Hi guys Discovered after my 1950 Buick Special is parked for awhile I notice a puddle of anti freeze under the car. It appears to be in the area of the transmission and although it doesn't seem to be leaking badly I want to fix it. The car is not overheating and doesn't seem to be going through a lot of anti freeze but there is definitely a leak. I'm thinking it's either a freeze plug, or the hoses that run from the radiator to the transmission. Anyone have the same issue or can point me in the right direction? Thanks Scott
Either freeze plug or back of intake near the rear crossover or head gasket on inline. May be a temp sending unit also. Don't believe coolant travels to trans but I don't know of the 50 buick though. Most automatics have trans fluid runs to the cooler in radiator. Trans pressure is higher than coolant pressure so if those line leak in radiator you get trans fluid in radiator. Probably leaking high like intake, head or temp sender and running onto bellhousing onto trans.
Get you a pressure leak detector,you can rent one at Autozone and you will find your leak,you don"t have any coolant hoses going to transmission.
You should put in a small block chevy. That'll fix it. or use water gl***, I had great results, but you have to flush out as much old rust as possible first. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107656
Buicks do have antifreeze going to the trans...Dynaflow uses this system...and also Buick has a heater under the driver seat...so check that also
I'm with Brad Chevy in using a pressure tester to pump it up to the rating of the cap and then start looking for the leak. Another thing you might do is to run it up on a pair of ramps when you get back from a drive and start looking for the leak. jdj9410 gave some good ideas plus I would check the heater core and the hoses going to it. If you don't see it right off, slide a big sheet of cardboard under the car and see where the drips hit and then you may be able to see where they are coming from.
Mine is a 248 straight eight. I did check the heater under the seat and that's all dry. So I'm guessing maybe it's a freeze plug?
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