Coolant Leak

[twogts4us]

Is the coolant overflow tank a 'usual suspect' for coolant leaks in a 92 5.0? My son's LX Vert is leaking just a bit, leaving a 6" or so puddle in the garage overnight. I saw that LateModel Restoration has this part 'featured' in their ads in MM&FF magazine. (Kinda makes me wonder if this is a part that is known to fail and need replacement.) I don't see any leakage from the tank, but I do see coolant on a couple of the hard lines running under the front of the engine from left to right. I really can't tell where the source is.

My other thought is the water pump. I know that it would tend to leak out of the back of the pump if it is going bad. The pump itself is fairly cheap, but the labor is a bit more involved.

So, before I move forward, I thought I'd pose this to the 5.0 crowd. Where would you start? Thanks! Chris

 

[bmo37]

I would check all lines first, in the front of the engine trace the radiator hose back to the thermostat housing, check the lines below and too the left rubber has a tendency to wear and leak. Also the thermostat housing itself. On the passenger side back behind the throttle body there are two lines going to your heater core, again these lines wear over time and leak down by the starter. The water pump to radiator hose is on the driver side, this could leak as well. Lastly you could have blown a head gasket which would be noticeable in drive-ability and blue smoke out the back of the exhaust but it's unlikely. Also your assessment of a weaping water pump failure is possible too but I would start with the hoses.

 

[nero6]

I would check all lines first, in the front of the engine trace the radiator hose back to the thermostat housing, check the lines below and too the left rubber has a tendency to wear and leak. Also the thermostat housing itself. On the passenger side back behind the throttle body there are two lines going to your heater core, again these lines wear over time and leak down by the starter. The water pump to radiator hose is on the driver side, this could leak as well. Lastly you could have blown a head gasket which would be noticeable in drive-ability and blue smoke out the back of the exhaust but it's unlikely. Also your assessment of a weaping water pump failure is possible too but I would start with the hoses.

I would second the advice from BMO37. I have seen a few posts with cracked overflow tanks but few and far between. If you have that much of a puddle every day there should be enough of a trail to track it down. I discovered my coolant leak by following up from the puddle on my garage floor. It was running down the bellhousing on the transmission. Thought it was the back of the intake at first but ended up being a coolant hose near the back of the intake. Tightend it up and no leaks since.