Odd Coolant Leak
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 73
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Odd Coolant Leak
77 Small Block
Hello, just changed the water pump, thermostat, water neck, bottom radiator hose and water pump. Used a Hi-flow stewart water pump. Car runs normal and does not appear to have any leaks while the engine is running. However, once parked and after some time, there is a bust of coolant that I see on the ground towards the front right (passenger side of the car). Examined all the radiator hoses, heater hoses, areas around the water pump gaskets, area around the water neck gasket - all dry. Almost seems like there is some sort of pressure build up somewhere and it bursts out. Cannot for the life of me figure out where it is coming from and quite puzzled. Any ideas on how I can trouble shoot or find the problem would be really helpful.
Hello, just changed the water pump, thermostat, water neck, bottom radiator hose and water pump. Used a Hi-flow stewart water pump. Car runs normal and does not appear to have any leaks while the engine is running. However, once parked and after some time, there is a bust of coolant that I see on the ground towards the front right (passenger side of the car). Examined all the radiator hoses, heater hoses, areas around the water pump gaskets, area around the water neck gasket - all dry. Almost seems like there is some sort of pressure build up somewhere and it bursts out. Cannot for the life of me figure out where it is coming from and quite puzzled. Any ideas on how I can trouble shoot or find the problem would be really helpful.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 73
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Hi, checked every hose, overflow hooked in correctly. Checked all connections at the control valve - nothing 
Want to trouble shoot everything before I take it in.
Lukcy, I did replace the radiator cap. Maybe its faulty? Will give that a try with a different radiator cap.
Want to trouble shoot everything before I take it in.
Lukcy, I did replace the radiator cap. Maybe its faulty? Will give that a try with a different radiator cap.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 734
Likes: 0
From: Bryan Texas
You should be able to trace down the leak visually... tried a "mirror on a stick"?
Did you use thread sealant on the water pump and thermostat housing bolts? Could be leaking through the threads then out by the bolt heads.
Did you use thread sealant on the water pump and thermostat housing bolts? Could be leaking through the threads then out by the bolt heads.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,698
Likes: 9
From: Johnson City TN
I recently had a similar leak, though on the driver side. I eventually found that the radiator side tank was trying to split at the seam, and it would spew out a small puddle right after shutoff.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Ontario
Pro
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 695
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From: tx
There is coolant somewhere. 
Also, another idea - be sure that all of the air is out of your cooling system. If you have air in the system you'll experience normal cooling, possibly a little overheating, and then puking.
Good luck!
Also, another idea - be sure that all of the air is out of your cooling system. If you have air in the system you'll experience normal cooling, possibly a little overheating, and then puking.
Good luck!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
You need to take off the heater hose from your intake when you are filling up your rad. Once you see water coming out, put the heater hose back on, and then keep filling up you rad till its full. This way you are "bleeding" the air out of your cooling system. Once the air is out, you shouldnt have the puking action going on