Big antifreeze leak

[BP_93explorer]

Pretty much leaked everything out. I noticed an antifreeze smell when I pulled into the driveway and as soon as I stepped out of the Ex I heard it leaking. It was pouring from somewhere. Its 2am so it's a little hard to see much right now. I did notice my belt sounding more like a snake the past few days. I was going to check into it this weekend but too late. Could this be as simple as the water pump going out? No clue how old it is. I also opened the radiator (wasn't even warm) and noticed the water was now a brownish color. Also, on the ground, there are a bunch of little white chunks of something. They only seem to be where the fluid is. There is no other reason for them to be there. The driver side tire is covered with fluid. Luckily I work less than 10 minutes from the house so it didn't get time to overheat. I didn't notice it running any differently.

I have some pics now but I was blindly shooting so I don't think they are much help. I can get more in the morning. I don't know much about this type of stuff. About all I can do is take things apart and put it back together (usually with no left over pieces). Thanks for any help.

 

[Essex4x4]

Same thing happend to my 1991 Eddie, my water pump was the original a and needed to be replaced and i had a mechanic tell me i had brown liquid in my radiator indicating internal rust issues, i said forget it i will replace it when it breaks, mistake. I was driving home from school and the same thing you said happened to your ex happend to mine, my intake manifold cracked and i had antifreeze everywhere.

I fixed her up and 8,000 drove it into a pole and totaled it

I am no mechanic when it gets complicated so by no means do not quote me when i say the first thing i suggest is look at the top of your engine and make sure your manifold is good, second try and trace the leak back to its place of origin, if its the radiator replace it, same with the water pump.

I hope this helps, sorry i am not very detailed

 

[BP_93explorer]

Thanks for the reply. I've been going through the possible problems. I do remember earlier today hearing a screeching type noise for a second or two. Sounded like screeching tires and I was turning right from a red light but I know I didn't hit the gas hard enough to screech the tires.

Its been having a problem with rough idling at times. The problem is I'm in my last semester of college and I have a crappy part time job so money is hard to come by to check all this out. I love my Exploder but can't give it what it needs

 

[boggs1227]

if u heard the belt screech for a moment then possiblly the shaft on the water pump locked up and failed evacuating water through the shaft and bearings of the water pump .

 

[BP_93explorer]

Took a look at it this morning. Haven't started it up today. Poured a glass of water into it and got under it. Looked as though it was streaming out of the pump. Went out a little later to see it again. Took off the cap and heard some dripping. Turns out it starts leaking when I take the cap off.

 

[boggs1227]

u said when you take the rad cap off thats when you see some leaking ..where at the pump shaft area ? i guess when you take the cap off the rad it's letting water pressure(even tho you have not started the engine) to seep out (water is seeing lower pressure and then goes out where the leak is ) that make any sence??

or did you say thats where the leak is at the cap it's self ? please explain.....

 

[BP_93explorer]

It starts leaking from the pump when I take the cap off. Thats the point it seems to be leaking from at least. I have a pic finally worth putting up. You can see the little stream coming from right behind the pulley and it spreads out after that.

 

[boggs1227]

yeah...pump is doa. when the cap is off what ever level of water left in there see's a lower pressure ,so water seeks it's own level ...then goes out where the leak is at .from the looks of it and the brown water every where that i can see ...rust must have killed the bearings and shaft on the water pump .

 

[BP_93explorer]

I guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend. Is one brand of pump any better over another? I guess I might as well replace the compressor while I'm tearing things apart.

 

[boggs1227]

only advice i could offer you ( i know money is a problem....i know that first hand ) useally when i got a bad alt or pump or wheel bearing etc... i useally got to napa....they are a little more expensive than auto zone or advance or mamie, moe and crack but the quality of their parts IMO is much better than the rest of them .when it comes to sensors or brake pads or what ever i go to these stores because they can't really sell any better ones than napa could but when it comes to new stuff like pumps then napa is where i'll be at to buy hands down .

just remember to flush the system as best you can before putting on a new pump to help rid the system of that rust ....don't want to install a new pump designed to run for 80-100k and have it die to from the same thing IMO .

 

[BP_93explorer]

The closest NAPA to me closed down. I'll search for another one. I live in the DFW metroplex so there is bound to be one close by. Thanks for the advice. I have my cousin coming over to help with this job since he works on police vehicles for a living. With us doing the labor I have no problem spending a little more on quality parts.

