coolant leak, water pump maybe?

fiveohpatrol · 02-03-2001, 10:36 PM

i've just noticed a small amount of coolant on my garage floor so i have a leak somewhere, i dont think its a big leak but i wanna find it anyway cause i can't stand seeing my car bleed any color

when i jacked my car up i noticed theres quite a bit of coolant mostly on the underside of the lower radiator and some more around that area, so i started the engine to see if i could see the leak but it wouldnt do it, maybe it only leaks when i get back from runnin it pretty hard, anyway when i was underneath it looking for a leak i saw white smoke coming off the top of the waterpump, could the pump be causing the leak? is there a valve in the pump that opens when the pump goes bad? how much does a replacement pump cost? i think i may replace mine sooner or later because it looks like its original and will probably go out soon if it isnt already

i dont know much about cooling systems and need some help, thanks everyone

------------------
88 Notchback 5.0, 3.73's, pulleys, BBK headers, off-road H-pipe, flowmasters, subframe connectors, 65mm TB, shift kit, March ram air kit, motorsport wires, MSD coil, upper and lower control arms, 155lph fuel pump, cheap 2800 stall, Crane Adj.FPR, best time- 13.99@99.75, not yet tested times after 1.7RR install

Capri306 · 02-03-2001, 11:20 PM

Well, you have a leak somewhere, all right. Finding exactly where is going to be the tricky part, since you say it's wet under the radiator AND on the water pump. Usually a wet radiator means either a leaky radiator or a bad hose. You're right about water pumps telling you when they're going out. There's a weep hole somewhere around the impeller shaft, and it's supposed to leak when the seals in the pump go bad. This doesn't always happen. When I was changing my oil a couple days ago, I noticed a little trickle running down the timing cover, eminating from the water pump mounting flange. My water pump gasket is going, and I'm losing about a half quart of coolant a week.

The system still holds pressure fine, so it's not too bad.

Back to your problem, I'd seriously check out the pump and be sure it's not the culprit. Is your system holding pressure? When's the last time you replaced the radiator cap? Take it to a parts store and have it tested to be sure it's working properly. Assuming the pump is not at fault, and that the fan is just spraying coolant onto the top of the pump (it'll happen), AND that your hoses are in good shape, your radiator needs replacing. For the price and ease of installation of a new radiator, DON'T use some cheap radiator sealant you dump in. They have a bad habit of clogging heater cores and other nasty things. A new water pump can be had for about $20-30, and a new radiator for $70-85. Most places will give you a lifetime warranty on each. The other alternative is to solder the radiator yourself or find a friend or shop that can do it for you. It's easy to do and works great, but if you have ONE hole in the radiator now, you'll have a LOT later. Trust me on that.

Good luck.

------------------
Capri306, Moderator, The Mustang Works Online
1979 Mercury Capri, 5.0L -- C4 -- 2.73
1987 Mustang LX Notch

<--- New Timeslips

moc · 02-04-2001, 12:50 AM

** Unless it's pooling up under the water pump > I'd put a big pice of card board under the front of the Mustang ,and examine just were the fluid is Droping off from ..bad hose bad clamp to tight hope this helps one thing is you have got to let the Mustang sit for a while to see were it is coming from

------------------
1991 5.0 NotchBack,Black

fiveohpatrol · 02-04-2001, 02:24 PM

so i can just go to autozone and they will test th epressure in my system for me? i've never checked it, like i said i've not had any experience with cooling systems and could use some help, as far as i could tell there didnt seem to be any coolant on the actual pump, but there was some that looks like it has been trickling down the radiator hose from where it attaches to the pump so im narrowing it down to the pump and that hose, with my luck it'll be the pump

anyone know why theres white smoke/steam coming off the top of the pump? it seems to me like the pump is getting too hot from maybe the bearings inside being bad, what will the pressure check tell me? if it checks out does that mean that the pump is fine? also what does the radiator cap have to do with it, the leak isnt coming from there so i dont see how it would effect anything, thanks again guys for your help

Mr 5 0 · 02-04-2001, 05:35 PM

In my experience, when you see coolant running off the length of the lower radiator hose, it's a leaking water pump.

Water pumps are a replacement item and no big deal. Replace the hoses, too, including the heater hoses and do the job right.

A weak radiator cap will fail to hold pressure in the system and cause some problems. A new one is about $5.00.

I recommend replacing the coolant every two years, the hoses every four and the cap about every three.
A new radiator can run to over $200. for a brass 3-row from Ford and aluminum is even more, but you get what you pay for. If you replace the radiator (do not mess with repairs) get a qualty one and go for a three-row brass, at the minimum.

I suggest you locate the leak and have it repaired quickly before you end up standing on the side of the road, watching the steam boil out of your engine and possibly risk a cracked head gasket, or worse, for the price of a water pump, hose or cap. Good luck.

