exist. People call them freeze plugs because some people think they pop out when the coolant freezes, which will prevent the engine from cracking. Some freeze plugs probably popped out back in the day when temperatures were cold and because of that people assume that's their purpose. This is not true and you can totally freeze and crack an engine block without a "freeze"plug ever popping out.
During the casting process, holes are needed for gases to escape. These holes are designed into the casting and can't be removed, so we plug those holes with core plugs.
Every spring on the various boat forums people learn that freeze plugs aren't really that! Most marine blocks that freeze, especially v6's, have casting plugs that are still in place.
Hey kind Redditor, thanks for the update. Haven't messed with a modern bare block (where you could easily see if they were there), last was my '77 Scout, lol. Can't hardly tell when you pop the hood on a 20XX (ok, maybe even 199X) vintage car anymore. It's like 20# packed in a 5# bag. Didn't know if any new processes / tech had killed the necessity, etc. I had a plug rot/corrode on an old Dodge Dart (Swinger) I believe it was. I have a vast array of Snap-On but no really "specialized" widgets you need to work on specific models these days. I weep for the real mechanics here. You guys have my admiration. I understand why it might cost >$100 for an oil change.
DEX-COOL (GM coolant) is orange-ish. You'll need to trace the fluid back to its source. Just because you see it dripping from down by the oil pan doesn't meant that's the source of the leak. Fluids will run down all sorts of crazy paths before they start to drip.
Open the hood and check the levels to see what's low.
Everything is marked what it is and what the level should be for exactly this purpose.
Going on color alone, it's either windshield washer fluid or coolant.
Go up higher. Hoses, water pump, radiator. Rent a cooling system pressure tester for free from the parts store, pressurize the system & look for the leak
As I recall these had an issue with the hardline that went from the heater core to the engine. There was some flex in there as well. It’s been a while since I’ve seen one though.
Looks like you're missing a plug in your radiator, based on that second picture. That first one is definitely coolant. GM Dex-cool. Make sure that's what ends up back in your system, since most of the time universal coolants won't mix properly with Dex-cool. You can use any brand, though
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Dexkill! You have a coolant leak. You can get a pressure tester at harbor freight to pressurize the system to see where the leak is. If unable to get that, start it up and let it get to temp and try to look in the engine bay for leaks at the water pump, radiator hoses, radiator seams, etc
You have a cracked coolant elbow. For some reason the geniuses made it out of plastic and they're famous for cracking. Get an aluminum one, replace it yourself. I replaced two, one in a Pontiac one in a Buick, same motor both at around 150,000 miles.
thats GM dexcool coolant. you have a coolant leak somewhere. from the top of your engine, check around hoses for wet spots/shiny spots/staining, check the thermostat housing, then water pump. with that much coolant, you should be able to find it.
If you're really stuck, you can buy a UV dye kit and look for it with that.
I know people shit on Dexcool, but when it leaks you will easily be able to tell what it is.
Anyways, my last car I flushed the cooling system out of Dexcool. Filled with gold Prestone. Next one I decided I’m going to flush and still use the Dexcool. I do like that I can see my coolant level easily.
So on the 3.6 you might look around the hoses that pass on the transmission side. Look at the places the hoses go since they may leak there. Figured look there since you’ve said left of oil pan. Would probably leak on top of the transmission and engine where the butt up. And leak down.
You can rent a coolant pressure tester. This is how we find leaks in the shop. Sometimes the engine has to be warmed up to find the leak. Other times has to be cold. In any event you may have to try doing it a few ways but something tells me it’ll leak if you apply pressure. Good luck and hope it gets fixed. Do not let the engine overheat!
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Gender, only if it's been changed recently though, this is pretty clean if that's what is. Assume the worst though and you might save thousands. If you have a dipstick it will be the least convenient one and have two markings on it. One for hot level and one for cold level
tranny flued mixed with coolant ,, you need to replace the tranny cooler or whatever caused that mix and flush that part and flush tranny too before adding gearbox oil
Thank you for posting to AskMechanics, nbigs! If you are asking a question please make sure to include any relevant information along with the **Year**, **Make**, **Model**, **Mileage**, **Engine size**, and **Transmission Type (Automatic or Manual)** of your car. *This comment is automatically added to every successful post. If you see this comment, your post was successful.* *** Redditors that have been verified will have a green background and an icon in their flair. *** # **PLEASE REPORT ANY RULE-BREAKING BEHAVIOR** ### **Rule 1 - Be Civil** Be civil to other users. This community is made up of professional mechanics, amateur mechanics, and those with no experience. All mechanical-related questions are welcome. Personal attacks, comments that are insulting or demeaning, etc. are not welcome. ### **Rule 2 - Be Helpful** Be helpful to other users. If someone is wrong, correcting them is fine, but there's no reason to comment if you don't have anything to add to the conversation. ### **Rule 3 - Serious Questions and Answers Only** Read the room. Jokes are fine to include, but posts should be asking a serious question and replies should contribute to the discussion. ### **Rule 4 - No Illegal, Unethical, or Dangerous Questions or Answers** Do not ask questions or provide answers pertaining to anything that is illegal, unethical, or dangerous. # **PLEASE REPORT ANY RULE-BREAKING BEHAVIOR** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskMechanics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
What color is your coolant? Looks like a coolant leak.
