Coolant leak

[bert02]

i got a rear main seal leak and one of the gaskets was was leaking too so dropped my oil and changed the gasket.
when i dropped my oil i noticed some coolant on the sump guard tray and dried coolant residue on the lower bottom radiator hose.
i tightened the hose a little bit but wouldnt say it was loose so not too sure about how the coolant got there. sort of looks like it has sprayed out on the rad side. possible split in radiator???

there was oil all underneath the car (barely consumed any in 5000km) and a fair bit of coolant there too but no noticeable amount used from my last service where none of this was present.
im not sure but it looks like it may be leaking from the water pump too.
would that be the pump itself or a gasket?

is it fine to keep driving it if its not consuming any coolant? or will it basically shit itself randomly and then i will be stuck?

any tips on how to go about it if it is the water pump..

i have read that i should get genuine and that you cant get vy only VZ and have to buy the thermostat etc to suit it aswell.

do i need to put gasket sealer on?
do i have to remove the radiator or fans etc?

[white lie]

Probably a split in the radiator side tank. It will only leak when it's hot and the system is under pressure. You can keep driving it but it's risky as the crack will get worse and one day leave you stranded.

If it's the water pump, it will be leaking out of the relief hole at the bottom.
It's only a 5 minute job to remove the fans, makes things a lot easier to get at

[bert02]

ok thanks will get it on a hoist and have a good look at it and try and determine exactly where its leaking...

so i should get it hot to check for leaks then?

[BLACK 346]

If it is an LS1 there are a few possible places to look for coolant leaks other than the radiator or water pump. The plugs on the back of the block behind the intake manifold can leak and drip down the back of the block. Also the heater tap perishes over time and will eventually spring a leak. This is located drivers side at the rear of the engine bay. If this has never been replaced probably worth doing anyway as they are pretty cheap. I had all of these issues with my old VT2 and also a weeping head gasket. All of the above eventually found there way into the sump guard.

[bert02]

ok so go it on a hoist for futher inspection.

it appears to be a fluro red looking oil.

its coming from the front drivers side of the engine

up in behind the water pump it looks like it might be leaking from the water pump gasket. cant see anything coming from the weep hole (cant really see the weep hole tho).

power steering and trans fluid seem reasonable levels and didnt think they looked that colour.

thoughts are its one of those and its mixed with the dried coolant residue giving it that colour..??

on the drip tray (this is about a weeks worth, Note: i did wipe some off with my finger to check what it was)
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/58260317/Car/leak/20150130_162856.jpg

all these photos are on the driver side of the block up the front

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/58260317/Car/leak/20150130_161428.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/58260317/Car/leak/20150130_162936.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/58260317/Car/leak/20150130_162953.jpg

[Micks]

If it's ATF will leave an oily residue, red/pink coolant water based will basically dry up quickly & leave pink/whitish stains. By your pics looks like coolant to me!

[BLACK 346]

Might be wasting your time, but try running a spanner over your water pump bolts. I had a weep in the water pump in my VT2 SS a few years back after the cam was done, quick run over with the spanner and the leak was gone. Once you have check tightened all the bolts, degrease/pressure clean away all the coolant and hope for the best ;)

[bert02]

yeah was thinking that. will run a spanner over them, nothing to lose.

the red on the oil pan cover is definitely oil.
the coolant that must be leaking up near the water pump must evaporate before it gets to drip as there is no water on the oil pan cover

which has me thinking its both coolant and ATF.


where on the front driver side of the engine does the ATF come from/go to cause the leak there?

[white lie]

What's that hose in the picture? If it's ATF, it will probably be leaking from the line going to the cooler at the front.

[bert02]

cant tell from the picture but pretty sure i couldnt see any leaks on it.

its either the ATF or power steering tho dont think it could be anything else

[Micks]

If it's power steering check the clamp connections at the reservoir, they do become loose over time. Biggest problem there is the Alt sits right below & the ATF absolutely roots them!!

[bert02]

theres engine oil all over the alternator but cant see any ATF fluid.
this leak is on the other side though and cant see it running down any hoses or pipes or anything.

[Woodchukka]

If it's ATF will leave an oily residue, red/pink coolant water based will basically dry up quickly & leave pink/whitish stains. By your pics looks like coolant to me!
I agree with Mick. Looks like coolant to me. Coolant to the touch will feel a bit slippery between the fingers. Best clean down the residue you can see top up the coolant and start it up and allow the engine to warm up and keep an eye one it. Above and below. A small mirror and a torch (even in the day light) can help and watch the spinning belt. They bite. Had trouble finding a leak on the wife's VZ wagon (V6 but same principle). There were 2 however the water pump leak was slow and leaked down along the body of the water pump, onto the block then finally the sump. It was so slow that it never hit the floor and would evaporate on the sump. Found it as the coolant was way down at a service so started to look. You should see it track down the block. If it is a bad enough leak it will drip on the water pump pulley and go everywhere. You will have to catch it as the engine is warming up as once it has a smaller leak will hold coolant as it will push it out until the pressure equalises inside and out then pretty much stop. You should be able to see a red residue or stain around the end tanks of the radiator if it is the culprit (wife's car again).

