I am confused again

tfpary · February 19, 2002

Last Friday I parked at the bank. Came out and noticed a small puddle under the truck. Hmmm. Drove to the gas station, and noticed it dripping. Obviously coming from the water pump, could even see the spray from the fan on the concrete. Bummer. I was taking some friends on a 400 mile fishing trip. They looked at it and said "lets roll". Checked the coolant, good to go. 200 miles later it didn't loose much, if any at all. Drive back home, coolant still up to the cold mark in the recovery tank when cold, and the radiator is still full. When it was leaking at the gas station, I tasted it and it sure tasted like antifreeze. 97 Suburban, K1500 with the 5.7. So whats leaking? Sure looked like the waterpump to me. My wife and I have put 1200 miles on in the last week and it hasn't lost any coolant. I am confused. It still has the original hoses and water pump. Intake manifold gaskets have been replace. 68k miles. I haven't had a chance to look up from underneath yet.

Maybe I should just get a new pump and replace it. Any thoughts?

TIA

tfpary

96 Vortec · February 20, 2002

*big sigh of relief* I'm not the only one with this problem.

My water pump started slowly dripping, then the leaking started getting a little out of hand.

By that point in time me and a buddy couldn't figure out what was leaking so we pulled the water pump off and changed the mounting gaskets. Still leaked. Turned out to be the gasket on the back plate of the water pump. Next week we changed the water pump. Everything was great till I left work one day to go to a job site and my engine started overheating and I lost all of my anti-freeze. The bolts on the drivers side arm of the wp backed out enough for the pressure to blow the gasket out and give my engine an anti-freeze steam bath.

So, I once again changed the wp gaskets. Every now and then I get a small drip of antifreeze, but most of the time I can smell the stuff after I turn the engine off. I think my leak is from one of the arms coming out of the top of the pump. I put some silicone gasket sealer around it and it seems to be doing the job. I just can't figure out why I get the anti-freeze smell.

Sorry for the long post, but this one has been building for about 6 weeks.

1500hdbob · February 20, 2002

How cold was it outside when you noticed a leak? Antifreeze will leak out easier when it is cold. It was probably cold when you noticed it, and then once it got warmed up it probably stopped leaking!! Check to make sure all your hoses are tight before you replace the water pump.

Zane · February 20, 2002

Our 97 Camaro needed a water pump at less than 40k.

Since its a Z28, it would have a similar block and water pump to your Sub.

sierra1 · February 20, 2002

My 86 Iroc started leaking a tiny bit, I could never see liquid, just a streak on the pump, but I could smell it almost everytime I started the car up. Two years later, after I had only put in maybe a cup or so of coolant to top it off, I shut it off, and there it blew, it shot out like someone taking a leak, and had to do the pump. Kind of weird it took that long, but it's the only pump I've ever had to replace on anything I've ever owned.

Kansas Kid · February 20, 2002

Don't feel too bad, a new water pump is going on my truck this weekend. The bearings on the pump have been howling for a week or two, and it finally started to get a noticeable leak. I could probably run it for awhile longer, but I'm not going to take the chance. Besides, its supposed to be in the upper 60's on Saturday. If I wait a week or two I doubt the weather will be as nice. Now I just hope my exhaust system shows up so I can put that on Saturday as well....

tfpary · February 21, 2002

Update I looked again tonight, looks like I might be lucky - the clamp on the lower radiator hose might be loose. That would be too cool. Didn't have a chance to replace it, but that would be sweet. Then I could return the $70 pump!

tfpary · February 23, 2002

Replaced the pump yesterday afternoon. Very easy as far as waterpumps go- removed the upper fan shroud, unscrewed the fan, pulled the hoses, 4 bolts and its off. Seal on the shaft was bad on the old pump, and it went from okay to bad in about 500 miles. It was leaking pretty bad before I changed it.