Type44: my second post.
I want/need to sell it, but first I'll loan it to a friend who is having car problems. He's a concert pianist, and has no knowledge or interest in mechanical things except a vehicle which will get him to practice or teaching reliably, and he's pretty far away. His vehicle is down, and he's renting, and it's crushing his budget.
I can loan him this so he can save for repair parts costs, and I'll do what I can, but I can't fund his repairs. Airbag light is on, failed inspection on that basis alone.
But I can't loan a vehicle I'll have to return to repair - it's too far. The seeping had been going on for two years, but it was consistent. Every two tanks I'd put in about a quart, and that'd last two weeks. And no problem if it sat - no leaking.
So I want to sell it [it's body is in great shape for its age - very little rust], and I don't want to put much if any time or money in it, other than to get it inspected of its way enough [the TDI Caprice is a fever dream of mine].
I was going to drive the Caprice to him and drive his back here to PA [if I could] until a drive axle on my Accord snapped, so I wouldn't have a car myself. Then, going in the Caprice for the drive axle for the Accord was when the big leak occurred, so I'm leery of lending the Caprice.
The original question was so I could understand why the leak occurred - if there was a known though obscure situation why something would only leak when shut down for longer than 5 min or so.
Replace the hose was the easy answer - that's why I already pulled it at the U.P.It. But it doesn't seem to leak from the hose when I get down there to look - I seem to be missing the start of the flow. It's either dry or already wet when i've gotten eyes on that area.
And also: original rad on a '91 Caprice.
So I'm going to say my first conclusion was replace both hose and rad; but again I'm trying to pass off work and cost to the next owner - hence full disclosure.
Caprice is parked now, though, and I'm working on the axle for my Honda. 300+k mi.upstate NY car, originally. But I finally got it with an air gun.
I'm probably going to wind up getting a replacement rad at the U-Pull-It, and replace both rad and hose.