2008 OB 86K miles. Wife reported that she had just pulled into a parking lot after waiting in a long line. 10 minutes before stopping the car noticed no hot air from heater. Idling in lot noticed temp gauge was just below red. Turned off car and smelled the antifreeze. Opened hood and noticed leaking coolant but didn't identify source just that it was wet below the area of the overflow tank. Waited 10 minutes for cool down.

A good samaritan opened the radiator and said there was no water. Added only 1/2 gallon and started the car. Temp remained at mid point. Still no hot air. A minuite into the drive home, temp hit the red mark, she pulled over to the side, let it idle and the temp came back down and hot air was now blowing. Drove 1/2 hour home at hwy speeds and no further issues.

It appears that there is a green crusty residue at the point where the lower radiator hose joins the engine.

Could this be just a low coolant issue or should I be looking elsewhere? Replace the hose and call it a day? Do I need to flush the coolant and refill?

pressure test to make sure? - maybe a new rad cap?

 

but, seems like the lower hose has been leaking.

Find the leak /s

Watch the coolant level like a hawk. As in before every drive.

 

Both level in overflow and check for air in the upper hose.

Exactly what he said Leaks and monitor level in rad.

 

If you can find the leak to verify that would be awesome.