Coolant Leak

[89 Saleen#455]

Does anyone know if the Stant (or equivlant) Coolant Pressure Tester would identify coolant loss from the weep hole of the water pump? I'm not sure if the coolant is leaking from the water pump gasket or the weep hole? Would seem to me that the water pump would have to be circulating for the coolant to be expelled from the weep whole The car only has 41K original miles, so it seems unlikely that the water pump would need replacing? The last thing I want to do is throw a whole lot new parts on the car without knowing the exact cause of the problem. My other thought is the timing chain cover may be the root of the leak, but I'm sure the pressure tester would cover that scenerio. Any thoughts??? Thanks.

 

[HO93LX302]

Well if the timing chain cover was leaking you'd see oil.. As for the weep hole or gasket leaking on the water pump you'd see both when engine is running or at least until the coolant pressure drops.. I'd buy the eldlebrock high flow alum. water pump.. Haven't had any problems with it at all.. Been on for 2 years now.. It was only $150

 

[89 Saleen#455]

Anyone else?

 

[Michael Yount]

Pressurize with the tester, then pull the coil wire loose, and turn the car over with the starter. That'll rotate the pump shaft around the seal. By the way, time and heat cycles are probably just as predictive of water pump seal failure as pure mileage is. Also, improper tension on a belt can take a brand new pump/bushing/bearing/seal out in very short order. So even if it's a gasket issue, I'd put a new pump on an 89 model car if I had to remove it to replace the gasket.