95SLS Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 This has been going on a long long time. My wife's car, a 96 Eldo base w N* 120 K Mi. has been making coolant disappear. Like 2 years. I found a crack in the recover tank and replaced that. Still leaking, then I found the Cracked radiator pass side tank and replaced that. I thought I had it but still coolant is going gost! You can smell it when you stop the car, as if it is burning off in the engine compartment, But no spill on the floor leaks, not a sign! So today I jacked that sucker up 2 feet high and studied the underside! Dry as a bone! Only hint of a leak was some damp wires and some water marks around the water pump. Could this be it? I mean no overheating, water pump works but may have a leak like so slow it burns off on the engine before it can get anywhere. The system has been maintained or more yet over maintained, I use lifetime coolant but change it every year along with the pellets. I can smell it but I can't find it. I did read the old posts and it steers me this way. Any one think I am on the right track before I buy a pump and removal tool? Any suggestions on what pump to buy? OR shall I just replace a gasket? The good news is, no sign of a half case leak or even a drop of oil or water on engine anywhere! Amazing! Oh, and I just did plugs and wires and fuelk rail, no signs or symptoms of a head gasket leak. Everything looked clean as a whistle! Car runs like new. If I can fix this leak, I'll put them new Boston Struts in and order new leather for the interior. Mike C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 I think you are on the right track. I also have the same smell but the seepage seems so small it barely shows at the surge tank coolant level. Move your intake ducting out of the way and run your fingers along the bottom edge of the water pump front cover. I'd bet they come out damp or wet. Those cover gaskets (about $10) have been known to leak and have been redesigned. I doubt you need to replace the pump or the pump gasket unless it is leaking on the back side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 As Larry said, check the water pump cover area. It may be wet. In addition, I had a small leak in the heater hose that connected to the water pump housing, and ran back towards the back of the engine compartment. There's a metal line for most of the run, but a 5 or 6" rubber section to connect to the water pump housing. I tightened that connection, which helped for a bit, but it eventually started leaking again. It was a real pain to replace, but it fixed the leak. Like on yours, whenever I would look up at it from underneath, some of the cabling and wire looms were wet, but there was no real leak on the ground. Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond) "When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillip Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 Small leaks are tough. I had one recently and I found it by pressurizing the system while it was cool. This way I was able to reach around the engine with a mirror and not get burned. To pressurize the system I took the upper hose off the recovery tank, plugged the nipple on the tank and pressurized the system with about 10 psi air. Be sure to use a guage and valve system so that you do not over inflate. With my leak, it held pressure for several hours, but eventually, the coolant started to creap out around the end of the small heater hose near the water pump. Since the engine was clean and dry when I started, I could identify the damp spot, but only after several hours of being pressurized. I replaced the hose for a couple of bucks and an hour of labour and have had no problems since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95SLS Posted August 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 I'll be getting to work on this soon. I been waiting 2 years for a catistrofic failure to point me right to it LOL! But I guess it's better this way since the wife uses this car and I don't have AAA. LOL I'll let ya know. Water pump cover eh? Wonder why they covered it. Mike C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 Water pump cover eh? Wonder why they covered it. To keep the coolant in. The water pump mounts into what I call the "water pump housing". Then what most of use call the "water pump cover" could also be called the "thermostat housing". A rubber ring-type seal is pressed into a groove in the water pump cover, and that's bolted to the water pump housing. That creates a closed pocket in which the pump operates and pressurizes the system. Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond) "When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIke D Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 Mine is leaking too.. To change this seal do you have to remove the water pump. Can I just un bolt the cover and swap old seal for new seal? Cop didn't see it, I didn't do it! 93 STS 225,000 Miles 99 STS 111,000 Miles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95SLS Posted August 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 Yea I got a better look at it by mistake on mine. I was welding the exhaust trying to eliminate a rattle and I ran across some coolant. Hummmmm This is the car that is not leaking. I tracked it down to a cracked right side tank on radiator (Typical Caddy problem) So off that cam and I put it into the trunk off the car that is leaking slow and she goes in to get a new tank. I'm on overlaod on repairs the past 3 months, I new car would be cheaper if they would just make a real deal. Anyhow I got a real good look at the pump with my radiator out! LOL It look a lot different that I recall. Back to that car when I get this one done. Mike C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 Mike D: yes, you can remove the cover (where the thermostat is, and where the upper radiator hose connects) and remove and replace the rubber gasket. Easy job. Mike C: a new car may be cheaper if you're talking about a Cobalt or similar. You'd have to have a PRETTY unreliable car (like, $500 a month in repairs sustained for YEARS) to make a new Cadillac worth it, financially, no? Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond) "When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 Mine is leaking too.. To change this seal do you have to remove the water pump. Can I just un bolt the cover and swap old seal for new seal? No need to remove the pump, just the cover and replace the redesigned gasket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awise Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 My 98 Eldo-ETC was mysteriously loosing coolant a few weeks ago. Upon further inspection I found that the water cover seal was leaking (white residue shown through a section of the seal). I figured at 148K miles it was time for a cooling system refreshement so I changed the water pump, thermostat, and hoses. I finished up with fresh 50/50 Dexcool/DI Water, and two tubes of Bars Leak Gold powder (in the lower hose). The mysterious loss of coolant is now gone, and all is well in my Eldo world. Alan Wise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95SLS Posted August 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Jadcock, I drove like over 1000 miles yesterday, A lot of thinking and, I just can't brink myself to buy anything new. I've got like one of every type car. And from what I hear, my Caddilac get as good a mileage as the new 4 6 bangers on the hyw. So I guess I'll work through all these repairs and hold off. I can't bring myself to get rid of anything so I better not get anything. You're RIGHT! Thanks for your info awise, I think I'll give her a dose of what you did, since my pump is working fine, seems like a good cure, I have the same white powder in that area as you discribe so I must be on the right track how ever hard it is to believe that, THAT much coolant can run out there. But I imagine when yu are under speed a lot can happen you don't see. The hot engine makes it disappear! Let ya know how it all works out. Hope this is it! Mike C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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