Coolant Leak

[Furgonzo]

Hi all,

My 1989 1.7 KY has developed a coolant leak. The coolant appears to be coming from a tiny hole just behind (forward of) the water pump pulley. It's a hole I never noticed before but seems like it is supposed to be there. It's maybe 1-2mm in diameter and faces downward. I'm afraid this means a bad seal? Strange though because I recently returned from vacation and before I left, it wasn't leaking...the van wasn't used for the month I was gone and when I returned and started it up, it was leaking. Any thoughts?

[Hacksawbob]

can you get a picture of it?

[Furgonzo]

Ok...so here's a photo. This is taken from the underside of the van, directly behind (or forward of) the water pump pulley. Coolant is leaking from here upon start-up, not flowing out but a steady drip. Like I said in the original post, when I left town a month ago, it wasn't leaking. I came back, started it up and the leak was there. Gremlins?

water-pump.jpg

[Oldiebut goodie]

Pumps worn out - replace it.

[California Dreamin]

Pump breather hole betwix seal tha nose.....basically very common symptom before more serious failure (bearings don't like being lubricated with water)

Martin

[KamperKev]

Yep def warning to change it ASAP.
Kev

[Oldiebut goodie]

Pump breather hole betwix seal tha nose.....basically very common symptom before more serious failure (bearings don't like being lubricated with water)

Martin

Yes they do - most small boat prop shaft bearings are lubricated and cooled by water, the difference being there is a virtually limitless cool supply of water constantly changing.

[Furgonzo]

Thanks for the info...I'll replace it. Does a leak from the hole suggest imminent failure? Should this be fixed before it is driven again at all? I'm 40 or 50 Km from my mechanic....
Thanks again.

[Oldiebut goodie]

You should be safe for a while, just keep an eye on your water. When you get a jet of water you know that you should really have done it earlier! The seal is worn out with the only remedy being replacement of the whole pump.

[California Dreamin]

How on earth can you compare a marine cutlas bearing to an automotive ball bearing? ah humour.........
Ball/roller/needle roller bearings don't like being run in water, they will fail pretty soon after water ingress, a few days/weeks maybe a month.

How close the pump is to failure is purely conjecture but one thing is for sure..it ain't gonna get any better and needs changing.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=cutlas ... 9,r:8,s:21" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Martin