Coolant leak - not the usual suspects

PXJ800 · 08-20-2008, 10:59 AM

It first started this week - the morning after putting about 50 miles on the car, I noticed a puddle underneath. I don't usually get a few drips, let alone a puddle. I topped it off, maybe 10-12 oz. of coolant, and it appeared again after a few hours. It's seepage, a slow leak not standing water, and there's no oil in the coolant. It's still green and translucent. It's coming from the bottom of the belts, a drip or two every 5 seconds when parked. Once I started the car the drip stopped and when I let it run for a few minutes I did not see the same active drip as when parked.

I've checked all my hoses just to be sure, and they are indeed soft and look to all be in good shape. No leaks or wetness around the water pump, either. This leak is clearly dripping from the lower pulleys in the belt area and not more forward from under the radiator, nor to the side and coming from the overpressure hose on the side of the reservoir cap. I can't find the source without taking everything apart and want to know what else to look for. I haven't overheated or had any work done in that area. Running water temp is ~195 degrees according to my gauge and doesn't fluctuate more than a few degrees.

What else could it be? Hopefully not the head gasket!

Lapponia · 08-20-2008, 11:22 AM

PXJ. Do take a look again at the little hose between water pump and the steel tube along the engine to the heating valve. That hose is wider in one end to fit the pump and i had a small leak between hose small end and steel tube. The leak behave like yours and was hard to find. I had to use a mirror to look around the fitting and clamps........and there it was. I removed the hose and and cleaned pump outlet and steel tube. I even cleaned inside of hose ends with sand paper to make them more rough. Put Permatex on pump outlet and steel tube and inside of hose and put everything together again. Oiled the clamps and pulled them hard enough and voilá... everything was tight again after filling coolant and test driving. So, look at this place before doing anything more expensive. Good luck.
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Lapponia 944 na 1984

Slam · 08-20-2008, 11:41 AM

If not the above, then it sounds like water pump bearing seal.

PXJ800 · 08-21-2008, 07:19 AM

I got under there again, hoping it was the back end of the hose on the water pump, but unfortunately it's not. Under the car while it ran, I saw a few drops come from the seam on the bottom of belt cover. Top and bottom of the water pump were dry. I pushed them apart slightly and got a few more drops out. I don't think I'm going to attempt to tackle this one, so it's going into the shop Monday.

PXJ800 · 08-21-2008, 10:32 AM

Also, what's the consensus on stop-leak products? I'm hesitant to use one, but also hesitant to drop over $1k on this problem after all the labor (and a probable belt job while it's all apart).

many944s · 08-21-2008, 10:53 AM

Probably not what you want to hear, but stay FAR, FAR away form any stop-leak products! They will cause more trouble than they are worth!

Just my .02 worth.
-Nick

PXJ800 · 08-23-2008, 06:24 AM

I figured as much but I've never actually used one.

bearone2 · 08-23-2008, 09:07 AM

do stay from them