02-03-2001, 10:36 PM	#1
fiveohpatrol I'd rather be basketweaving Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,551	coolant leak, water pump maybe? i've just noticed a small amount of coolant on my garage floor so i have a leak somewhere, i dont think its a big leak but i wanna find it anyway cause i can't stand seeing my car bleed any color when i jacked my car up i noticed theres quite a bit of coolant mostly on the underside of the lower radiator and some more around that area, so i started the engine to see if i could see the leak but it wouldnt do it, maybe it only leaks when i get back from runnin it pretty hard, anyway when i was underneath it looking for a leak i saw white smoke coming off the top of the waterpump, could the pump be causing the leak? is there a valve in the pump that opens when the pump goes bad? how much does a replacement pump cost? i think i may replace mine sooner or later because it looks like its original and will probably go out soon if it isnt already i dont know much about cooling systems and need some help, thanks everyone ------------------ 88 Notchback 5.0, 3.73's, pulleys, BBK headers, off-road H-pipe, flowmasters, subframe connectors, 65mm TB, shift kit, March ram air kit, motorsport wires, MSD coil, upper and lower control arms, 155lph fuel pump, cheap 2800 stall, Crane Adj.FPR, best time- 13.99@99.75, not yet tested times after 1.7RR install

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02-03-2001, 11:20 PM	#2
Capri306 Moderator Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA Posts: 1,001	Well, you have a leak somewhere, all right. Finding exactly where is going to be the tricky part, since you say it's wet under the radiator AND on the water pump. Usually a wet radiator means either a leaky radiator or a bad hose. You're right about water pumps telling you when they're going out. There's a weep hole somewhere around the impeller shaft, and it's supposed to leak when the seals in the pump go bad. This doesn't always happen. When I was changing my oil a couple days ago, I noticed a little trickle running down the timing cover, eminating from the water pump mounting flange. My water pump gasket is going, and I'm losing about a half quart of coolant a week. The system still holds pressure fine, so it's not too bad. Back to your problem, I'd seriously check out the pump and be sure it's not the culprit. Is your system holding pressure? When's the last time you replaced the radiator cap? Take it to a parts store and have it tested to be sure it's working properly. Assuming the pump is not at fault, and that the fan is just spraying coolant onto the top of the pump (it'll happen), AND that your hoses are in good shape, your radiator needs replacing. For the price and ease of installation of a new radiator, DON'T use some cheap radiator sealant you dump in. They have a bad habit of clogging heater cores and other nasty things. A new water pump can be had for about $20-30, and a new radiator for $70-85. Most places will give you a lifetime warranty on each. The other alternative is to solder the radiator yourself or find a friend or shop that can do it for you. It's easy to do and works great, but if you have ONE hole in the radiator now, you'll have a LOT later. Trust me on that. Good luck. ------------------ Capri306, Moderator, The Mustang Works Online 1979 Mercury Capri, 5.0L -- C4 -- 2.73 1987 Mustang LX Notch <--- New Timeslips

02-04-2001, 12:50 AM	#3
moc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ocean City , Maryland Posts: 344	** Unless it's pooling up under the water pump > I'd put a big pice of card board under the front of the Mustang ,and examine just were the fluid is Droping off from ..bad hose bad clamp to tight hope this helps one thing is you have got to let the Mustang sit for a while to see were it is coming from ------------------ 1991 5.0 NotchBack,Black

02-04-2001, 02:24 PM	#4
fiveohpatrol I'd rather be basketweaving Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,551	so i can just go to autozone and they will test th epressure in my system for me? i've never checked it, like i said i've not had any experience with cooling systems and could use some help, as far as i could tell there didnt seem to be any coolant on the actual pump, but there was some that looks like it has been trickling down the radiator hose from where it attaches to the pump so im narrowing it down to the pump and that hose, with my luck it'll be the pump anyone know why theres white smoke/steam coming off the top of the pump? it seems to me like the pump is getting too hot from maybe the bearings inside being bad, what will the pressure check tell me? if it checks out does that mean that the pump is fine? also what does the radiator cap have to do with it, the leak isnt coming from there so i dont see how it would effect anything, thanks again guys for your help

02-04-2001, 05:35 PM	#5
Mr 5 0 Conservative Individualist Join Date: May 1997 Location: Wherever I need to be Posts: 7,487	In my experience, when you see coolant running off the length of the lower radiator hose, it's a leaking water pump. Water pumps are a replacement item and no big deal. Replace the hoses, too, including the heater hoses and do the job right. A weak radiator cap will fail to hold pressure in the system and cause some problems. A new one is about $5.00. I recommend replacing the coolant every two years, the hoses every four and the cap about every three. A new radiator can run to over $200. for a brass 3-row from Ford and aluminum is even more, but you get what you pay for. If you replace the radiator (do not mess with repairs) get a qualty one and go for a three-row brass, at the minimum. I suggest you locate the leak and have it repaired quickly before you end up standing on the side of the road, watching the steam boil out of your engine and possibly risk a cracked head gasket, or worse, for the price of a water pump, hose or cap. Good luck.