3.0 Coolant Leak / Blow Off

[Patent]

Hi, new member but long term owner here.

We have a 2004 3.0. It's recently had its belts changed at a garage. I noticed today that it seems to be blowing coolant up over the slam panel.

Took it for a drive today and it seems to come up via the bonnet latch? Cleaned it off before the drive home, but it was the same upon return. The spray is over the slam panel and up the bottom of the bonnet. Not soaked but still a quantity.

Temperature guage sat bang on the middle and the heater is hot as it's ever been. It didn't have a chance to cool down between trips so I can't check the coolant level just yet.

Is there a vent near here or do I possibly have a radiator leak?

[bigwinn]

Others may have experience of a leak there- but I’d be taking the plastic slam panel off to see where it’s coming from

At a guess your water pump is on the way out/leaking and it’s being thrown up there by the belts

Or possibly the expansion tank is on the way out

Either way pop the plastic slam panel off and have a look

[Patent]

Just been for another look. No drastic coolant drop. I'll take the slam panel off in the week for a proper look. Water pump etc looks bone dry, but there's evidence of water splatter on the fan

[Patent]

Mystery solved. New radiator required!

[bigwinn]

Oh dear- big hole?

[Patent]

Thankfully not. It's a minor / pinhole leak on the top bar of the radiator.
We usually only use the car in summer but covid required it to be pressed into service in the winter. Turns out the cooling system is full of tap water which has likely caused the issue because the leaking bar has swollen.

[firebobby]

There was no coolant additive in the water at all?
Didn't you spot that when you checked the level