Leaking Coolant

**blackcar** · 02-15-2011, 05:59 AM

I haven't driven the car in a week. But I noticed last night that it is leaking coolant. There wasn't a lot of room to look under the car, but best I could tell it is not coming from the radiator. Looks more like the motor area. I will try and get it jacked up this evening when I get off work and check it out. Since I just put a new tensioner on I'm betting water pump. What's your bet/where should I start looking?

***SMWS6TA*** · 02-15-2011, 06:54 AM

Pics would help, if its around the front of the engine, I'd be willing to bet its the pump, but it could also be a leaky hose fitting. But I'd check the following:

Check Oil Dip stick - see if the oil looks like chocolate milk. Means you have much bigger problems.

Check Coolant - See if it looks oily. Means the same thing above. Head gasket is leaking in both of these cases.

**02sunsetorangeZ** · 02-15-2011, 07:33 AM

yea check that first because that would be bad. if it seems fine then start looking around your water pump area. post pics

**blackcar** · 02-15-2011, 07:43 AM

Yeah I know pics would help. But where it is parked in the garage I almost couldn't get my head down there to look. I did check the oil last night and it looked good. About all I know right now is coolant is on the floor under the motor.

**pajeff02** · 02-15-2011, 08:24 AM

I would look at the hose connections first. Has it been very cold down your way?

**blackcar** · 02-15-2011, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

I would look at the hose connections first. Has it been very cold down your way?

Colder than norm. Been down in the teens over night.

**pajeff02** · 02-15-2011, 08:46 AM

I have had coolant leaks that occur only in super cold weather.

**blackcar** · 02-15-2011, 12:20 PM

Ready to leave work and see what is wrong. The weather is too nice the past couple of days for the car to just sit there.

**02sunsetorangeZ** · 02-16-2011, 05:35 AM

welll good luck to ya, im thinking it might be a water pump gasket. ive heard they had problems with the stock ones leaking.

**blackcar** · 02-16-2011, 06:58 AM

Didn't get a chance to look at it last night. Maybe tonight. How hard is it to tell if it is the gasket on the water pump or the weep hole.

**pajeff02** · 02-16-2011, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by blackcar

Didn't get a chance to look at it last night. Maybe tonight. How hard is it to tell if it is the gasket on the water pump or the weep hole.

Just have to look for tracks. If it has been leaking long enough you'll find a crusty trail that should lead right to the source.

**02sunsetorangeZ** · 02-16-2011, 08:50 AM

yep and its not hard to replace either

***SMWS6TA*** · 02-16-2011, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by 02sunsetorangeZ

yep and its not hard to replace either

much easier then the LT1

**blackcar** · 02-17-2011, 05:53 AM

Got under it last night. It's coming from the water pump. It was hard to tell if it is the passenger side gasket or the weep hole. Too much stuff in the way to see the weep hole. But I'm pretty sure it is the weep hole. Just order a new water pump from summit. It says it will be in either Monday or Tuesday. Sure would be nice it it made it here Saturday.

**02sunsetorangeZ** · 02-17-2011, 06:30 AM

well get the new gaskets from gm they hold up, prolly take you about an hour to get it done.

**blackcar** · 02-17-2011, 09:53 AM

Gaskets look similar to stock. Think they will work.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GM...7290/?rtype=10

**02sunsetorangeZ** · 02-17-2011, 07:17 PM

they should work. I bet someone knows what the difference was in them but good luck!

**blackcar** · 02-18-2011, 05:46 AM

I think some of the aftermarket pumps came with cardbored gaskets.

**blackcar** · 02-23-2011, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by blackcar

I think some of the aftermarket pumps came with cardbored gaskets.

Including this one. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GM...7290/?rtype=10 even though the ones in the picture are not cardbored.

Changed the water pump last night. Pretty straghit forward job. Thought I could do it with just pulling the air lid and MAF and NOT pulling the throttle body, but I was wrong. I could get everything unbolted but could not get the pump out. Also it was better to unbolt the thermostat while it was still on the car. Made it easier to pull the heater hoses off. If I did one again I would not even pull the hose off the t-stat.

The bad news. After I got the pump off I could see where water has been running down the timing chain cover. Looks like the metal line at the front of the motor just above the water pump either has been or is leaking. If that was the problem then I didn't need to change the water pump. But it did look stock and if it was, had 115,000 miles on it so I went a head and changed it. Hope it fixes the leak but if not it must be that little metal line. Anyone know what that is called so i can find another if need be.