Losing about a half gallon of coolant every 200 mikes it so in 70+ weather. Oil doesn't appear to have any coolant and she runs great besides getting hot. Just can't find a leak. Also there is no noticeable odor from the heater core or fog etc.


If a guy had a water pump leaking where would it show up?

Also my fuel pump from the tank started buzzing.... Should I place an order with IPD, or not necessary?

Thanks guys

 

the water pump is on the front of th engine, beind the bell shaped pulley, and mechanical fan if you have one.

water pump leaks are generally a slow drip of coolant from a weep hole, this is a warning you'll need a new water pump in about a years time after the leak first starts.

the water hose on the left terminates at the pump.



(1992 turbo 740 with no mechanical fan)

 

Yeah, guess I know where the water pump is I just can't see any leaks coming from it. In my experience fast leaks are usually from the water pump but I can't see any leaks from there.

 

Have your coolant tested for exhaust gasses. If you can't tell where the coolant is going, there's a good chance that it is a head gasket failure and it could be going out the exhaust. Not all head gasket failures result in coolant mixed with oil. Also, when the engine is idling, do you see any bubbling/gurgling going on in the coolant reservoir? If so, it's time to do the head gasket.

 

Usually, if you are loosing coolant through the head gasket, you will see white smoke coming from the exhaust.

If you are loosing coolant into the engine, you will have a milky residue that you will be able to see on your oil cap.

If you are loosing coolant due to a water pump leak, If you drive the car for 10 minutes or so, and then look at the water pump immediately with a mirror and check the weep hole and around the pulley.

That's pretty much the only way coolant can escape. The amount of coolant that you have reported escaping makes me believe that it is a failed head gasket...


Dave Riedle

 

If coolant loss is through the head gasket, you won't necessarily see "milky residue" on the cap. A small leak will just burn the coolant out the exhaust; may be some coolant smell. Larger leaks will have white vapor pouring out of the tailpipe.
Should take a leakdown test to be sure what's going on.

 

Can't get the reservoir to bubble.

No milky residue.

No white smoke. Below 30 degrees f there is steam of course.

I can see a very small amount of coolant around the pump but not enough loss for the amount I'm losing. I'll get my inspection mirror out and look in the bell on the pump when I get home.

 

I agree about the leak down test.

My only feeling here is that he is loosing a great deal of coolant in a relatively short period of time. I have always been able to see white smoke from the exhaust with a loss of coolant that great, and it has always shown up as a milky residue on the cap.

I used to drive rally cars, and have had the unfortunate experience of having a head gasket fail a couple of times on a stage. It was always that way for us...

Very small leaks can go undetected, but as Lev says, you will usually be able to smell coolant.

If it is the water pump, you will be able to see coolant on the pump, and on other horizontal surfaces under the engine.

Good luck!


Dave Riedle

 

I'm pretty stumped here. Guess I'll try that leak down test...
Thanks as usual guys!

 

I ended up replacing the pump. Seems to be holding. Was hard to see that leak though.
In the process I broke one of the alternator bolts and now she's holding her own tension....

 

My 2002 s80 T6 lost coolant for over a year. Spent $1500 and couldn't cure it -- clean radiator, check water pump (disassembled front end), replaced heater core, replaced reservoir. Replaced radiator cap. Ran numerous pressure checks, all held. Checked the chemical odors in the coolant. Still would lose two quarts of fluid in 10 minutes of driving. No water on ground under car, no steam, no odor. Drove two mechanics crazy. Finally wnt to a guy and he checked heater hoses. One of them was clogged. Replaced it, not a drop lost in over 90 days. Can't explain it. Still don't know where the coolant disappeared to, but now it's healed.

 

Dam coolant leaks!!!

 

the leak location depends partly on what car you have (i don't know if I missed it)

my 940 for example leaked at the heater control valve between the engine and fire wall. They used a 2 part metal/plastic valve that was prone to leaking

I replaced it with a brass fitting and was good to go until the replacement part came in

*that is not my photo fyi*

 

my 740's heater valve split, it was the non-volvo 'chevy' style replacement part,


which worked well enough, until it leaked.


I replaced it with the new-style VDO valve,


and replaced all the heater hoses at the same time.