Coolant leaks from a cracked aluminum tube in L's 1995 Chevrolet. Our departure to Michigan for a week of fun and relaxation was delayed when we popped the hood to check the oil and found this leak. The "Low Coolant" light on the dash had been on for a little while, so this was probably why. After spending the next five hours calling and driving around the D.C. area in search of Chevrolet Part #22596769 (the leaking tube), we finally just decided to forget about it and head out. The tube is only for overflow anyway, so it didn't seem like it would matter if it was leaking; that turned out to be the case. We made it fine.

The experience taught me again that if your engine temperature sensor is working fine (ours seemed to be) and if the engine temperature holds at normal with no problem, then a small coolant leak isn't a big deal. Of course, you want to fix such things eventually, but you don't have to park the car until you do so. I also learned something about the "Low Coolant" idiot light in the dash of this car: It's controlled by a simple float in the coolant reservoir, and if the coolant level gets low in that reservoir, the float will often get stuck on the bottom of the tank so that even when you have plenty of coolant, the "Low Coolant" light will stay on in the dash. Solution: Just give the coolant reservoir a few brisk taps to shake the float free and your "Low Coolant" light should turn off. This might not work with all cars, but it certainly works with this one. See, you learn something everyday...