j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Hi,
I have noticed that I am losing 1 to 2 cups of coolant for the last week or two. I have coolant sitting on the front of the oil pan. I have looked at the hoses, thermostat housing, coolant reservoir, and everything I can see is dry. The valley at the front of the block has some old oil, but no coolant. My car is a 16V model. What is the definitive way to diagnose water pump leakage, short of pulling everything off the front of the engine?
Thanks in advance,
Dave

Mrmerlin

usually if the pump is leaking,
the coolant will run down the center of the top of the oil pan.
This sounds like what your describing, replace the water pump with a fresh Laso

GregBBRD

The upper hose will drip down the front of the engine, too.

Pull the left timing belt cover and see if there is water running out of the "overflow" hole in the pump. Easy to see, with the cover off.

Anything can fail....that's a given, but I just had a Laso loose the bearing (which means the seal didn't hold back the hot water and the bearing got the lubricant washed out) at 8,000 miles.

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Thanks, Stan I can't see any coolant except on the center of the oil pan. I should probably call Roger and get what I need for WP. I already have a Porkensioner and a 3 year old Porsche timing belt. I will look at everything carefully, but I think I may limit this to WP only. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Dave

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

OK Greg,
I did in fact just replace my hoses, during my a/c project. I will try to pull the left side (driver's) cam belt cover and peak. I have pulled the right side before, but not the left.
Thanks,
Dave

Mrmerlin

By following Gregs advice you can put a small mirror down under the WP pulley and see the weep hole.

NOTE the left cover is the driver side cam cover

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

I have a quote request in for Roger. We shall see.
Thanks, Stan.
Dave

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Hi Guys,
I have pulled both side cam belt covers. On a 16V it is one bolt per side and some wiggling. I have a nice drip of coolant right down the center of the front of the oil pan. I have looked at all hoses and water bridge seams, and they look dry. I can see my WP pulley, but for the life of me I cannot see any coolant below or around it. I have ordered a new WP. Should I go ahead and start stripping the engine?
Also, my DS cam gear has the belt running at the forward edge, while the PS is center on the gear. I have a PKsnr. The cam gears seem to run true and I see no belt flutter or wobble. Should I be concerned?
Thanks for all the advice.
Dave

Mrmerlin

the weep hole would be about the 4 to 5 O clock position while facing the pump,
a small mirror will show you , also you need a light

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Man, I just can't see it. I think my mirror is a little too big. I tried stuffing a rag in there to see if would come out wet with coolant, all I see is dirt and oil.
Dave

jeff spahn

Clean it all off with degreaser so you can get a clean look at everything. Then run it and see if you can find the leak.

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

I think I will take off the front of the engine, clean it up, and then look for leaks. I cannot see well enough now with gunk and obstruction. I am pretty sure my pump is original and 29 years and 120K miles old. I think it would not be wrong to replace. I will try squirting brake cleaner in around the WP pulley and see if it lets me see the leak, before I disassemble front of engine.
Thanks,
Dave

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Hi,
I had a pretty good morning. I stripped the front of the engine, and pulled the WP(I broke the first WP bolt but go the next 12 out no problem; fixed bad one with Timesert). The WP bearing feels pretty scratchy, so I think it was time, iron impeller too. I saw coolant below the WP running down the center oilpan. I do not see any other leakage, so I hope this is it. My cam gears and oil pump gears are shot so I will replace them, and keep my PKsn'r. New TB also. I did this TB without WP about 4 years ago, I should have probably done a more thorough job back then. Live and learn. I have ordered more parts, but I have lots of cleaning and scraping to make ready for them.
Thanks for the advice,
Dave

jeff spahn

Did you get Roger's gears or Porsche gears?

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Was going to order from Roger. Problem?
Dave