Need help with leak
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 613
Likes: 1
From: Salt Lake City Utah
Need help with leak
I've read through the forums and found the issue might be, but I'm still confused.
I have an 02 Z06 and a few months ago there was orange stuff under my car (coolant). There was probably a quart. I cleaned it up, topped it off, and there was nothing leaked until last week. I cleaned it up, topped it off, and nothing since.
I read that it is probably the water pump or its seal. I don't understand why it is so intermittent. If there is a leak, wouldn't it leak all of the time. Perhaps only being sensitive to the engine temp creating a higher pressure?
What should my next step be? At idle the car is seeming to heat up higher than normal. I want to do a full coolant flush, but want to fix the intermittent leak first so I don't loose it. Should I just buy a new pump, seal, and coolant and hope that does it?
Thank you,
John
I have an 02 Z06 and a few months ago there was orange stuff under my car (coolant). There was probably a quart. I cleaned it up, topped it off, and there was nothing leaked until last week. I cleaned it up, topped it off, and nothing since.
I read that it is probably the water pump or its seal. I don't understand why it is so intermittent. If there is a leak, wouldn't it leak all of the time. Perhaps only being sensitive to the engine temp creating a higher pressure?
What should my next step be? At idle the car is seeming to heat up higher than normal. I want to do a full coolant flush, but want to fix the intermittent leak first so I don't loose it. Should I just buy a new pump, seal, and coolant and hope that does it?
Thank you,
John
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,482
Likes: 3
From: Carmichael ca
Next time its leaking, follow the leak and see where its coming from. Water pumps can act like this, but you shouldn't just start replacing parts until you know where the leak is. A mirror can come in handy here.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,518
Likes: 1,189
From: Dyer, IN
I've read through the forums and found the issue might be, but I'm still confused.
I have an 02 Z06 and a few months ago there was orange stuff under my car (coolant). There was probably a quart. I cleaned it up, topped it off, and there was nothing leaked until last week. I cleaned it up, topped it off, and nothing since.
I read that it is probably the water pump or its seal. I don't understand why it is so intermittent. If there is a leak, wouldn't it leak all of the time. Perhaps only being sensitive to the engine temp creating a higher pressure?
What should my next step be? At idle the car is seeming to heat up higher than normal. I want to do a full coolant flush, but want to fix the intermittent leak first so I don't loose it. Should I just buy a new pump, seal, and coolant and hope that does it?
Thank you,
John
I have an 02 Z06 and a few months ago there was orange stuff under my car (coolant). There was probably a quart. I cleaned it up, topped it off, and there was nothing leaked until last week. I cleaned it up, topped it off, and nothing since.
I read that it is probably the water pump or its seal. I don't understand why it is so intermittent. If there is a leak, wouldn't it leak all of the time. Perhaps only being sensitive to the engine temp creating a higher pressure?
What should my next step be? At idle the car is seeming to heat up higher than normal. I want to do a full coolant flush, but want to fix the intermittent leak first so I don't loose it. Should I just buy a new pump, seal, and coolant and hope that does it?
Thank you,
John
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 16
From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
It could be the water pump, but it could also be a loose hose connection, cracked overflow tank, or the line running to it.
As already suggested, get out there right after shutdown with a good light source and find the area it is coming from. Things like knowning if it is coming from the front, side or back of the engine would be good info.
As already suggested, get out there right after shutdown with a good light source and find the area it is coming from. Things like knowning if it is coming from the front, side or back of the engine would be good info.
