coolant leak!

[grasseater]

So last Friday I swapped in a 180 degree thermostat and changed the upper radiator hose.

Today I notice coolant leaking from the front of the motor big time, so I take a look. It appears the coolant is leaking from the end of the lower radiator hose where it clamps to the water pump.

No leaks from the thermostat housing, and didn't see any leaks from the water pump, but not much visibility there.

The engine temp didn't start getting high until I got close to home, but I think it was leaking for awhile; even so it was only about 10 degrees above normal.

The other kicker is that it started pulling hard to the right, which leads me to believe coolant got all over the driver side brakes and glazed the pads over. The driver side brakes were way hotter than the passenger side.

Any ideas about the coolant leak are appreciated. One theory is that after I changed the thermostat and upper hose, I didn't leave the radiator cap off to bleed air from the system. Would that cause pressure to build up in the system?

 

[ScottRoz]

I think the weep hole on the water pump will leak down to the area where that lower radiator hose connects. It could be bad luck and your water pump just decided to give it up.

Scott

 

[grasseater]

How much coolant can leak out of the weep hole? It wasn't weeping, it was really coming out...

 

[DXJ]

How much coolant can leak out of the weep hole? It wasn't weeping, it was really coming out...

"Weep" is an understatement in my case. After I refilled it to check, it would "weep" a large puddle under my rig in minutes. At first I thought it was the lower radiator hose as well.

 

[Dirk Pitt]

my experience was the same as DXJ. when i was leaking from the weephole it was pouring out, and it was leaking from the same area as you described. after i replaced the radiator hose i finally took off the water pump and had a lot of play in the shaft. cost of a replacement pump from napa was about $45 after core change.

 

[grasseater]

Looks like I'll be swapping a water pump on Monday. Any tips? I've heard to warm the engine up first b/c it helps the bolts break loose.

 

[RichP]

Just do an R&R of the cooling system. Drain the coolant and refill with water then add a bottle of 7 hour prestone flush. Drive it over the weekend as needed to get the 7 hours if you can. Back flush the system with one of the prestone back flush kits. While you have it apart to do the water pump, do the Tstat, the lower hose and make sure the new one has a spring in it. I'd also do the heater hoses so they are all 'in sync', new pressure cap. Remember to clean out the overflow bottle too. It is also a good time to do a new fan clutch and serpentine belt, maybe idler pulleys too...
When removing the old heater hoses cut them length wise, don't try to pull them off the heater core, just slice them then peel them back. I also use some indian head gasket cement around the inside inch or two of the new hoses for a good seal. The dealer slupplied hoses are what I use, the heater hoses already have the clamps on them, spring installed in the lower hose and they have the hose guards wrapped around them too. Worth the little bit extra money cause the fit and have the right bends and end sizes.. Use distilled water when making up your new coolant mix too... I also use the OEM dealer supplied Tstat and gasket, make sure the hole is in the 12 O'Clock postion on the tstat when you install it...

 

[8700XJS]

How much coolant can leak out of the weep hole? It wasn't weeping, it was really coming out...

On my '87 when the water pump went out the weep hole became a gushing hole real quick. On the other hand when the water pump went out on my '00 the coolant just did that...it wept for about 2 weeks before I could get time to change it. It all depends on the severity of the pump failure.

8700xjs