Coolant leak

[processengr]

Hi all,
Sprung a coolant leak on the 92 Ebony today. Cant pinpoint source, nothing visible on top, with car on ramps, engine running, dripping from just behind waterpump area. Waterpump? Any hoses hidden there? The hoses that are visible on the waterpump look fine.

[icingdeath88]

There are 2 smallish metal tubes that go from the top of the engine down to connect to the water pump with two short, roughly 90 degree rubber hoses. One of the tubes connects to the coolant crossover pipe by a short rubber hose on the back, driver's side of the engine. I think you can see this if you look under the intake manifold. I would consider any of those 3 short rubber hoses as somewhat likely to fail with age.

There is also a gasket between the WP and block that could possibly leak.

There are also 2 hoses on the top, rear of the engine that carry coolant from the passenger side, rear of the coolant crossover pipe through the heater core to one of the tubes that connects to the water pump. And 2 smaller hoses that go through the throttle bodies and join the same return tube. One of those hoses could leak, but I think they would drop down the back of the engine area, not the front.

Also an extremely bad headgasket could let coolant leak straight out of the block, behind the water pump, onto the ground. Ask me how I know...

[icingdeath88]

Come to think of it, I have an engine on a stand that I can post pictures of to show you where all that is if you need.

[processengr]

Originally Posted by icingdeath88

Come to think of it, I have an engine on a stand that I can post pictures of to show you where all that is if you need.

Thanks! That would be great!

[BRZCory]

Would be nice if you could post pictures, I'm currently trying to track down a leak that drips from the front of the oil pan??!! My plan was to replace the waterpump, as that's the only thing that I know is back there. Any other suggestions?

(It should be noted, it's a fairly steady drip drip, but turns to a gusher once I squeeze the radiator hose. Surprisingly enough when driving it doesn't leak too badly though.

[davew833]

I just replaced my water pump to fix a leak like you described. Pretty sure it was the pump-to-block gasket but I replaced the pump as well just to be safe. The coolant ran down the front of the oil pan and dripped off the front of it. Leak has stopped now (well, that one at least...)

[BRZCory]

Yeah I replaced my water pump (along with all the other seals on the front of the motor and oil pump stuff) last weekend. Fixed the leak! I'm pretty sure it was leaking out the weep hole in the water pump, meaning that the internal seal on the shaft had gone bad.

So, for anyone else with coolant leaking down your oil pan, replace your water pump! (and cam seals, oil pump o-ring and fujibond, front main, timing belt, etc.)

[edren1]

Had the same problem last week, though it was the water pump gasket, so I replaced the gasket since the water pump looked new. Come to find out it was the water pump weep hole, once it was all back together.