Coolant leak

[Cory2081]

So recently I noticed a coolant smell after parking the car. Upon investigation there was no visible leak but the coolant reservoir was empty. Refilled and kept an eye on it. Reservoir went empty after a couple weeks. Found a leak on the driver's side front lower intake manifold. Showed this to the dealer and they replaced the lower intake (took 5 freaking weeks). Now that I have the car back in still having the same issue but I don't see it leaking from anywhere now. I've read about others that have had this problem but I'm not seeing a common issue. Anyone know of anything? I'm not happy with a car just over a year old with mysterious disappearing coolant! I really love this car but I'll trade it before I go through the "my car is in the shop for the tenth time" again.

 

[87and66]

Had my transmission replaced in January. The day I got it back, I get 10 minutes from the dealership and car starts spewing coolant everywhere. Got it towed back to the dealer. After they “fixed” it and I took it home, I still had a leak. Coolant was disappearing like yours. Couldn’t see where it was coming from but could see the coolant in the engine bay after every drive. Got it “fixed” again. For the first 2 months, the coolant level slowly in the reservoir slowly got lower and lower. I think air was slowly being worked out if the system. Maybe that’s what’s going on. Unless the level is going down quickly. Then you probably still have a leak somewhere.

11 months later, my car still smells like coolant after every drive. The gift that keeps on giving. Thanks Kia.

 

[General_Vodka]

So recently I noticed a coolant smell after parking the car. Upon investigation there was no visible leak but the coolant reservoir was empty. Refilled and kept an eye on it. Reservoir went empty after a couple weeks. Found a leak on the driver's side front lower intake manifold. Showed this to the dealer and they replaced the lower intake (took 5 freaking weeks). Now that I have the car back in still having the same issue but I don't see it leaking from anywhere now. I've read about others that have had this problem but I'm not seeing a common issue. Anyone know of anything? I'm not happy with a car just over a year old with mysterious disappearing coolant! I really love this car but I'll trade it before I go through the "my car is in the shop for the tenth time" again.

That sucks. Did they bleed they air out properly? There is a way described in detail in the shop service manual. I had to bleed the system after replacing my radiator. And after I boiled it and blew coolant everywhere. So far so good tho...

 

[Cory2081]

I'm almost 100% sure this is not due to them not bleeding the system properly. I've had to fill the reservoir once per tank of gas so far. Good news is I think I found it! Directly under the foam piece at the front of the engine I see evidence of another leak. Appears to be from the black coolant T that's at the very front of the engine or from the main coolant tube that goes under the intake where it connects to the front of the block. I'm getting really worried about the quality of this car! I also found a bolt that's just sitting down there. Calling the dealer tomorrow! They should have noticed this when they removed the lower intake manifold to replace it.

 

[skadswight]

had to sign up to reply to this one. my 2020 GT1 has been at the dealership for warranty repair due to coolant leak since middle of september.

for a few days I was noticing that the radiator fan was running at high speed after any amount of driving for a few minutes. thought it was odd, but not urgent because I didn't see any evidence of leaked fluids, reservoir looked fine, etc. friday evening it was running the fan in the garage while we ate dinner and we heard a bang. went out there, looked around, nothing seemed obviously wrong. wasn't even sure it came from the car, something could've fallen over, but decided I'd take it to the dealership monday.

saturday I checked coolant before leaving for breakfast, things seemed fine. probably 10-15 minutes into the trip got the engine overheat warning. pulled over and shut down, opened hood, no coolant. got towed to dealership by roadside assist, last time I saw the car. never actually got a low coolant warning, or any other warning light prior to the engine overheat, which seemed odd to me.

dealership, when they've bothered to talk to me at all, has told me that they found the leak on the back side of the lower half intake manifold. said they ordered the part, told me parts had arrived week before thanksgiving. then next time I called told me that they got the wrong part, and ordered it again. no new news since then. I've started hassling kia corporate instead because this is beyond ridiculous now. feel like they're going to force me to lemon law the thing before it's all said and done.

the bang we heard with the car off for several minutes still has me baffled. something gave way under vacuum? maybe after plastic got too hot? hell if I know.

anyway fun car while it worked, but the dealership/warranty/support experience sucks a lot. no loaner, no money or arrangements for a rental, been out a car for over 3 months now with no end in sight.

 

[AusStinger]

I totally feel for you both. Thanks for sharing since it gives others things to keep an eye out for.

And if enough people have the same issues it could help force Kia's hand.

Really hope things start getting better soon. It's a real pain being at the mercy of a faulty product.

 

[Cory2081]

had to sign up to reply to this one. my 2020 GT1 has been at the dealership for warranty repair due to coolant leak since middle of september.

for a few days I was noticing that the radiator fan was running at high speed after any amount of driving for a few minutes. thought it was odd, but not urgent because I didn't see any evidence of leaked fluids, reservoir looked fine, etc. friday evening it was running the fan in the garage while we ate dinner and we heard a bang. went out there, looked around, nothing seemed obviously wrong. wasn't even sure it came from the car, something could've fallen over, but decided I'd take it to the dealership monday.

saturday I checked coolant before leaving for breakfast, things seemed fine. probably 10-15 minutes into the trip got the engine overheat warning. pulled over and shut down, opened hood, no coolant. got towed to dealership by roadside assist, last time I saw the car. never actually got a low coolant warning, or any other warning light prior to the engine overheat, which seemed odd to me.

dealership, when they've bothered to talk to me at all, has told me that they found the leak on the back side of the lower half intake manifold. said they ordered the part, told me parts had arrived week before thanksgiving. then next time I called told me that they got the wrong part, and ordered it again. no new news since then. I've started hassling kia corporate instead because this is beyond ridiculous now. feel like they're going to force me to lemon law the thing before it's all said and done.

the bang we heard with the car off for several minutes still has me baffled. something gave way under vacuum? maybe after plastic got too hot? hell if I know.

anyway fun car while it worked, but the dealership/warranty/support experience sucks a lot. no loaner, no money or arrangements for a rental, been out a car for over 3 months now with no end in sight.

