The invention discloses a generator hydrogen cooler leakage detection method. The method includes the following steps that: gas replacement is performed after the hydrogen-cooled generator stops operating, so that the hydrogen of the hydrogen cooler is replaced with air; the water entering door of the hydrogen cooler is closed, the water return door of the hydrogen cooler is opened, and residual water inside the hydrogen cooler is emptied; the cover plate of the water chamber of the hydrogen cooler is opened, and dirt inside the water chamber of the hydrogen cooler is cleaned; and air is injected into the stator chamber of the generator, so that the pressure of the air inside the stator chamber of the generator can be raised to rated hydrogen pressure. With the method of the invention adopted, the hydrogen cooler is not required to be drawn out from the body of the generator so as to be subjected to leakage detection during a leakage detection process, and therefore, the workload of the leakage detection can be greatly decreased. The leakage detection method is precise and direct and can be understood at a glance, so that omissions can be avoided; the efficiency of the method is shigh; and therefore, a work period can be shortened. Since the hydrogen cooler is not needed to be completely disassembled, some gaskets do not need to be replaced, and therefore, maintenance costs can be saved.