Need coolant leak help

gerryl98 · 02-04-2008, 10:21 PM

2005 Crew Cab. Only leaks when it's not convenient for me to crawl under engine or still my head under the hood. And it appear to only leak when sitting. Doesn't appear to leak when the engine is running. The hoses look fine. I pulled the water pump off and I swear there is no weep hole on the darn thing!!! I put new gaskets on and for a couple of days it seemed ok but then the leak came back. Does appear to be coming from the front of the engine but can't pinpoint. Temperature is fine. Here's a typical day...Leave the house to go to work, no water under my car. Go to my car at lunch, and there's a puddle of water underneath...a bottle of water at most. Drive to lunch and park, no leak. Get back to my car an hour later and underneath is still dry. Go back to work and when I get to my car after work still nothing. Weekend comes...run the car in the garage for a while...no leak. Turn off the engine and let it sit for the day...no leak. Any suggestions? I called a few auto part stores and they don't have any pressure testers as a loaner tool.

fbhart@wk.net · 02-05-2008, 05:52 AM

Buddy,
Simple: If you fine coolant under vehicle, you have a leak.

It will raise its ugly head and bite you at the most inappropriate time.
I would get a pressure test on coolant system.

I assume you are losing coolant out of the system, how much are you adding back and how often.
must find problem and get it fixed, could break loose all at once and ruin your engine.

stumpuller454 · 02-05-2008, 06:28 AM

which engine do you have? 5.3 6.o or deisel?

gerryl98 · 02-05-2008, 08:24 PM

I have a 5.3. Believe me, I've put plenty of time under the truck hoping/waiting to get leaked on, but like I mentioned the darn thing won't drip when it's convenient for me to get under there. The dealership topped off the the overflow tank about three weeks ago. It currently could use about a liter to bring it back to the correct cold level.

stumpuller454 · 02-05-2008, 09:34 PM

so all you did when you pulled the pump is change mounting gaskets? i know the h2o pumps are common to leak on the front seal, i bet you if you could get you hands on a pressure tester it would show you were its comming from, i`m not sure how much they cost, probly about the same as taking it somewere to get it diagnosed, this may be the only choices you have, untill it leaks worse,

gerryl98 · 02-05-2008, 10:23 PM

I agree. I will probably end up getting a pressure tester. But if was the front seal wouldn't it leak while the engine was running instead of only leaking while sitting after drive?

stumpuller454 · 02-06-2008, 06:33 AM

i work on big industrial engines and it is common for everything containiing coolant to leak when its cold, then once its warm it all seals up, if the pump shaft is turning it probly seals better than when not moving, or leaks less, either way geta pressre test and i`m sure you`ll find your leak!(:

gerryl98 · 02-10-2008, 07:00 AM

Well, at 15 psi, I couldn't get the coolant to leak. I increased pressure to 20 psi and started leaking at the water pump seal on the driver' side. Does that mean I may have a problem with the cap? Are you supposed to test with pressure above the cap pressure?

02-04-2008, 10:21 PM	#1
gerryl98 Full Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 16	Need coolant leak help 2005 Crew Cab. Only leaks when it's not convenient for me to crawl under engine or still my head under the hood. And it appear to only leak when sitting. Doesn't appear to leak when the engine is running. The hoses look fine. I pulled the water pump off and I swear there is no weep hole on the darn thing!!! I put new gaskets on and for a couple of days it seemed ok but then the leak came back. Does appear to be coming from the front of the engine but can't pinpoint. Temperature is fine. Here's a typical day...Leave the house to go to work, no water under my car. Go to my car at lunch, and there's a puddle of water underneath...a bottle of water at most. Drive to lunch and park, no leak. Get back to my car an hour later and underneath is still dry. Go back to work and when I get to my car after work still nothing. Weekend comes...run the car in the garage for a while...no leak. Turn off the engine and let it sit for the day...no leak. Any suggestions? I called a few auto part stores and they don't have any pressure testers as a loaner tool.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Low coolant	stelmadl	Chevy Truck Forum	14	03-15-2009 07:18 AM
more coolant fun :(	keithr0005005	Chevy Truck Forum	4	01-28-2008 08:04 PM
coolant leak	marko	Introductions	1	01-27-2007 03:04 PM
89 Dodge D350 Coolant Leak question	TheStoneDoor	Dodge Truck Forum	1	07-24-2006 01:59 PM
Low coolant	TLing56	Chevy Truck Forum	1	05-25-2006 03:36 PM

02-05-2008, 05:52 AM	#2
fbhart@wk.net Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 120	Buddy, Simple: If you fine coolant under vehicle, you have a leak. It will raise its ugly head and bite you at the most inappropriate time. I would get a pressure test on coolant system. I assume you are losing coolant out of the system, how much are you adding back and how often. must find problem and get it fixed, could break loose all at once and ruin your engine.

02-05-2008, 06:28 AM	#3
stumpuller454 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Grande Prairie, AB Posts: 2,206	which engine do you have? 5.3 6.o or deisel?

02-05-2008, 08:24 PM	#4
gerryl98 Full Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 16	I have a 5.3. Believe me, I've put plenty of time under the truck hoping/waiting to get leaked on, but like I mentioned the darn thing won't drip when it's convenient for me to get under there. The dealership topped off the the overflow tank about three weeks ago. It currently could use about a liter to bring it back to the correct cold level.

02-05-2008, 09:34 PM	#5
stumpuller454 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Grande Prairie, AB Posts: 2,206	so all you did when you pulled the pump is change mounting gaskets? i know the h2o pumps are common to leak on the front seal, i bet you if you could get you hands on a pressure tester it would show you were its comming from, i`m not sure how much they cost, probly about the same as taking it somewere to get it diagnosed, this may be the only choices you have, untill it leaks worse,

02-05-2008, 10:23 PM	#6
gerryl98 Full Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 16	I agree. I will probably end up getting a pressure tester. But if was the front seal wouldn't it leak while the engine was running instead of only leaking while sitting after drive?

02-06-2008, 06:33 AM	#7
stumpuller454 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Grande Prairie, AB Posts: 2,206	i work on big industrial engines and it is common for everything containiing coolant to leak when its cold, then once its warm it all seals up, if the pump shaft is turning it probly seals better than when not moving, or leaks less, either way geta pressre test and i`m sure you`ll find your leak!(:

02-10-2008, 07:00 AM	#8
gerryl98 Full Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 16	Well, at 15 psi, I couldn't get the coolant to leak. I increased pressure to 20 psi and started leaking at the water pump seal on the driver' side. Does that mean I may have a problem with the cap? Are you supposed to test with pressure above the cap pressure?