Coolant Leak

17 years ago

I have a coolant leak on my 94 Chevy Berretta. 2 weeks ago I noticed the meter on the dashboard said low. I filled it up with new coolant and everything was ok, but only for a couple days and it was back to low. I igonored it for about a week, now today I see lots of green coolant leaking out the bottom of my car. As it turns out Im going to be selling this car soon in a matter of weeks anyway... What should I do?

Comments (5)

mrocklesnar
Original Author
17 years ago
just filled up coolant tank with water... doesnt seem to be draining or leaking. sorry i dont know too much about cars.
paparoseman
17 years ago
Find out where the coolant is coming from. Look around the hoses and see if they are showing any wettness. If it is not coming from the hoses or the radiator I strongly suspect the waterpump. When waterpumps go bad they get worse in a hurry, your statement about alot of coolant under the car makes me think the pump is going out. They can run around $300.00 to fix depending on how hard it is to replace.
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The timing cover is the "front part" of the engine which is on the passengers side of your car. The front of the engine is always described as if the car was a rear wheel drive, and the engine in-line with the center line of the car. Now as far as the timing cover leaking and its relationship to the water pump, the water pump bolts to the timing cover, which in turn is bolted to the engine. The timing cover gasket is known to leak, but unfortunately the intake gasket when it fails commonly allows coolant to run outside of the engine down across the seam between the engine block and the timing cover making it almost impossible to identify that second leak. Recently I had to inform a customer of the potential for his timing cover to be leaking in a Pontiac Montana with a 3.4l. His intake gasket was leaking, but streaking from the front of the engine suggested that it was very likely that there were two leaks at play. We fixed the intake gasket problem, and now are still watching it to see if we have to do the other gasket. We still haven't proven the second leak in his case, but at least I was able to caution him in advance.
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Thanks for the replies fellas. Haven't found a leak yet. Hoses are all good, heater core is not leaking, no coolant in the oil, water pump is not weeping or leaking. The only thing I can figure is that when the engine is at operating temp the coolant expands and escapes through the reservoirs overflow. I've put a small plastic bottle on the overflow to see if thats whats occurring. My Dad had an 87 Caprice that used to do that. Once the coolant found its level it ran fine and cool and didn't lose any more coolant. He ran it that way for years. Hopefully this is the same thing. If not, I'll keep on a lookin. Bucky
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Many water pumps have a drain hole on the bottom side of their housings. Check it to see if it is weeping fluid. You may have to get the vehicle up on ramps or on a lift to get a better view. Sometimes, an inspecion mirror can be used from topside. If you can reach the pump from topside, feel underneath it for the drain hole and wetness. Water pumps have spring loaded seals. These can hold for long periods of time with minimal seepage, but as the seals wear down near end-of-life, leaking worsens, and the seal may fail catastrophically. Another source of intermittent leaks is a cracked hose, notable the heater hose. A crack may develop on the inside radius of a tight bend, typically a heater hose that has relaxed and is laying on the engine. It may have a 90 deg bend at the nipple where it attaches to the engine. The crack will leak when the pressure rises in the coolant system, and/or when the hose is momentarily lifted like when the vehicle goes over a bump. You can check this by gently lifting the heater hose, when the engine is hot, and see if it spurts at these bends. Be careful of burns. Sometimes, a wisp of steam issuing from under the hood at a stop light amy be seen, and after parking, the oder of hot raditor fluid may be smelled. A cracked hose may suddently let go at any time.
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lamguy
17 years ago
If not the water pump, had a 1994 dodge shadow that sprung a leak in the head gasket that made a very small stream of water, but only when it was hot and it was over the exhaust mainfold that would dry it up pretty fast so it was hard to ever find.
mrocklesnar
Original Author
17 years ago
i looked under the hood, but i dont see the leak, but that could be because i dont know what im doing. i do recall my mechanic saying i had a crack in my radiator back about 6 months ago, and he used some liquid metal to patch it. so im guessing that could be it.

a friend told me it might be good to get something called "stopleak" from an autoparts store for about $5. pour this into the radiator when the car has been off for a couple of hours and it should temporarily fix this. but i dont know if it is a radiator problem.

and like i said im just looking to get by for now on this car, by the end of this month i will be buying a new car. any feedback is much appreciated.
earthworm
17 years ago
IMO, best to sell this car "as is", BUT be so kind as to completely divulge its condition and repair history, or lack thereof...
You are wasting money(a little) by using this stop-leak, and doing the next owner no favor....

Coolant Leak

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mrocklesnar
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paparoseman

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Coolant Leak

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mrocklesnarOriginal Author

paparoseman

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mrocklesnarOriginal Author

earthworm

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mrocklesnar
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