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Decided to wake up my 2013 C6 from it's winter nap this afternoon. Been sitting in my pole barn since mid-October with CTEK 4.3 attached just like previous four years. Uncovered, adjusted tire pressures, removed CTEK, pulled out steel wool from tailpipes and picked up Bounce sheets. Started right up and moved it over in front of garage to let engine warm up.
Went back into barn to pick up the tarp and horse stall mats and noticed pink fluid on the tarp under right side near where the water pump would be. Opened hood and noticed burning smell and noticed a light whiff of smoke coming from under the front of the exhaust manifold direct under it but can't see a leak.
Any ideas on where it might be leaking and what would need to be done?
Did you check the coolant level too (seems like a lot is leaking for you to see white smoke from the engine area)?
Originally Posted by Aggie76
Decided to wake up my 2013 C6 from it's winter nap this afternoon. Been sitting in my pole barn since mid-October with CTEK 4.3 attached just like previous four years. Uncovered, adjusted tire pressures, removed CTEK, pulled out steel wool from tailpipes and picked up Bounce sheets. Started right up and moved it over in front of garage to let engine warm up.
Went back into barn to pick up the tarp and horse stall mats and noticed pink fluid on the tarp under right side near where the water pump would be. Opened hood and noticed burning smell and noticed a light whiff of smoke coming from under the front of the exhaust manifold direct under it but can't see a leak.
Any ideas on where it might be leaking and what would need to be done?
Check the water pump. They have been known to seep and are hard to find. Look behind the pully.
Good luck.
I had a SLIGHT leak for over a year, an occasional drop or two in the drip pan, an occasional slight smell but nothing major, only added coolant once to top off. I was having the hoses changed out and told the mechanic about the slight leak, he looked ABOVE the water pump, on top of it and showed me the leaking coolant and discoloration, seems it was leaking onto one of the pulleys and spinning upward. I never looked above the WP, only under it. He changed the hoses and the water pump, no more leak. Good luck!
I let the car sit overnight with a piece of cardboard under the engine. No drips while sitting showed up. Started it up this evening and again saw the smoke and drips on the cardboard
Here are two photos one that shows the pink coolant in the tank and the second that shows the location where the light whiff of smoke comes out under the exhaust header. I would have thought if it were the water pump I'd see drips under the water pump but not smoke coming up where I put the circle.
Buy a mirror like this, these can help look in the tight areas you cant see. Check while engine is hot and cooling system has pressure, also check when cold. Sometimes leaks will show up at different times. Hope this helps.
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Originally Posted by 1966427
Buy a mirror like this, these can help look in the tight areas you cant see. Check while engine is hot and cooling system has pressure, also check when cold. Sometimes leaks will show up at different times. Hope this helps.
the mirrors will allow you to look in areas that may be too hidden / difficult to view without them............
possible that the "smoke" is from residual fluid being on the exhaust manifold, whether it is "flung" there by pulley's rotation, etc.
Could also be separate issues. If valve covers have a slight leak you may see a little smoke on the manifold, while wp/hose/tstat could be source of coolant leak.
Stopped by my local Chevy dealer and spoke with one of the mechanics who's worked on their 6.2L engines, not Corvettes. Said it's not uncommon for a car sitting for six months, 4 years of winter storage, to have this. I showed him the photos I took and described what I saw/smelled. He said that they’ve had a few of the 6.2L engine water pumps where the seals flatten out under the shaft and it takes getting up to temp to reform and seal again. He suggests let the engine fully reach operating temperature and then see if there is any seepage or smoke coming out.
So I’m going to give that a shot tonight and see what happens. Nothing to lose in trying it at this point.
My want to peek under the fuel rail cover and look for leaks at the small crossover pipe bolted to the top front of the cylinder head, as I see what could look like some staining on the top back of the water pump housing.
My want to peek under the fuel rail cover and look for leaks at the small crossover pipe bolted to the top front of the cylinder head, as I see what could look like some staining on the top back of the water pump housing.
We did pop off the cover and didn't see anything but will take another peek tonight.
Well folks, I checked underneath and no indication of any drips and I looked around the engine where we had seen the light smoke and there was no indication of anything. Started it up, got the oil temp up and then drove it around town, what a wonderful feeling after a long winter, till the oil temp was over 200. Came back, parked and let it run, still no drips.
Hoping it was just the pump needing to reseat the gasket after the cold winter. Will certainly keep a close eye on the coolant level.
I feel like the boy who cried wolf but having my son-in-law see the smoke and fluid means I'm not as senile as some think. Thanks for all the suggestions. The good news is I've added a flexible mirror with LED lights to my tool box.
C6 Coolant Leak
I had a SLIGHT leak for over a year, an occasional drop or two in the drip pan, an occasional slight smell but nothing major, only added coolant once to top off. I was having the hoses changed out and told the mechanic about the slight leak, he looked ABOVE the water pump, on top of it and showed me the leaking coolant and discoloration, seems it was leaking onto one of the pulleys and spinning upward. I never looked above the WP, only under it. He changed the hoses and the water pump, no more leak. Good luck!