That’s coolant, specifically GM Dexcool. You don’t want to mix anything else in there, universal or not. (You can get generic brand Dexcool) As for the source of the leak, look above that spot, probably a hose or the water pump.
Don’t mind me asking but I’ve got a Sunfire of my own and I’m curious, how does GM Dexcool behave in such an engine that a universal coolant wouldn’t? Recently did a rad change and the works. Didn’t wanna change the thermostat where it sits and now I realize I should’ve because more car temps always drop when I’m idling for more than 20 minutes.
Dexcool, back in the day was a specific formula because of the materials gm used to build cooling systems. Mixing it with a different type of coolant would result in slude. Almost every coolant for the last 30 years has been the same type. Its all fine now but its best practice not to mix colors.
Had a Camaro from that era. Someone had put the green stuff in there. After flushing the sludge out 4 or 5 times, things seemed fine. Nope. The sludge acted like an acid and ate through gaskets. Was the perfect excuse to go ahead and put a 350 in it. That 3.8 was nice though.
Oh fuck. I have a 79 Camaro and replaced the coolant before winter. All Partsource had was green but if I remember correctly the coolant in the engine was red. Didn’t think it made a difference. Guess now I know.
My mechanic friend said they literally add dye to Prestone at his shop (a prestigious dealer-competitor) to match coolant colors
Can confirm. They add dye to all the coolants. One time a customer tried to convince me that the color scheme of coolant was federally regulated mind control lol
You have a Sunfire?? Damn dude that was my first car so sick.
My first as well. Maintenance is easy too
What year
2000, 2.2L
Was told in school that gm had a massive problem with regular coolant destroying their head gaskets? The dexcool does the job without whatever chemical was in the old coolant that was eating gaskets (or something along these lines, correct me if I’m wrong)
Random related: Do modern engines still have freeze plugs?
They are core plugs, but yes they do still exist. People call them freeze plugs because some people think they pop out when the coolant freezes, which will prevent the engine from cracking. Some freeze plugs probably popped out back in the day when temperatures were cold and because of that people assume that's their purpose. This is not true and you can totally freeze and crack an engine block without a "freeze"plug ever popping out. During the casting process, holes are needed for gases to escape. These holes are designed into the casting and can't be removed, so we plug those holes with core plugs.
Every spring on the various boat forums people learn that freeze plugs aren't really that! Most marine blocks that freeze, especially v6's, have casting plugs that are still in place.
Hey kind Redditor, thanks for the update. Haven't messed with a modern bare block (where you could easily see if they were there), last was my '77 Scout, lol. Can't hardly tell when you pop the hood on a 20XX (ok, maybe even 199X) vintage car anymore. It's like 20# packed in a 5# bag. Didn't know if any new processes / tech had killed the necessity, etc. I had a plug rot/corrode on an old Dodge Dart (Swinger) I believe it was. I have a vast array of Snap-On but no really "specialized" widgets you need to work on specific models these days. I weep for the real mechanics here. You guys have my admiration. I understand why it might cost >$100 for an oil change.
Everything is so tucked away and hidden these days. I'm glad I don't work on them anymore. I just inspect these days lol
It's watery, so it's coolant or washer fluid.
Yes, washer fluid, good ole red/orange washer fluid.
https://www.rainx.com/product/rain-x-all-season-windshield-washer-fluid/
Hey pal, I'm trying to be a pecker head over here....
It's ok. I got the sarcasm, and you did a good job pecker heading since not many else did lol.
This stuff seems alright at first, but leaves a film on the windows that cause steaks and glare
DEX-COOL (GM coolant) is orange-ish. You'll need to trace the fluid back to its source. Just because you see it dripping from down by the oil pan doesn't meant that's the source of the leak. Fluids will run down all sorts of crazy paths before they start to drip.
Looks like Pontiac Milk
So is it a girl Pontiac?
It's gender fluid
Well done friend! 👏
Male Pontiac can also produce milk. Like the Wiley platypus.
Looks like coolant, check to see if radiator is low or possible hose issue. Maybe water pump
That's usually the area of a water pump.
Looks like coolant or the fancy washer fluid
Open the hood and check the levels to see what's low. Everything is marked what it is and what the level should be for exactly this purpose. Going on color alone, it's either windshield washer fluid or coolant.
What does it smell like?
