Coolant Leak

[titanmax]

Just finished doing a full coolant flush on a 93 4.0 with 150,000 miles. Original water pump. All was fine, only removed the upper hose on the rad.. New coolant is in.. Noticed a constant drip from the I-beams coming down by the passenger motor mount... It is wet up behind the tension pulley, but I can not tell where it is coming from. Should I assume water pump, or is there something simplier I can do first?

Thanks...

 

[Big Jim M]

You can take a flashlight and crawl your butt under there and FIND the leak.. Trust me it is inside a three foot area! It' just one of them things we must learn to do ourselves.
Big JIm

 

[monsterchuck]

There should be a little vent hole in the water pump right behind the drive pulley, you will see it from the bottom. If that hole appears to have coolant coming out of it, it's pretty much a dead giveaway that you need a new pump. I agree with Big Jim M, crawl under it and find it. Don't start replacing parts you don't need to.

 

[titanmax]

I have crawled under it ... used a mirror, looked for the weep hole... The only evidence I have is that is drips whil running stops after sitting a while.

 

[titanmax]

Ok.. crawled under again.. wiped things down.. in a minute I will start it up again.. its wet in the area of the heater hose, but real greasey on the seam around that area... It's dry on the entire bottom seam, wet top left (passenger) side.
The weep hole is dry... could either be the hose, which is only 18 mts old.. or the seam..

What is the likelyhood, it is the seam and is this repairable, or only replaceable. Of course, today the kid has to go back to school and this is his ride.

Thanks for the tips so far..

 

[Big Jim M]

Max so far you've done good. Now that you have generally located where the leak MAY be..go out there and do it again. You should be able to observe zackly where the leak is coming OUT of where is should stay. It really ain't rocket science is it? Just keep looking and wiping and sure enough there the hole will be.
Big JIm

 

[titanmax]

Next Step

have the old pump off.. but just about all of the old gasket is stuck to the engine. have been cheaping away at cleaning it... with a putty knife and brake cleaner to soften it up..

Is 220 sand paper ok on this surface for the final touch UP?

 

[Big Jim M]

No no no!

have the old pump off.. but just about all of the old gasket is stuck to the engine. have been cheaping away at cleaning it... with a putty knife and brake cleaner to soften it up..

Is 220 sand paper ok on this surface for the final touch UP?

Sanding with ANY grit will leave scratches that you DON"T WANT!

Just keep at it with a sharpened putty knife.
Big Jim