Odd coolant leak
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,629
Likes: 7
From: Lawrenceville PA
Odd coolant leak
A few weeks ago I backed my 86 into the driveway to do some detailing and when I put it back in the garage after I finished, I noticed a small coolant leak on the driveway. I checked the engine bay thoroughly but could see no sign of leaking from hoses , radiator, water pump, etc and I've driven it several times and even to a car show and no recurrance of the leak. Well, yesterday again I backed it out into the driveway for more detailing and again noticed a small leakage after I drove it back into the garage.
For some reason when I back it into the driveway is when the leaks occur. Now my driveway is slightly sloped away from the house and I don't know if that's what's causing the leak and if it is what the heck would that mean?
I crawled up underneath the car as best I could and did see a drip of coolant from under the area where the waterpump is located but couldn't be 100% sure. I don't have the equipment or mechanical aptitude to fix the darn thing so I'll have to drop it of at the shop but wanted to see if anyone had any ideas on what might be the source of the leak and whether it's safe to keep driving it. Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any help you can give.
For some reason when I back it into the driveway is when the leaks occur. Now my driveway is slightly sloped away from the house and I don't know if that's what's causing the leak and if it is what the heck would that mean?
I crawled up underneath the car as best I could and did see a drip of coolant from under the area where the waterpump is located but couldn't be 100% sure. I don't have the equipment or mechanical aptitude to fix the darn thing so I'll have to drop it of at the shop but wanted to see if anyone had any ideas on what might be the source of the leak and whether it's safe to keep driving it. Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any help you can give.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
get under there... I will bet money it's coming from the oil "heater."
It's essentially the oil filter housing. It has coolant lines going through it, and the hoses are prone to leakage from age and such.
It's essentially the oil filter housing. It has coolant lines going through it, and the hoses are prone to leakage from age and such.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 747
Likes: 0
From: Perth Western Australia
it is probably from the weep hole on the underside of the waterpump. my old one did this and it did not look like it was coming from there when i got under and had a look.
when coolant leaks from there i think it means the water pump is on its way out and needs replacing.
you can drive it, but not too far or too long..... just till you get to the garage i would suggest from expirience.
when coolant leaks from there i think it means the water pump is on its way out and needs replacing.
you can drive it, but not too far or too long..... just till you get to the garage i would suggest from expirience.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Depending on the location of your leak, front or back, on the ground; mine had a mysterious leak as well ans it was coming from the SURGE TANK the seam on the backside against the firewall had a crack in it and when I was at a slant is when it would leak. I purchased one from Mid America $53 bucks problem done away with.
Then I had a coolant leak from the front which turned out to be the Throttle Body bypass kit I installed and the connections were loosening (found this one by accident) but at first I thought it was the water pump becuase it would drip onto the top of it and run down!
Point is; Look for the highest point of the leak when you search and investigate the location on the ground, is it running along the frame or down something!
Thanks, Matt
Then I had a coolant leak from the front which turned out to be the Throttle Body bypass kit I installed and the connections were loosening (found this one by accident) but at first I thought it was the water pump becuase it would drip onto the top of it and run down!
Point is; Look for the highest point of the leak when you search and investigate the location on the ground, is it running along the frame or down something!
Thanks, Matt
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,629
Likes: 7
From: Lawrenceville PA
Well I just crawled underneath and it doesn't look like it's coming from the area of the oil filter housing as it's far forward of that. There's a rail that forms a kind of "V" underneath which is where the drips run down. It looks to be directly underneath where the water pump is located but I still can't determine the exact location of the source of the leak. Any diagnostic tests other than visual to determine if the waterpump is failing? Thanks again.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
I used an extendable mirror and a flash light to look around(you could build one yourself). You should be able to see underneath the water pump, see weep holes, with this as did I. I also took off the Intake Air Inlet off the Throttle Body to look down from the top for another view, which helped tremedously.
I had the same problem as well as does everyone else that is being able to see from underneath! But with patience you'll be able to spot it. Try the small mirror with a good flash light.
Thanks, Matt
I had the same problem as well as does everyone else that is being able to see from underneath! But with patience you'll be able to spot it. Try the small mirror with a good flash light.
Thanks, Matt
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by madmatt9471
Depending on the location of your leak, front or back, on the ground; mine had a mysterious leak as well ans it was coming from the SURGE TANK the seam on the backside against the firewall had a crack in it and when I was at a slant is when it would leak. I purchased one from Mid America $53 bucks problem done away with.
Then I had a coolant leak from the front which turned out to be the Throttle Body bypass kit I installed and the connections were loosening (found this one by accident) but at first I thought it was the water pump becuase it would drip onto the top of it and run down!
Point is; Look for the highest point of the leak when you search and investigate the location on the ground, is it running along the frame or down something!
Thanks, Matt
Then I had a coolant leak from the front which turned out to be the Throttle Body bypass kit I installed and the connections were loosening (found this one by accident) but at first I thought it was the water pump becuase it would drip onto the top of it and run down!
Point is; Look for the highest point of the leak when you search and investigate the location on the ground, is it running along the frame or down something!
Thanks, Matt
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by 1986pacecar
Well I just crawled underneath and it doesn't look like it's coming from the area of the oil filter housing as it's far forward of that. There's a rail that forms a kind of "V" underneath which is where the drips run down. It looks to be directly underneath where the water pump is located but I still can't determine the exact location of the source of the leak. Any diagnostic tests other than visual to determine if the waterpump is failing? Thanks again.
The thing is, once they start to leak, that is the diagnostic. These are simple mechanical devices with failure based diagnostics... weap=dying.
It sucks... but that's the way it is.
Remove the air intake tube and start nosing around. It could also be a bad gasket, too.
However, the amt of work required to reach the gasket leads me to recommend replacing the pump... they only last so long.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I had a leaky gasket on the right side of the waterpump where it attaches to the block. It would only leak under pressure and when the pump was turning so I had a tough time initially figuring out where the leak was.
There was enough coolant being lost that the warning light would come on and the coolant level in the radiator would be below the sensor.
I finally got around to replacing the gaskets last month. The job was a PITA to do as I have the R-D Racing Camber Brace on the car and it had to come off.
Getting the A/C compressor off was another biotch of a job. There is one long Torx bolt under the compressor that has to come out in order to remove the accessory bracket. This bolt is not fun
Got a new set of gaskets, cleaned the surfaces and reinstalled. Life is now good (and dry
)!!
There was enough coolant being lost that the warning light would come on and the coolant level in the radiator would be below the sensor.
I finally got around to replacing the gaskets last month. The job was a PITA to do as I have the R-D Racing Camber Brace on the car and it had to come off.
Getting the A/C compressor off was another biotch of a job. There is one long Torx bolt under the compressor that has to come out in order to remove the accessory bracket. This bolt is not fun
Got a new set of gaskets, cleaned the surfaces and reinstalled. Life is now good (and dry
)!!
