Coolant leakage
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Coolant leakage
Ok I am new to Corvette repair so be nice please. I have a 96 CE with lt4. This car had new radiator hoses top and bottom, flushed and new coolant, also new thermostat last fall, garaged all winter. Drove car for two or three times this spring no problems. Parked in garage and 2 days later a line of coolant on floor under car looks like coming from under front of engine area. Checked to see if wp was leaking and am not sure. Cannot feel or see any coolant from what I think is weep hole area but can see couple drops just below on crossmember? top. This leaked for little bit and stopped...went back later and took rad. cap off to check level of coolant and it started to drip again and cap replaced and leak stopped after little bit. where does everbody get oem wps and any suggestions or opinions appreciated. BTW car runs fine so not sure if opti is problem or not. Fire away, please
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 578
Ok I am new to Corvette repair so be nice please. I have a 96 CE with lt4. This car had new radiator hoses top and bottom, flushed and new coolant, also new thermostat last fall, garaged all winter. Drove car for two or three times this spring no problems. Parked in garage and 2 days later a line of coolant on floor under car looks like coming from under front of engine area. Checked to see if wp was leaking and am not sure. Cannot feel or see any coolant from what I think is weep hole area but can see couple drops just below on crossmember? top. This leaked for little bit and stopped...went back later and took rad. cap off to check level of coolant and it started to drip again and cap replaced and leak stopped after little bit. where does everbody get oem wps and any suggestions or opinions appreciated. BTW car runs fine so not sure if opti is problem or not. Fire away, please
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Pump is available from many parts shops.... AutoZone is priced at $132 (Duralast).
A major concern would be if coolant entered the opti. Failure may not be immediate, as moisture may take some time to corrode internals. If moisture entered the opti, corrosion will eventually occur.
Advising you to replace the opti when replacing the water pump is a difficult decision. A failing opti may,
or, may not, set a trouble code.
If you intend to replace the water pump, this link will help (includes opti replacement, also):
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-pictures.html
A major concern would be if coolant entered the opti. Failure may not be immediate, as moisture may take some time to corrode internals. If moisture entered the opti, corrosion will eventually occur.
Advising you to replace the opti when replacing the water pump is a difficult decision. A failing opti may,
or, may not, set a trouble code.
If you intend to replace the water pump, this link will help (includes opti replacement, also):
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-pictures.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 51
From: Connecticut
This is what I would do.
1st - verify all coolant hoses and clamps are secured properly. A loose hose and/or clamp can leak just as easily as any other part.
2nd - verify radiator drain plug is tight.
3rd - borrow an inspection mirror or, if inspection mirror not available, some other small mirror and a flash light. This is used to properly inspect the water pump tattle tale. I would also inspect the water pump gaskets and water pump temperature sender for leaks as well.
4th - inspect coolant overflow bottle for cracks and or leaks.
5th - inspect coolant hoses for holes and abrasions.
1st - verify all coolant hoses and clamps are secured properly. A loose hose and/or clamp can leak just as easily as any other part.
2nd - verify radiator drain plug is tight.
3rd - borrow an inspection mirror or, if inspection mirror not available, some other small mirror and a flash light. This is used to properly inspect the water pump tattle tale. I would also inspect the water pump gaskets and water pump temperature sender for leaks as well.
4th - inspect coolant overflow bottle for cracks and or leaks.
5th - inspect coolant hoses for holes and abrasions.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
with kg4fku. Inspect first. The question above about running your air conditioning is leaning toward the "coolant" actually being the condensation from the air conditioning. Coolant should have a green color to it. Condensation from the air would be clean water.If your leaking with the filler cap off, then pull it off and use an inspection mirror to figure out where the fluid is coming from. There is also a small hose that goes to and from the throttle body, check that also.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,351
Likes: 222
From: Delta B.C. Canada
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
2015 C4 of Year Finalist
This is what I would do.
1st - verify all coolant hoses and clamps are secured properly. A loose hose and/or clamp can leak just as easily as any other part.
2nd - verify radiator drain plug is tight.
3rd - borrow an inspection mirror or, if inspection mirror not available, some other small mirror and a flash light. This is used to properly inspect the water pump tattle tale. I would also inspect the water pump gaskets and water pump temperature sender for leaks as well.
4th - inspect coolant overflow bottle for cracks and or leaks.
5th - inspect coolant hoses for holes and abrasions.
1st - verify all coolant hoses and clamps are secured properly. A loose hose and/or clamp can leak just as easily as any other part.
2nd - verify radiator drain plug is tight.
3rd - borrow an inspection mirror or, if inspection mirror not available, some other small mirror and a flash light. This is used to properly inspect the water pump tattle tale. I would also inspect the water pump gaskets and water pump temperature sender for leaks as well.
4th - inspect coolant overflow bottle for cracks and or leaks.
5th - inspect coolant hoses for holes and abrasions.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
No ac. Car set 2 days without any leaking. Then noticed when came home little stream of coolant on floor looked and saw dripping from crossmember under car view. Put tray under there and caught maybe 2-3 ounces orange coolant. Looked from top view and saw couple drops on crossmember under crank pulley. This is not large leak but if it is wp wanna get it fixed asap before leads to bigger issues. Car has not been started since saw leak. Thanks for link showing how to replace opti and wp, that will be very good info. Guess I need to know does wp need to be oem, as I have called NAPA , O'reillys in area and nobody can get delco replacement parts, what brand does come highly recommended? Thanks guys
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Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 30,427
Likes: 1,609
From: Outside the Quick Stop N.J.
Many auto parts stores will lend you a pressure tester to pressurize the cooling system w/o the engine running, then you can poke around under the hood without the acc pulleys spinning.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
..WW
