Danny B

The leak is very minor, but I noticed when I was doing my motor mounts that i have a slight drop of coolant at the very bottom of the tensioner.

I did the TB/WP about 6 months ago and have put on about 8K miles since. The only coolant seems to be at the bottom of the tensioner, nowhere else on the motor or oil pan.

When I did the TB/WP, one of the tensioner bolts ( Top Center ) was broken so I used a Helo-coil w/loctite when It back together. Is there a water jacket behind that bolt? I'm wondering if I overdrilled?

Anybody have any other ideas? I think I only put coolant in once since I noticed it. It's rare to see a drop on the driveway also.

Thanks
-Dan

SteveG

I'm sure one does. check this out, one of several guides on the belt procedure.

http://members.rennlist.com/pirtle/svc.html

Schocki

There is no coolant behind the tensioner, just oil. I think your problem might be the thermostat housing where it attaches to the heads.

http://dwaynesgarage.norcal928.org/f...aterbridge.htm

SteveG

Danny: Took me a week to get to where the manual is stored. The pic is from John Kelly's manual, the tensioner is an 85. Clearly (his number) #4 bolt goes into the jacket. You may have a leak at the bridge, that usu leave water in the valley and the nook in front of the bridge, but your question was about the tensioner and I think this answers it. Let us know what you found.

GregBBRD

Possibly good for you, I just finished tracing a leak, exactly like this, on a relatively new engine we had built for a 1983 vehicle.....so extremely similar to your own vehicle. The leak turned out to be from the upper hose, where it attaches to the water cross over. The coolant ran down the head, dripped off of the block, fell directly onto the tensioner and and dripped directly from the bottom of the tensioner.

It was tough to find. Had to remove the A/C to trace where the coolant was coming from and figure this out. Like most water leaks at a hose, it didn't leak when hot, only leaked as the engine built and lost water pressure during the warm-up and cool down cylces.

Hope this helps.

Stromius

The large O-ring that attaches the waterbridge to the block also can leak coolant as it deteriorates and leaks along the front of the water pump and tensioner. Mine did. See thread over on reuterwerk from last month on the job. Dry as a bone since!q

Danny B

Thanks for looking into this. I'm just hoping it's not #3 that's leaking because of the helocoil I had to use. That would really $uck to lose the threads in there with everything attached.

I'll have to take a closer look this weekend. The coolant loss wasn't visible over the last week until I jacked up the rear of the car to replace some transmission vac lines.

SteveG

I'm assuming by the original question, there is no sealer on either #3, which may or may not be into the water jacket, or on 4, which we know is. That's kind of a fielder's choice. If you decide to remove the coil, I would go with a time-sert + sealer and of course seal #4. Comments?

PorKen

None of the tensioner bolts goes into a water jacket. The upper right (facing engine) bolt goes into an oil return passage from the heads.

The tensioner pulley arm shoulder bolt goes into the water pump. This may be where the leak is coming from.