[HaroldMY]

In the past couple of weeks I've driven my car more than usual. I've driven about 500 miles over the course of a week or so, and today I drove about 100 alone. So a couple hours ago I had to bring my mother to work. I started it, immediately drove it to the front door (which means my car is facing uphill) and let it idle for about ten minutes because she wanted the car warm before she got in. I noticed my car suddenly smelled strongly like maple syrup, but I let it pass.

She gets in, I drive her 2 miles to work, and as soon as I stopped the car, my engine compartment started smoking. The weird thing was that my water temperature was reading about 180*F or so (normal for a Subaru), and nothing was actually overheating. But then I smelled burning maple syrup. I put two and two together, and lo and behold, I'm leaking antifreeze.

So I called Dad, and he drove his Camry over to Mom's workplace, and we all stood there underneath the hood with nothing but a street lamp illuminating the engine compartment. Then he says something truly genius: "Hey, your antifreeze is low".

"Well it's LEAKING!" I yell.

There was a puddle under the car after five minutes at her work place, and there is a huge puddle in my driveway. We're currently getting antifreeze mixed so that way I can drive it home. I'll update later. Just my luck. But at least it's close to home. *sigh*

UPDATE (11:45 PM): Filled the radiator, let the car run a few minutes, then realized the bottom of the engine was nice and green. Then we noticed, "hey, look at that hose." There's a rubber hose that brings antifreeze to the radiator and right where hose and radiator connect is where there's a major leak. Couldn't tighten it or adjust it, so off to the mechanics I go. For over 113,000 miles, I guess an aged hose is something to expect.

[ayWCZ7VT]

Smoking is bad for your wealth

[Extinimot]

The top radiator hose on my Corrado VR6 blew with utter predictability every 15-18k miles or so. When it stranded me the first time at 18k it was covered under warranty, when it did so again at 40k, I bought a spare and kept it in the trunk. It was a delightful little Y shaped hose that was only available from VW for $120.

Usually I do belts and hoses at 50k miles.

[risyGreeple]

A popping hose is nothing bad. It happens to any car. Happened to my friends on his Toyota, they used 2 large beer bottles and filled the radiator to get back home.:rolleye:

[Extinimot]

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[Pinkman]

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[Extinimot]

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