Leaking Coolant from Radiator

I've got a 1995 3.4l V6 that had been sitting for about 3 months while I was working. When I came back I drove it to CO and noticed that I was low on coolant and had these white streaks around the base of the radiator. I topped it off and the truck did great over the course of about 600 miles. However, it is still leaking a bit of coolant and it appears to have sprayed all over the engine bay. Here is where it seems to be bubbling up from, but it is hard to tell. Should I go ahead and replace the radiator and the hoses, or is there something else that could be causing this?

 

Mine looked like that when the upper hose and clamp was no longer good, replaced them both and no more leak.

Hard to tell though if that's what's happening with yours or if maybe the radiator has a crack in it? Check the seams carefully and see if you can spot one, but my money is on the upper hose

 

Copy that, it doesn't seem to be leaking out of the hose. That black mark on the front of the radiator is coolant but I can't see a leak coming out of it, it seems like the fluid is running along that whole front bottom section

 

The top plastic tank develops a hairline split with age, I could only see it when engine was running and hot. But mine looked like yours with the dried coolant all over up there. All I had bad was the crack in the top tank. Replaced with a Denso from Amazon 3 years ago. So far so good. Also replaced the upper and lower hoses and thermostat since I had to drain the coolant. And did a flush too. I reused the OEM constant tension clamps but you must ensure they are aligned nice and true on the hose. If using old hoses reuse clamp spot imprinted in hose.

 

could it be this is the problem (in bold) .. i have coolant leak upper hose
been fussing around with the clamps and made it worse
do the new OEM hoses come already imprinted?

how many miles are on your truck?
i have original radiator still and am trying to figure what kind of lifespan I am looking at
might like to get a nice one custom built like 1997tacomav6 has!

 

Exactly the same on mine.

 

The old OEM hoses, if reusing the OEM clamps, sometimes need to have the clamp installed as it was before because it has 10-20 years of use and wear on it. The old hoses can easily be damaged in removal and hard to even see or notice it.
If using new hoses, and your brand new hoses have an old wear pattern in them, you likely don't have new hoses.

 

so the new hoses will have NO indents to begin with?
mine seem to have indents all over the place lol, couldn't find right spot to clamp i guess

check this out
local dealer wants $280 to change hose
I called the nearest dealer in KC and they want $140 to change hose, hose is $35 there, probably 100 locally lol
can get it for about $20 at Camelback (+shipping) but will have to wait onit

 

Mine too. I ground out the crack an fixed it w/ JB weld two yrs ago. It’s embarrassingly ugly but it doesn’t leak.

 

A pressure tester is your friend I could not live without one.

Makes testing coolant problems so much easier.

 

I had the crack in the front of my radiator (04 4x4 3.4 219k miles). Replaced the radiator yesterday $100 from rock auto.

 

Just rolled over 190k, thanks for the advice. I will try and get it pressure tested, or see if I can find where it is leaking from and JB weld it.

 

Are you planning to keep your truck or just patch it up so you can sell it?

My 1999 model's previous owner neglected the cooling system. I bought it for pocket change, then got to install a new engine.

 

Definitely plan on keeping the truck. Planning on a 4k mile road trip next month. So trying to get it all dialed in before I leave, starting with the radiator. I'll probably swing it by my mechanic and see what he recommends, then do the work myself.

 

Good plan. I don't mess with old radiators. Good new ones can be had without breaking the bank.