Coolant Under Waterpump

[81dmc]

So I drove my car roughly 150 miles yesterday, and all went well with my coolant temp maxing out at 211 degrees. As I checked the engine last night, I found coolant residue directly under my water pump pulley. I checked under the intake with a light, and the valley is dry.
image.jpg

Could it be a pump failure or even a leaky passenger side hose?

Also, I did find a few drops of coolant at the end of the overflow hose. Would that signify a bad cap?

[opethmike]

It's either the pump leaking, or one of those elbow shaped hoses. Go to an auto parts store and rent a coolant pressure tester. That will make identifying the leak much easier.

[81dmc]

It's either the pump leaking, or one of those elbow shaped hoses. Go to an auto parts store and rent a coolant pressure tester. That will make identifying the leak much easier.

Will have to test with my pressure tester late tonight.

After driving it about 20 miles this morning, there doesn't seem to be any more leaking. I wonder if the high temps of 211 or 212 in the last two days caused it to push some coolant out?

[81dmc]

Now that I look more closely at it, this residue under the hose seems suspicious, doesn't it?
image.jpg

[opethmike]

Now that I look more closely at it, this residue under the hose seems suspicious, doesn't it?
image.jpg

I've had problems with those elbow hoses before. For whatever reason, they seem particularly difficult to seal.

[novadmc]

if you have a boroscope (inspection camera) you can stick it down underneath the fuel distributor and intake manifold to see if there's any coolant in the valley.

that said, the location of your coolant looks more like the weep hole for the water pump starting to, well, weep, as seals inside the pump may be starting to fail.

get under the rear with a nice bright flashlight and look up towards the underside of the waterpump just behind the pulley and see if there's any residue in/around the weep hole.

[81dmc]

Found the culprit.
image.jpg
It was coming from the weep hole. However, it only leaked one time. With that, I'll leave it until the end of the week since I'm using the car as my temporary daily.

I sure as hell hope it isn't a failure since the pump is nearly a brand new Gates pump...

[sdg3205]

Hate to break it to you but coolant from the weep hole isn't a good sign. I had a brand new pump weep right from the get go, so it happens

[David T]

Hate to break it to you but coolant from the weep hole isn't a good sign. I had a brand new pump weep right from the get go, so it happens

If it is a brandy new pump a slight weeping may not be bad if it stops quickly. If it continues or gets worse the pump seal is leaking and the pump must be rebuilt or replaced. Sometimes a new pump will leak a little bit til the seal seats itself in. If you ran the motor at all without coolant with the new pump you burnt the seal and it will get worse.

[81dmc]

If it is a brandy new pump a slight weeping may not be bad if it stops quickly. If it continues or gets worse the pump seal is leaking and the pump must be rebuilt or replaced. Sometimes a new pump will leak a little bit til the seal seats itself in. If you ran the motor at all without coolant with the new pump you burnt the seal and it will get worse.

I think this is the case since it hasn't leaked since I created this thread. I guess I'll check again Thursday or Friday.