# Anti-freeze leak

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze-leak/38282>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Tags:** ford, taurus\
**Created:** [October 18, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze-leak/38282 "2009-10-18T18:23:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@jroome](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jroome)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze-leak/38282/1 "2009-10-18T18:23:31Z")

</div>

I own a’92 Ford Taurus which is leaking anti-freeze. I have put sealants in the radiator twice which makes me think it’s the resevoir at fault.  
  
 Is the resevoir necessary; can’t I simply top up the radiator as needed?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze-leak/38282/2 "2009-10-18T18:51:19Z")

</div>

Those sealants very rarely work so I would in no way rule out the radiator. You’re going to need to physically find where it’s leaking from to do a proper diagnosis. Are you getting puddles of antifreeze under the car?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@jroome](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jroome)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze-leak/38282/3 "2009-10-18T19:47:11Z")

</div>

Most of the time, after use

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze-leak/38282/4 "2009-10-18T19:55:50Z")

</div>

GreasyJack is correct - you need to just find the leak. If it turns out to be the radiator you can likely get one from a junk yard. But there are lots of places it can be leaking from.

You can’t remove the reservoir b/c it is part of how the whole system works - when hot the system gets under pressure - at certain pressures (usually 15-16lbs) the radiator cap lets coolant run out to the reservoir. If you remove it, you’ll end up dumping hot coolant all over as you drive.