Help finding coolant leak
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,729
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From: Vancouver, BC
Help finding coolant leak
When the engine is shut down, coolant starts coming out about 2 drips per second. Right around where the lower rad hose connects to the engine, but it definitely is not the rad hose. It dribbles down the right side of the crankshaft damper. Looking for ideas, before I rip everything out. Thanks.
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Re: Help finding coolant leak (SizzleChest)
Been there! Water pump weep hole. Looks like it's dripping from the rad hose, but it isn't (no matter how many times you try to re-install/tighten that hose. It's just kind of dripping from that area but you can't see where it's originating from, right?
Looks like your water pump is going bad. Time for a new one. :yesnod:
Looks like your water pump is going bad. Time for a new one. :yesnod:
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,729
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From: Vancouver, BC
Re: Help finding coolant leak (ddecart)
Been there! Water pump weep hole. Looks like it's dripping from the rad hose, but it isn't (no matter how many times you try to re-install/tighten that hose. It's just kind of dripping from that area but you can't see where it's originating from, right?
Looks like your water pump is going bad. Time for a new one. :yesnod:
Looks like your water pump is going bad. Time for a new one. :yesnod:
Team Owner
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Re: Help finding coolant leak (SizzleChest)
Here's what i found out when I had that problem:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=564359
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=564359
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
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Re: Help finding coolant leak (SizzleChest)
I'll be on that first thing tomorrow morning. What exactly is a weep hole? The entire pump needs to be replaced?
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 153
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From: shores of lake erie pa
Re: Help finding coolant leak (SizzleChest)
wow,this must be the season for water pump's.my 68 started dripping water yesterday but that's ok because i wanted to upgrade to a hi flow crome pump anyway. i just installed a crome alt. from a co. in ohio called tuff stuff.i emailed them and they make the pump i want so that's cool
wave
wave
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,729
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From: Vancouver, BC
Re: Help finding coolant leak (SizzleChest)
I don't know much about the whole numbers matching deal, but if this is the original pump, should I opt for a rebuild rather than buying new? The engine and tranny are numbers matching.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Smalltownville Michigan
Cruise-In 5, 6 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: Help finding coolant leak (SizzleChest)
shoot, while your'e at it, might look at changin hoses and belts while you got it out....and possibly a flush...i know it seems like i am stating the ovibous, but it never hurts to bring up the idea...
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
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Re: Help finding coolant leak (SizzleChest)
$44 for a new water pump. Something doesn't sound right about that price. :skep:
Anyone know the coolant capacity for a 78? Also trying to locate the the drain plug on the engine block. thanks.
Race Director
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From: SE Pennsylvania
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Oldtimer
Re: Help finding coolant leak (SizzleChest)
The water hose connects to a metal fitting which could be rusted enough to have pin holes in it, and what about the two water pump bolts on the right side of the pump? They could be loose or there might have been installed without sealant, thus they would over time develop a leak. Also you might have a pinhole further back on the hose and it's leaking and running down to where the connection is? Don't laugh, I bought a brand new heater hose for my vette two years ago and it had a pinhole a foot from the end at the heater core?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Vancouver, BC
Re: Help finding coolant leak (wcsinx)
$44 for a new water pump. Something doesn't sound right about that price. :skep:
That's about what they cost. :confused:
Anyone know the coolant capacity for a 78? Also trying to locate the the drain plug on the engine block. thanks.
The owner's manual for my 76 says it's 21 quarts (jeez that sounds like a lot). Are you trying to find the plug to flush the cooling system? It's easier to just use the radiator petcock. Or just pull the lower hose loose.
That's about what they cost. :confused:
Anyone know the coolant capacity for a 78? Also trying to locate the the drain plug on the engine block. thanks.
The owner's manual for my 76 says it's 21 quarts (jeez that sounds like a lot). Are you trying to find the plug to flush the cooling system? It's easier to just use the radiator petcock. Or just pull the lower hose loose.
Team Owner
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Re: Help finding coolant leak (SizzleChest)
I was planning to change all the coolant while I have the chance. By just draining the rad, won't there still be coolant in the block? I know that on my truck, there is a drain plug on the block as well.
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SPARTAN
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Re: Help finding coolant leak (SizzleChest)
$44 for a new water pump. Something doesn't sound right about that price. :skep:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,190
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From: SIMI VALLEY CA
Re: Help finding coolant leak (ddecart)
With this talk about water pumps be SURE to check your fan clutch. It may be the cause of water pump failure. If the fan clutch does need to be replaced and you have a manual trans replace it with a unit from Chevrolet. I used a (hayden i think) fan clutch from the neighborhood parts store and 3 water pumps later put the chevrolet one on and no more water pump problems.