Geldfalle 944

I have searched the forums and none of the coolant issues have really been what I am experiencing.

I have a very slight coolant leak. Only when it has been driven and only a few drips on the ground. If it is not driven it does not leak at all so only under pressure. Pressure tested the system and no change. Has to be heat related. Water pump was replaced in 2005 by a reputable independent repair shop. Thermostat was replaced in 2006, they only have 20k on them. I searched out the leak on my rack at work, I get a small stream on the oil cooler housing and it looks like it is tracking to the bottom of the front of the engine. It appears it is coming from the oil cooler housing. Is it possible to have that leak coolant and not mix with the oil?
Here is the pic, I apologize for the quality, they are off my iphone.

shiners780

How much pressure did you use when you pressure tested it?

krystar

water pump pulley itself or water pump gasket. yer pic is of pass side lower balance shaft bracket right? my one leaky water pump dripped at the same location.

at certain rotational angles, it might not weep. but others, it's like niagra falls

Mike C.

It is certainly possible that the oil cooler can leak coolant externally only (and not mix with oil). Maybe adding some florescent leak tracer the coolant will help find the source with a black light (they have black light flashlights now that are inexpensive). 5 years/20K miles on a water pump isn't much but it could be leaking.

Geldfalle 944

At Audi we have had pumps fail fairly quickly. I only added about a bar of pressure to the system for fear of causing a worse leak from where ever it comes from. I also searched the records and found the radiator has been removed cleaned resealed and reinstalled about 2 years ago due to a clog. I am thinking maybe the pressure got too high and blew out the water pump seal. Weep hole idea makes sense too, I drove it home last night and after about 2 hours I found about a quart or so of coolant had leaked out.
Here is a pic:


It has been sitting for 2 months while I tinker with all the odds and ends. Getting to drive it home from work is the best. Cannot wait!

Now, where is the best price for a water pump and seal?

theiceman

That 944 isn'r leaking .. it is merely marking it's territory ... My leak started at the wep hole.. and was very minor like yours

StoogeMoe

That sounds like a classic water pump leak to me. Only leaks when it is spinning and warmed up.

GTSilver944

IIRC Vertex is the cheapest for a rebuilt WP. The WP seal is only a couple bucks.

Geldfalle 944

False Alarm!!!

Turned out it was this hose clamp by the bleeder valve:

Cheeky Bastard!

I turned it 4 full turns to stop the bleeding. It was literally pouring out when under pressure. No idea why it did not rear its ugly head the first time.
It leaks right down ontop of the water pump and out the same location they drip from when the pump goes bad. Well, onto the power steering bracket and belts.

Lizard944

Lucky SOB! Why aren't my problems ever this easy?

Geldfalle 944

This kind of luck does not happen very often. It probably only means I will NOT be so lucky from here on out.

Geldfalle 944

Well that was short lived. NOW the water pump is leaking.

Lizard944

Never say things like this without first putting a string of garlic around your neck! Time for you to get busy! I bought a remanufactured pump from Zim's back when my original pump failed @38K miles in 1993. Now have 150K. I did the belts the other day and the pump pulley felt like brand new. No play at all. And yes, I'm wearing my garlic...