Found a leak today (green fluid)

[Regdunlop]

I am storing my van for the winter here in Calgary. I went to the garage it is stored in today to start it up. It fired up without any problems and I let it run for 10 minutes or so. When I shut it off I took a quick look underneath and noticed a leak under the front right axle right where there is a rubber boot or seal of some sort (sorry for my ignorance here I'm not sure what this part is called). The fluid was light green in colour (think Kermit the frog) and dripped quite regularily for about 5 minutes and then stopped. Does anyone have an idea of what this fluid might be? I'm afraid that I might have left it in storage for too long without starting it (it's been in the garage for about 2 months, and the garage is heated by a space heater that comes on when the temperature drops below -5). Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[konadog]

Bright green fluid is coolant - ruptured hose, maybe...

[Delicanadabc]

3 things:

1. Yeah, I would say it's coolant too; could be as simple a loose clamp. Open bonnet and look at the level of fluid in your rad (before starting it again). It should be full to the top. Look in the small plastic tank by the battery bay and look for coolant in there. fill as needed and go to a good mechanic or most any place and tell them about your issue.

2 Don't start your van and run it unless you like a rusted out muffler. To store any vehicle: let it run so it is hot and all moister has been driven out of the system. Then, park it and leave it. If you are away for long (1 month +) disconnect the battery posts.

3. Don't worry. There is a good chance that this van has sat for long period in Japan and the cold wont hurt it anyways.

Chillax the van is fine!!

[Erebus]

I agree that it is a coolant leak. Sounds like it is in the same place mine was. There are rad hoses in that area. I had a lower rad hose in-line coolant heater installed shortly after I bought my Delica, and the garage didn't properly tighten the hose clamps (thanks Pro-Active), so it had a very slow leak. However, when it leaked, it dripped onto the alternator. That probably was a major cause for me to have to get the alternator rebuilt this week.

Suggest you crawl under with a flashlight (and eye protection) and see if you can find the location of the leak. Then fix it. Good luck.