is this a coolant leak?!?!?

i searched for some coolant leak threads and saw that some of the reservoirs are leaking but none of the pics looked like mine. i can't tell if this is just salty road grime blowing in through the grill or coolant leaking out of the upper rad hose/cap/res. please take a look at these pics and let me know if your trucks look like this after driving on wet/salted roads. thanks!

the radiator is full and the res level is between max and min

 

Coolant leak dries pink, don't look like it to me buddy

 

the cap was on properly when i unscrewed it to check the level after seeing this. i had just detailed the engine bay a couple weeks ago and didn't see any of this splatter.

i'm hoping not. i guess i will just continue to monitor the levels and clean this up and see what happens over the next few days.


thanks for the replies.

 

i haven't added any water and i wouldn't think the dealership has either. it's only had free oil changes at the dealership as far as maintenance goes. i usually detail the engine bay about once a month since i bought it last summer and hadn't noticed this splatter until popping the hood this morning.

 

not a coolant leak

 

haha, i'll get some info posted up. i was embarrassed to do so since it is pretty stock still.

i wouldn't say big puddles, but we've had some winter weather and the roads were treated last week. it looks like it could be some salty water from driving wet, salted roads, but the drips down the side of the radiator concerned me.

i'll wash it up and if it stays dry outside on my trip home tomorrow, i'll know if something is leaking.

 

Rinse it off, just road grime, if it's salt, rinse your frame just in case!!!

 

His reservoir still has a good pink tint to it, I know on mine it's nice to see dried up pink from one of the overflow tubes that doesn't have a hose clamp on it. So at least if I do have a radiator leak it will be easy to find once I start smelling it.

 

i'll get it all cleaned up today while i'm at work. i gave the undercarriage a hot water rinse two days ago, but didn't get around to the engine bay. hopefully the roads will be dry for the ride home in the morning and i can see if there's anymore splatter once i get home.

they like the salt around here unfortunately.

 

only once in a while, but usually it's dry outside.

 

i put about 70 miles on it today at highway speeds and on dry roads. pulled in the driveway and popped the hood to see a sparkly clean engine bay. i'd say it was just salty spray from being in traffic at 70mph on wet, treated highway. i check fluids and clean religiously so i'll know quickly if something is amiss. i think it was just grime spray off other cars.

 

I have those same splatters as yours on the passenger side. They're dry. No idea where they came from.

 

it's got to be road spray coming through the grill, at least in my truck. my advice, clean it up and monitor after driving on dry road and keep an eye on your coolant level. you will know if it is leaking.

 

I'd power wash my rad after seeing all that salty shit in there....!!

 

yea i gave it a good cleaning yesterday. it doesn't stay dirty long. i work at a fire department, so i can use warm water to wash underneath and the engine bay, and we are constantly washing some kind of vehicle.