[macca_779]

Looks like water pump to me. Mine just blew the other week. Only dripped when pressurised. I just cracked the cap to drive around on it before I got a new one the next day (I run mine colder at 80c so I can get away with that). Got a new one for $190 from supercheap. It did ok at 215000k's

[bert02]

i can swear to you the red stuff on the drip tray is an oil of some sort.

there does look to be coolant a slow leak from the waterpump but as said above it doesnt drip and must evaporate on the sump.

the other thing i have a series 2 VY calais. it appears to me the water pump could be the later type that is in 3 pieces so i would only need the water pump not the inlet assembly ? and screw? (the 2 other things listed on my quote)

any pics of both to identify

[Micks]

Best do a thorough clean of the engine & check daily for the source!

[Black VU SS ute]

my loses coolant does drip on the ground, but the level slowly goes down over months. I get an odd belt squeal for the first 5mins on cold start over night.

[Woodchukka]

i can swear to you the red stuff on the drip tray is an oil of some sort.

there does look to be coolant a slow leak from the waterpump but as said above it doesnt drip and must evaporate on the sump.

the other thing i have a series 2 VY calais. it appears to me the water pump could be the later type that is in 3 pieces so i would only need the water pump not the inlet assembly ? and screw? (the 2 other things listed on my quote)

any pics of both to identify
I stand to be corrected but I have not seen an oil with that colour before. I still say it is coolant. Next time it happens tip a little water on it. If it mixes easily then it is coolant if it doesn't then oil it may be.

[bert02]

hence my thought it was a coolant leak to start with.
i have rubbed it between my fingers and smelt it. its oil.

[BLACK 346]

I stand to be corrected but I have not seen an oil with that colour before. I still say it is coolant. Next time it happens tip a little water on it. If it mixes easily then it is coolant if it doesn't then oil it may be.

ATF and Power Steering fluid both Red and Oily.

[Micks]

Blind Fred would know the diff. between ATF & red coolant no problem!

[bert02]

i took the engine cover and intake piping off and had a good look down from the top.

the water pump seems to be leaking past the gasket on the driver side. dont know if i should just try and replace the gaskets or do the water pump while im doing it if it still leaks after tightening them up.

i tightened them to 22 lb ft some were good others took 1/4 to 1/2 a turn

seems to be the 04+ water pump since its an 04 model i assumed it would be.
http://ls1tech.com/forums/attachments/generation-iii-external-engine/368914d1345622839-ls1-ls1-water-pump-thermostat-housing-interchangeability-thermostat.jpg

does that mean i will only have to buy the gaskets and water pump? i dont know what the screw is and assume the inlet assembly is the thermostat housing?

this is what i was quoted:
water pump kit GM-19256263
inlet asm-w/pump GM12600172
2x screw- metric HX WA HD T GM1516480
2x Gasket -w/pump GM12630223

as for the oil leak i am still no closer to finding what it is.... i cant see any oil leaking in that area

[macca_779]

The screws will be for the thermostat housing I'd say. They're really bolts. But it's the only x2 fitting on the assembly. The seal kit comes with the water pump gaskets that mate to the block x2. An O ring for the rear plate of the water pump which you won't need if you get a new pump. But check the torques before fitting. The other O ring is for the thermostat housing

[Woodchukka]

ATF and Power Steering fluid both Red and Oily.
Yep I realise that. But I have never seen ATF or power steer fluid a fluro colour like that before. Not saying I have seen them all just that is my experience. Thus I offered my opinion.

[Woodchukka]

Blind Fred would know the diff. between ATF & red coolant no problem!
You would be surprised. One thing I have learnt helping people out with car problems Mick is it is better to ask.

[bert02]

took the car for a 900km round trip. its at the workshop getting aircon looked at but when i get it back i will pull the sump tray off and check for leaks again.
i figured a good drive should show up some better signs of what might be happening

[bert02]

there was a few small signs of fluid but looked different from last time. this just looked like glumpy dried up coolant so no idea what the other leak was from.

still looks like the water pump is leaking past the gaskets but very minimal so unsure if i should replace it. will keep an eye on it for now. there has been no noticeable drop in coolant in the last year.