Antifreeze leak
 

:dancing I would appreciate some advice. My Z is leaking antifreeze only when it runs, within 5 minutes, dripping below the lower cross-frame member. I have the front end up on jack stands, ran it, and cannot spot the leak. The telltale drip is on the underside cross member and I have used a mirror, light, etc to spot the source of the leak. I have checked all hose fittings, and to get to the hose entering the block, have removed the belt tensioner and serpentine belt. I cannot feel any leak around the water pump gasket or the water pump pulley, but have not removed the pulley itself. The small puddle inside the cross member is below the hose clamp on the hose entering the block but could also be below the water pump pulley-hard to tell. The pulley has no play in it and the mileage is only 19,000. So here are my questions:

Is it ok to run the engine briefly (5 minutes) without the belt to better view those areas??? WILL NOT ALLOW TO GO ABOVE 130 F.
Anything I have not thought of ???


Thanks for the advice :handshak:

Re: Antifreeze leak
 

I had a coolant leak on my 1990 ZR-1 right after I bought it last year. I could not find it with a visual inspection. In ended up getting a coolant system pressure tester. The leak turned out to be from the radiator. The right end tank had small cracks. I replaced the radiator, all is OK now.

My symptoms were the same as you are describing. The coolant would puddle under the front cross member. A lot of the coolant system is "above" that cross member. The problem with finding slow leaks is that you have to be a operating pressure to track them down.

I would caution against prolonged running of the engine with the belt off. There really is no way to tell what engine temperature is without the coolant circulating.

I live about 2 hours from you in Westminster, MD. If you would like to meet up some where I would be happy to help you find the leak. I am available Sunday afternoon. Have Tester, Will Travel.

Jim
443-244-1347

Re: Antifreeze leak
 

"I could not find it with a visual inspection. In ended up getting a coolant system pressure tester. The leak turned out to be from the radiator. The right end tank had small cracks. I replaced the radiator, all is OK now."

Same here.
You might be able to see through opening on the shroud with a flashlight depending on where it is cracked.

Re: Antifreeze leak
 

Thanks for the info and the offer but hesitate driving to Maryland with the leak. Will look into a pressure tester. Appreciate the response.

=D>

Re: Antifreeze leak
 

If your reference to 'cross member' is this item>>>
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...rossmember.jpg

then another item to look at is the mesh covered hose.

I would check the clamps (eg tighten) for the hose that goes from the water pump to thermostat housing... hose looks like this>>
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...mwaterpump.jpg

Also would carefully inspect the hose itself (since it is mesh covered might be hiding a small defect).

Re: Antifreeze leak
 

You can usually get a pressure tester on loan from Autozone or Advance Auto.

Re: Antifreeze leak
 

The downpipe hose that runs down behind the fan is a common place where the hose can rub through......happened to the 24hr endurance car, and my 92.

Re: Antifreeze leak
 

Are the waterpump bolts tight? The pooling leads me to beleive this is the issue

Re: Antifreeze leak
 

Pressure tester is the only way to verify where the coolant is coming from.

Disconnecting the fan belt is not going to help you solve where the leak is from, as it won't be building any pressure inside the system.

Re: Antifreeze leak
 

Jeff speaks the truth :thumbsup: Finding a leak with the engine running is no easy task.