How to fix a antifreeze leak on a 2014-2105 Chevy Malibu or 2014-2015 Chevy Impala, by Cray Wayne on YouTube. 1 min 50 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 50 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Park on level ground and let the engine cool completely. Never open the pressure cap or pull a hose while the system is hot.
Look around the heater hose T-joint near the firewall for crusty white or pink residue, which is dried coolant.
Borrow or rent a cooling system pressure tester, fit it to the filler neck and pump to the cap rating, about 15 psi. Watch for drips at the T-joint.
Buy the replacement hose or T-connector for a 2.5 EcoTec. Compare the dealer, parts store and online prices before you order.
Open the drain petcock or pull the lower hose and catch the old coolant in a pan. Keep it away from pets and drains.
Squeeze the spring clamps with pliers and slide them back, then twist and pull the old hose and T off the fittings.
Wipe the fittings clean, push the new hose and T on fully and slide the clamps back over the barbs.
Fill with 50/50 Dex-Cool through a funnel, then run the engine with the heater on full hot to push air out. Top up as the level drops.
Let it cool, check the level again and look for fresh drips. Take a short test drive and recheck the level and the T-joint.
Tips and common mistakes
The plastic T-joint gets brittle with heat, so replace the whole assembly rather than trying to seal it.
Air pockets cause overheating after a refill, so run the heater on hot until it blows warm and keep topping up.
Used coolant is toxic and sweet tasting, so seal the drain pan and take it to a recycling centre.
If the leak returns, pressure test again before adding more parts.
Questions
How do I know the T-joint is the leak and not the water pump?
Pressure test the system and watch where the coolant comes out. A pump leak usually shows at the weep hole behind the pulley, while a T-joint leak leaves crust right at the hose connection.
Can I drive with a small coolant leak?
Only a short distance and only if you watch the level and temperature gauge. A burst plastic T can empty the system fast and warp the head.
Do I need to use Dex-Cool?
Yes, use the coolant spec listed for your car, which for these models is Dex-Cool. Mixing types can clog the system.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
