Loosing coolant
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 534
Likes: 3
From: DECATUR ALABAMA
Loosing coolant
My low coolant light came on and had to add a quart to a quart and a half of coolant to put back full. I've notice a small amount of coolant on the garage floor a couple of times. I've put it on ramps and looked for leaks but can't find any. Leak on the floor shows that it's comming from the front center part of the engine. I've carefully looked at the hoses and water pump and can't detect where it's comming from. How do check a water pump for leaks, just wait till it gets worse? Your ideas please and thanks in advance for your help.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 792
Likes: 19
From: ME
I had the same issue, although maybe not so big of a leak. I had a small trail of coolant leaking from the front of the block onto the leaf spring and noticably soaking the spring bushing. Really a pretty small leak. All I did to stop the leak was add about half of a tab of a GM stop leak tablet. Many have wavering opinions on the stop leak tablets, but GM issued a tech article on their stop leak tablets saying that they are a great answer for SMALL coolant leaks - Like my situation. The only NO NO with the GM stop leak tab is pretty much to not put more than one tab into your system. If one tab doesn't stop the leak, then you need to replace whatever is leaking.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
From: Belmont MA
Did you check it while is was running or it was off? I just had the same problem and it was the water pump. 
I couldn't figure it out, would always have a spot under the vehicle....in close proximity to the place that you are talking about. First did not have it running thought that it was the radiator or something, then left it running and went through the whole process of checking every connection. finally I put my hand on the underside of the Water pump and.......voila - a small leak.
check with Gene at Fred Beans. He is haveing a "at Dealer cost sale" for the Month of December as a X-mas present. (Save your self some bucks)
Good luck.
I couldn't figure it out, would always have a spot under the vehicle....in close proximity to the place that you are talking about. First did not have it running thought that it was the radiator or something, then left it running and went through the whole process of checking every connection. finally I put my hand on the underside of the Water pump and.......voila - a small leak.check with Gene at Fred Beans. He is haveing a "at Dealer cost sale" for the Month of December as a X-mas present. (Save your self some bucks)
Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 920
Likes: 2
From: Rogers, AR, USA
I had the same long term small leak issue. After a lot of checking and cleaning the antifreeze off so I could start over looking again, I finally saw the leak by using a mirror under the water pump. Mine didn't leak every time I drove it, so it added to the difficulty of finding the leak.
Aluminum has a tendancy to be porus, or have small openings that can leak liquid or air throught he metal. In the 60's I had a set of aluminum mags on a 64 Vette and one wheel was especially bad at leaking air. If you sprayed soapy water on the rim between the spokes, it would bubble the soapy water.
On my C5, after the engine got hot and the pressure was up, you could see drips of antifreeze form on the bottom of the water pump, coming right through the aluminum. I first tried a GM stop leak for metal porsity and it helped for a while, but the leak got worse again and I replaced the pump. It didn't start to leak until I had about 40,000 mi. on the car.
Aluminum has a tendancy to be porus, or have small openings that can leak liquid or air throught he metal. In the 60's I had a set of aluminum mags on a 64 Vette and one wheel was especially bad at leaking air. If you sprayed soapy water on the rim between the spokes, it would bubble the soapy water.
On my C5, after the engine got hot and the pressure was up, you could see drips of antifreeze form on the bottom of the water pump, coming right through the aluminum. I first tried a GM stop leak for metal porsity and it helped for a while, but the leak got worse again and I replaced the pump. It didn't start to leak until I had about 40,000 mi. on the car.
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Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 376
Likes: 1
From: Scottsdale AZ
Check the reservoir connection
Originally Posted by SEAMOORE
Thanks for all your comments. I will check them all out. Any other comments appreciated.