What Could Have Caused This?
Need some help diagnosing a problem with my ’62 Vette. The car has been parked in an unheated, well insulated garage with a concrete floor for about two months. Outside temps were often minus 10 degrees and consistently below freezing. Hood was down but not shut. Car was covered with a cloth car cover.
Under the hood, I find that both heater hoses and the small hose from the water pump to the overflow tank are sweating an oily film, no color when wiped, and no odor. The upper and lower radiator hoses are unaffected. The overflow tank is bone dry. Only signs of leakage is where the thermostat hose fits onto the copper fitting of the heater at the firewall (see picture). Hoses are pliable but it is now above freezing. Engine oil shows zero signs of radiator fluid.
Inside, there are signs of radiator fluid leaking from elbow leading to heater (see picture and note red is a reflection of interior color). Fluid must have dripped onto the carpet, because there is some loss of color under the auxiliary mat…the rubberized back side of which also shows slight signs of the oily film…otherwise dry inside.
So, I’ve found two leaks so far but I’ve yet to pressure test the system. I’ll do that Monday.
Prior to being garaged, the car was running well…not overheating but I did not check the radiator (antifreeze) fluid level when I put it away. I suppose it could have been low and already leaking before storage and I would not have noticed it. But two leaks seem unlikely.
Is it possible that the sweating of the heater hoses under the hood is a product of the environment…not connected to the leaks? Or did the hoses somehow freeze, despite the antifreeze, and cause both the leaks and the sweating? If so, should I just wait and see if everything reseals itself after we get to a more normal temperature or should I replace the hoses now assuming they have sustained some kind of damage? Any other conclusions?
As always, I appreciate you help.
Under the hood, I find that both heater hoses and the small hose from the water pump to the overflow tank are sweating an oily film, no color when wiped, and no odor. The upper and lower radiator hoses are unaffected. The overflow tank is bone dry. Only signs of leakage is where the thermostat hose fits onto the copper fitting of the heater at the firewall (see picture). Hoses are pliable but it is now above freezing. Engine oil shows zero signs of radiator fluid.
Inside, there are signs of radiator fluid leaking from elbow leading to heater (see picture and note red is a reflection of interior color). Fluid must have dripped onto the carpet, because there is some loss of color under the auxiliary mat…the rubberized back side of which also shows slight signs of the oily film…otherwise dry inside.
So, I’ve found two leaks so far but I’ve yet to pressure test the system. I’ll do that Monday.
Prior to being garaged, the car was running well…not overheating but I did not check the radiator (antifreeze) fluid level when I put it away. I suppose it could have been low and already leaking before storage and I would not have noticed it. But two leaks seem unlikely.
Is it possible that the sweating of the heater hoses under the hood is a product of the environment…not connected to the leaks? Or did the hoses somehow freeze, despite the antifreeze, and cause both the leaks and the sweating? If so, should I just wait and see if everything reseals itself after we get to a more normal temperature or should I replace the hoses now assuming they have sustained some kind of damage? Any other conclusions?
As always, I appreciate you help.
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