1995 Other Oldsmobile Models coolant leak

1995 OLDSMOBILE

160,000 MILES • 6 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC

ALOTTMORE1

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While driving my 1995 Olds Achieva 3.1, I was suddenly overwhelmed by the smell of antifreeze. I was on the freeway and the temp warning light did not come on. It had been running a little hot (bet. 210 and 220 deg.) and did not get above that until I got off the freeway. when i turned it off, there was steam coming out of the vents and the engine compartment. Several hours later when i was able to inspect it, all of the coolant had drained out and there were no signs of leakage on the visible hose connections. Upon adding coolant, i found it to be pouring out of a ell shaped, thin rubber hose connected to a metal nipple protruding from the lower firewall on the passenger side of the engine compartment. I'm at a loss. how do i fix it, what parts do i ask for, ????????

Aug 4, 2008 at 6:42 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

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110,175 POSTS

Hi:
The hose is a heater hose and it is attached to the heater core. Just replace the hose, refill the coolant, and it should be fine. However, the idea that you were getting steam in the car leads me to believe something happened to the heater core. Did any of the coolant leak into the passanger side floor?

Let me know.

Joe

Dec 21, 2008 at 12:32 AM

ALOTTMORE1

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2 POSTS

Thanks for responding, Joe. This turned out to be more research than work, but I hope it will be helpful to some one else.
As it turns out, the L-shaped hose is a drain hose, and the nipple comes from the compartment that the heater core is in. The heater core is actually situated in such a way that if it fails such as mine did, it will drain out of this small hose onto the ground outside- not to the inside of the car. The 2 heater hoses actually mount to the side of the heater core, and are accessible from both under the hood and under the car on the drivers side. The hose in question is rubber and attaches to a nipple on the firewall, and doesn't use a clamp; whereas the heater hoses are actually rigid lines with flare nuts at the ends that screw to the core.

Jan 9, 2009 at 6:00 PM