Coolant leak...not the expansion bottle

403delica · Post by **403delica** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 10:21 am

Alright ladies and gentlemen i have avery very sleight coolant leak on the left side of engine that dribbles down from the engine mount on to the front diff.... very very sleight and also possibly temperature related... put a coolant pressure tester on it the other day for 30 min and no drop in pressure and no visible leak yet i still have a sleigh puddle every morning.

Any thoughts? possible something that is thermostatically controlled fro flow in pump area? Gonna throw some dye in it and see what happens

Thanks

pajerry · Post by **pajerry** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 10:31 am

Sounds like the water pump. It starts to dribble to let you know that it is on the way out.. I had the same warning.

Its runs down and ends up around there.

403delica · Post by **403delica** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 3:11 pm

the water pump is drivin or the chain right? or is it belt drivin? is there a weep hole in the front of the cover... it seems to be farther back from that but ill deffinatly keep the pump in mind. thanks for the input

Dino · Post by **Dino** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 4:07 pm

I doubt it's the water pump. Mine was just starting to drip out the weep hole when I pulled my IP. it was dripping down the timing cover right onto the timing marks on the right side of the harmonic balancer. The left side of the engine could be part of the cold start circuit of the IP or there are 2 frost plugs on that side of the block as well

403delica · Post by **403delica** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 4:12 pm

yah it frustrating, i pulled the batteries to get a better look and pressurized the system and still no luck, ill try running it tomorrow and see if i can pin point it

Dino · Post by **Dino** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 5:45 am

To help with your testing, it sounds more like a cool down leak. When the engine is warm the metals will expand and help seal up the gaskets better, but as it cools off the contraction of the mated metal surfaces can sometimes allow a leak to open up that wasn't there before. Try looking underneath the engine on the side of the block for green residue or a wet trail, then with a mirror try to follow it up until you find the source.

403delica · Post by **403delica** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:44 am

Yah I have a no phosphate heavy duty coolant which is almost clear... Ill put some coolant dye and trace the trail! Thanks

pajerry · Post by **pajerry** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 10:58 am

Come to think of it, I also had a minor leak on the cold start/idle thermostat way before the pump. Both leaked down onto the diff from the bought tom pulley.

403delica · Post by **403delica** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 1:26 pm

Tried a new cap today and we will see... cant get it back on a hoist for another couple days

403delica · Post by **403delica** » Tue May 14, 2013 10:19 am

So an update, i should have posted this months ago, leak was from the wax thermostat on the top of the pump which is part of the cold idle system. i re routed the hoses to take it out and no leak. ghetto fix

Manitoba deli · Post by **Manitoba deli** » Tue May 14, 2013 9:13 pm

It's usually just the o-ring that leaks, once you move the throttle linkages out of the way, there is a snap ring that holds the wax pellet in place, remove the snap ring, pull out the mechanism, and replace the o-ring. (I usually clean up the inside of the chamber with some fine emery to make sure the o-ring seals nicely.
Jason

403delica · Post by **403delica** » Wed May 15, 2013 10:03 am

Jason do i have to pull the pump out to service it? i see the snap ring that hold in the armature and can lever the throttle out of the way. i Was told i need to rebuild the pump?

Manitoba deli · Post by **Manitoba deli** » Fri May 17, 2013 6:49 am

You won't be able to move the linkage far enough out of the way, but if you remove it, you can do the o-ring in place. It's a bit tricky getting the springs back on the linkage, but much easier than removing the IP. Study the springs and linkages, maybe even take a picture or two to make sure you get it back together correctly.
Jason

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