 

[boggs1227]

no problem ,goodluck.

 

[PRE-H20]

HELP!

so i had a big puddle of fluid under my explorer also!.... i also heard a screeching/whining type noise when i started it up... happened a few times. i have had to put water/coolant in and it has progressively gotten worse. now it leaks ALOT......

i got underneath to see where the fluid was leaking from (based on the puddle) and i couldnt exactly tell BUT i was under the explorer on the diver side and it looked like it was coming from somewhee above the oil filter, i couldnt really see exactly where but it was above the oli filter.....

any ideas or insight?

BTW.... i am NOT NOT NOT a mechanic...... lucky to put the key in the ignition to start the dan thing!... hehehe.

where is the water pump located?... is it near the oil filter area?

PLEASE help....

 

[boggs1227]

hey pre-h2o ,nope the oil filter is not located under the water pump...could have had a freez plug rust out and leak on the side of the block or your head on that side could have had a crack develop and or the head gasket is leaking externally .
but if you heard screeching of the belt then quite possibly the same thing has happened to like with bp 93explorer's pump .the screech could have been from the water pumps bearing slowlly seizeing up and then finally gave out ...justa thought could be wrong tho .


btw: i tried the tape thing and could not find at any parts place i went to that had "trim" tape..so i bought some high heat electrical tape by 3m ...good to 200 f ...best stuff they sold at home depot ...4 bucks a roll ! but i think i got good results from it .check my pic and see for your self .

 

[PRE-H20]

Tape

boggs1227.... thanks for the insight.... either way doesnt look to good for the ol dawg...... i just got the MAF squared-up and it was is running great.... a few days later the fluid started leaking.... then got worse now leaking like crazy. damnnnnn!

ok,... i located the water pump and its NOT where i was looking... the leak is definately coming from just above the oil filter. not sure what is up there.

as far as the tape, im surprized you werent able to find that..... its readily available.... odd enough.

as far as the electrical tape it does look great! i saw the picture. the problem is that it will come off eventually. as me how i know!....... keep trying to find that trim tape, it is really worth it.... maybe next time i go to the parts place i can take a peek and see if there is anymore. and since i need to get the explorer leakage handled im guessing i will be going sooner rather than later.....

any other opinions?

 

[boggs1227]

then it sounds like you got a head problem,could be leaking either from a head gasket or the head it's self became cracked and is leaking that way or.........could be that freez plug i meantioned ...rusting out and leaking that way.


the tape .....if you can give me a company name so i can locate some ,i may just have to order it off the internet,i looked at all my stores and the closest they came to it was pin stripe tape but all they had was way to small .

let me know what you find ....

 

[shaggymane]

Hey guys
Follow the bottom radiator hose up away from the radiator and it should connect to the water pump.

Take the belt off and spin/turn the water pump pulley by hand. What's if feel like? rough or smooth?
If you need a comparision spin the other idler pulleys and the altenator. You'll know if one is bad and you'll be checking the bearings of all three. I could hear a squalling during real cold weather, thought it was gonna be the alt but it was an idler pulley. Thank the big guy for small problems

PRE-H2O, wish i could remember more and where I saw the theard describing the same symptom - water coming from above the oil filter. I'm thinking the answers were pointing towards bad intake gaskets. But dont' quote me on that.

 

[PRE-H20]

now we're talking!... some direction! anyone else want to chime in on the intake gaskets?

how much of a problem is that repair? is it worth repairing on a 220K engine?

 

[Gatorblazer]

have you tried any Bar's yet? Sounds strange, but I have fixed many leaks that way, including the gaskets. I would try that before I did anything as far as tearing into an engine. The stuff is great, cheap, and might save you some time and $.

 

[shaggymane]

now we're talking!... some direction! anyone else want to chime in on the intake gaskets?

how much of a problem is that repair? is it worth repairing on a 220K engine?

I've not done it but they say it's not too bad.
Can't be no worse than pulling a c-6 out of a 4x4 or the head off a Trooper.

220k? Are the main seals still good? Using much oil? Leaking or Burning? Do you do your own work or are you paying someone?

Get a good confirmation on the diagnosis before you jump in. Do I have to say that?

Remember Autozone has repair guides info online. It's free.