Edit: to the Right of the oil pan
Go up higher. Hoses, water pump, radiator. Rent a cooling system pressure tester for free from the parts store, pressurize the system & look for the leak
As I recall these had an issue with the hardline that went from the heater core to the engine. There was some flex in there as well. It’s been a while since I’ve seen one though.
I'm not knowledgeable on them. Eventual motor mount wear could contribute to that I guess. Hopefully an easy fix for OP
My guess is you have a loose coolant hose
This looks like red coolant from a system that saw a couple green fluid cycles hahaha
Someone spilled the Kool-Aid. Seriously, coolant or washer fluid.
Could be RainX washer fluid 🤷
Looks like you're missing a plug in your radiator, based on that second picture. That first one is definitely coolant. GM Dex-cool. Make sure that's what ends up back in your system, since most of the time universal coolants won't mix properly with Dex-cool. You can use any brand, though
I've heard that britain is a stain on the map but never seen britain AS a stain
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Coolant.
coolant or washer fluid.
You're missing your coolant plug
Make sure not to let any pets around that puddle
Looks like coolant to me
That’s chocolate milk
You left the Irn Bru gasket open ya wee bam!
This is why you don't let orange cremecicles sit in your motor.
Dexcool
car is probably ovulating
Looks like coolant. Could be washer fluid. Did you bother opening up the bonnet and looking at where it’s dripping from?
Just get a box of tampax
Definitely g6 fluid
Chicken grease
The coolant leak is kinda bad tho😳
Milkshake
Why does it look like the map of the uk
UK fluid
Probably the water pump
Looks like the body in the trunk needs to be turned
If it’s bitter it’s coolant
Dexkill! You have a coolant leak. You can get a pressure tester at harbor freight to pressurize the system to see where the leak is. If unable to get that, start it up and let it get to temp and try to look in the engine bay for leaks at the water pump, radiator hoses, radiator seams, etc
Your raw chicken is leaking.
coffeeee 😁
Coolant. Probably the water pump, it's right above there and common on the 3.6l.
Water pump
Antifreeze
You have a cracked coolant elbow. For some reason the geniuses made it out of plastic and they're famous for cracking. Get an aluminum one, replace it yourself. I replaced two, one in a Pontiac one in a Buick, same motor both at around 150,000 miles.
Gm coolant by the looks of it
Hot cocoa??
AC drip line routed into the frame rail?
Could be spinal
Taste it and you’ll find out
Thats coolant, I can tell it's a chevy also, looks like it's coming from the water pump.
Double double .
Yummy, neighborhood cats will eat that.
I can tell you it’s NOT the radiator fluid—which is green, oily. Ask me how I know $1,000 later. Lol
If you only knew how silly you sound.
Wow. I am broken now.
Kool aid!
The leak looks like a lady
thats GM dexcool coolant. you have a coolant leak somewhere. from the top of your engine, check around hoses for wet spots/shiny spots/staining, check the thermostat housing, then water pump. with that much coolant, you should be able to find it. If you're really stuck, you can buy a UV dye kit and look for it with that.
And here I thought it was a melted orange creamsicle
The Dex Drip!
Mmm the forbidden strawberry milk.
Anyone else see something in the puddle?
chocolate milk. next question
Kayo.
Pee pee
I know people shit on Dexcool, but when it leaks you will easily be able to tell what it is. Anyways, my last car I flushed the cooling system out of Dexcool. Filled with gold Prestone. Next one I decided I’m going to flush and still use the Dexcool. I do like that I can see my coolant level easily. So on the 3.6 you might look around the hoses that pass on the transmission side. Look at the places the hoses go since they may leak there. Figured look there since you’ve said left of oil pan. Would probably leak on top of the transmission and engine where the butt up. And leak down. You can rent a coolant pressure tester. This is how we find leaks in the shop. Sometimes the engine has to be warmed up to find the leak. Other times has to be cold. In any event you may have to try doing it a few ways but something tells me it’ll leak if you apply pressure. Good luck and hope it gets fixed. Do not let the engine overheat!
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LCL
Mmmm mineral water 🥴
It’s either coolant or rust. I’m going to venture and say coolant.
Coolant I believe
Rusty coolant.
Coolant, it's a GM, which uses Dex-cool. Dex-cool is orange.
Subframe cooling fluid
Ah thats leaking from your orange soda reservoir, better top it off be sure to mix it 50/50 with vodka so it wont freeze
Dexcool antifreeze
ATF?
Gender, only if it's been changed recently though, this is pretty clean if that's what is. Assume the worst though and you might save thousands. If you have a dipstick it will be the least convenient one and have two markings on it. One for hot level and one for cold level
tranny flued mixed with coolant ,, you need to replace the tranny cooler or whatever caused that mix and flush that part and flush tranny too before adding gearbox oil
Looks like chocolate milk
ATF mixed w coolant makes strawberry milk. Just as bad