Ugh. Been there. My last car was a Jaguar and I made them buy it back through the lemon law. Took 18 months but I made them eat it! I hope you don't have to go through that, even though I won single handedly (no lawyer needed) it wasn't fun but the process does work. Just make sure to have records and to make your case easy for the arbitrator to understand. I'm reluctant to take mine back to the dealer. I don't want to be in another loaner for who knows how long again but at least they did give me a car to drive.

 

[Cory2081]

had to sign up to reply to this one. my 2020 GT1 has been at the dealership for warranty repair due to coolant leak since middle of september.

for a few days I was noticing that the radiator fan was running at high speed after any amount of driving for a few minutes. thought it was odd, but not urgent because I didn't see any evidence of leaked fluids, reservoir looked fine, etc. friday evening it was running the fan in the garage while we ate dinner and we heard a bang. went out there, looked around, nothing seemed obviously wrong. wasn't even sure it came from the car, something could've fallen over, but decided I'd take it to the dealership monday.

saturday I checked coolant before leaving for breakfast, things seemed fine. probably 10-15 minutes into the trip got the engine overheat warning. pulled over and shut down, opened hood, no coolant. got towed to dealership by roadside assist, last time I saw the car. never actually got a low coolant warning, or any other warning light prior to the engine overheat, which seemed odd to me.

dealership, when they've bothered to talk to me at all, has told me that they found the leak on the back side of the lower half intake manifold. said they ordered the part, told me parts had arrived week before thanksgiving. then next time I called told me that they got the wrong part, and ordered it again. no new news since then. I've started hassling kia corporate instead because this is beyond ridiculous now. feel like they're going to force me to lemon law the thing before it's all said and done.

the bang we heard with the car off for several minutes still has me baffled. something gave way under vacuum? maybe after plastic got too hot? hell if I know.

anyway fun car while it worked, but the dealership/warranty/support experience sucks a lot. no loaner, no money or arrangements for a rental, been out a car for over 3 months now with no end in sight.

Ugh. Been there. My last car was a Jaguar and I made them buy it back through the lemon law. Took 18 months but I made them eat it! I hope you don't have to go through that, even though I won single handedly (no lawyer needed) it wasn't fun but the process does work. Just make sure to have records and to make your case easy for the arbitrator to understand. I'm reluctant to take mine back to the dealer. I don't want to be in another loaner for who knows how long again but at least they did give me a car to drive

I totally feel for you both. Thanks for sharing since it gives others things to keep an eye out for.

And if enough people have the same issues it could help force Kia's hand.

Really hope things start getting better soon. It's a real pain being at the mercy of a faulty product.

I've read about numerous people thinking that smelling coolant from these cars is normal. I think there may be some common coolant leaks on these cars that Kia isn't aware of yet.

 

[Rodtheviking]

I found that my coolant reservoir was empty and had noticed a coolant smell from the day I bought it.

I found my leak today by chance, I popped the hood and saw the steam coming off the top of the turbo on the drivers side. I found that the stupid spring clamps on the upper radiator hose was leaking on BOTH sides. I could see some white/blue residue on top of both turbos. I had some good stainless hose clamps off my old Volvo that I was able to clamp down nice and tight. Took it for a good drive and so far no more leaks and the smell seems to be gone.. for now.

 

[Slip_Angle]

I found that my coolant reservoir was empty and had noticed a coolant smell from the day I bought it.

I found my leak today by chance, I popped the hood and saw the steam coming off the top of the turbo on the drivers side. I found that the stupid spring clamps on the upper radiator hose was leaking on BOTH sides. I could see some white/blue residue on top of both turbos. I had some good stainless hose clamps off my old Volvo that I was able to clamp down nice and tight. Took it for a good drive and so far no more leaks and the smell seems to be gone.. for now.

Smell ever return or did the spring clamps do the trick?

 

[Rodtheviking]

Smell ever return or did the spring clamps do the trick?

Yes, I put in new silicone radiator hoses with good stainless screw clamps. Smell and leak has not returned.

 

[DrKronwall]

My 2021 stinger is in the shop for the same reason. Leaking coolant from both sides of the engine. Hopefully they don't try to give me the run around again with another multiple month repair on this car. It's great when it works, unfortunately that's becoming less and less often.

 

[Christo218]

My 2021 stinger is in the shop for the same reason. Leaking coolant from both sides of the engine. Hopefully they don't try to give me the run around again with another multiple month repair on this car. It's great when it works, unfortunately that's becoming less and less often.

Hi,
Please write what the service found. I have a similar problem with fluid leakage on both sides.
Greetings
Bogdan

 

[DrKronwall]

They didn't do anything. Just topped it up and sent it home. I don't have problems with the coolant dropping until it's winter and below 20. I live in MN, so that's a lot of the year. Once it drops again this winter I'm taking it there and leaving it until they fix it to my satisfaction or I'm having a lawyer report them to whatever agencies I can report them to, and probably filing a lawsuit.

Hi,
Please write what the service found. I have a similar problem with fluid leakage on both sides.
Greetings
Bogdan