My truck started to leak coolant last week. Yesterday I did some investicating and determined that the leak was coming from the weep hole in the water pump.

I tore it down and replaced the water pump, checked everything I could see while it was apart and couldn't see any other problems. Got it back together ran it long enough to get it to operating temp. and re-checked, still good. Drove it home from my brothers shop about two miles, checked it again no leaks. Went inside for about four hours came back out to go to the store and there was a puddle of coolant under the truck!

Looked and felt around the water pump and checked evertything I could see. It was puddling on the engine cross member and on the bottom of the timing gear cover. The hoses were good, the water pump seems ok! Can't really see where the leak originates.

Question: Are there any water jackets below the water pump area and/or seals or anything that could cause a coolant leak? Could I have a cracked block?

Any ideas or suggestions, I'm lost!

 

This happened on my gf's 98 jimmy we replaced the water pump and had the same problem. If its the same problem look between the intake and the heads, chances are its leaking there.

I picked up this stuff called Bars Leak and put it in the radiator then filled it with coolant along with the reservior. It says run for 15-30 min. I let it sit and idle for 20 min then took it for a 10 minute drive, it hasn't leaked since.

Sorry for the book but that should help, let me know if i was right lol.

 

Did you use new pump to block gaskets? They've been known to leak. Maybe one of the waterpump bolts isn't completely torqued down??

*EDIT* just noticed what year truck you have...intake manifold gaskets would be my first guess...

 

Yeah, the intake gasket was the first quess for me as well, mine is siliconed down. Besides the intake is a very visable and I would see that leak for sure and I did check and recheck the water pump bolts. I can also see those pretty well. Someone in another forum suggested one of the two freeze plugs in the front of the block. One behind the AC and the other behind the alternator.

This would make sense because I can't see either of them and the coolant leaking there would run down the front of the block. If thats not it, I'll try some Bars Leak and see what happens.

Thanks for your input....

 

I haven't found it yet may have to do the black light test. Can't get into my brothers shop he forgot to leave the service door open for me. Not allow to work on vehicles at my apartment complex either.

 

use a pressure tester at your brothers shop

 

Not an auto shop, Building Maintenance shop, lots of tools but no special auto tools.

 

oh ok, ya might want to buy one or borrow one from someone, if you were more near delaware i could help out lol