Water pump possibly leaking.
I have a leak underneath my car that looks like a coolant leak. The radiator was replaced last year, though it could be a problem with the water pump.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The leak would have to be identified by pressure testing the cooling system to see what is leaking. I have seen radiators leak soon after replacement. Have your mechanic pressure test and check the system for leaks. If the leak is under the front then a radiator could be the issue. If the leak is in the middle right side then the water pump may be the issue.
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If a water pumping is leaking it cannot efficiently move coolant around the engine. If that happens the engine will get hotter and will eventually overheat. At first the temperature gauge will hit the red, then you`ll start seeing steam from under the hood.
When a water pump gets replaced, it`s not unusual to have some coolant leaking and for the weep hole to see some seepage. If the leak is small, it could just be from the seal`s break-in period.
One issue that may arise in your BMW. Coolant leaks can stem from a handful of problems: damaged radiator, a bad head gasket, or a weak radiator cap. As soon as you notice a coolant leak, you will want to seek professional help right away, as this can lead to very serious problems for your engine.
The water pump contains several seals and gaskets that keep coolant enclosed and secure as it flows throughout the engine. As these seals and gaskets age, they will become worn, cracked, and dried out. Once this occurs, the coolant can leak from the water pump.
Warning. If the water pump is leaking from the body of the water pump, you must return the pump to the vendor for servicing. There is no safe way of fixing a leaking water pump body.
Coolant leaks from the water pump are common and a clear sign that it`s time to replace the pump. The coolant is stored inside the water pump using a series of gaskets and seals. Once these parts wear out, loosen, or crack, you`ll end up with radiator fluid leaking out of the front of your car toward the center.
Corrosion within the radiator is one of the leading reasons that coolant leaks. As the tubes get older and weaker, you may get sediment or debris inside that causes a leak. The sealing gasket between the tank and the radiator can also wear out, and that could lead to a leak.
One common place of a coolant leak is the radiator pan gasket. The drain plug can also cause leaking, and if the cap that seals the radiator can no longer contain the pressurized coolant, it will leak or spray out from underneath.
Although considered to have a reasonable level of reliability, engine cooling system problems are fairly common in BMWs – particularly in the case of coolant leaks and failed water pumps.
If you want to avoid expensive mechanic bills but don`t have the technical knowledge or experience needed to resolve a leaking water pump in any other way, K-Seal is the option for you – it can fix most leaks in the water pump casing and in the seals.
Common problems include overheating, leakage, low water pressure, noisy operation, and cavitation. These problems can be prevented or fixed by regular maintenance, inspection, and replacement of worn-out parts.
If the water pump fails, it is unable to circulate the coolant around the engine. It causes the engine to overheat as a consequence. If the engine overheats, it will likely cause additional damage, such as blown head gaskets, cracked cylinder heads, damaged rings, and burnt pistons.
The water pump is one of the vehicle components that may never require replacement if your vehicle is well-taken care of. You can own a car for over 15 years and never have to replace the water pump. That`s not to say that it can`t develop a problem.
The first thing you need to do is locate the source of the coolant leak. It might not be coming from the radiator. The best way to confirm the source of the leak is to wash the radiator and hoses with water, and then start the engine and look for new signs of coolant.
It may be a broken hose and/or a hole in the radiator. Solution: Check your hoses to see if any coolant is coming out. Replace the hose(s) if you notice coolant coming out of them. If you notice coolant leaking out of your thermostat that can be an easy fix.
Yellow or Green Fluid
Typically, this means that you`ve got a leak in your radiator, your water pump, or any of the hoses that carry coolant.
The coolant is no longer circulating properly through the car. Heating and cooling may be affected by the vehicle. The car may begin to overheat as well. It is possible to drive your vehicle without a water pump, but not good to.
If you suspect coolant has leaked into your engine, stop driving immediately and see a mechanic.
Antifreeze (aka coolant) is pumped through your vehicle`s engine as you drive, absorbing excess heat and exchanging it with the outside air. That means an antifreeze leak could cause the engine to overheat — and that can lead to major engine damage.
This is where the real dangers of overfilling your coolant lie. Hot coolant leaking throughout your engine bay can cause serious damage to wiring and electrical components. If you do end up with a burst hose, your engine could be starved of coolant and cause some pretty big problems.
Watch for leaks at the water-pump bearings and from the pump gasket. Check the thermostat housing for cracks, and the housing gasket for leaks. A rising temperature gauge , a pool of coolant beneath the car and a drop in the radiator level are signs of a leak. So are rust-coloured stains in the engine bay.
It could be from a failed cooling system component, faulty coolant reservoir cap, or something more severe like a failed head gasket.
You can catch an external leak if you pay close attention to your BMW`s temperature gauge. If you`ve lost coolant from a leak, your car may start to overheat. A second way to spot a coolant leak is the smell. Coolant has a sweet smell which you may notice if it exits the cooling system.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My water pump is leaking but I replaced timing belt and pump a year ago. Can I just replace the water pump this time?
ANSWER : Hello. You can just replace the water pump in this case. Although, the cost of just the timing belt is fairly negligible in comparison to the total labor of the job. My estimator says the water pump is a 6.5 hour job. Multiply that by whatever the shop rate is and you have the total labor without parts. You end up saving about $100 or less on parts if you only replace the pump.
The deciding factor will be the condition of the timing belt. If it has problems, you won’t be saving yourself any money by reusing it. In addition, there are seals and pulleys that may need to be replaced as well.
Assuming all the related parts were replaced the first time around, there isn’t a reason you can’t reuse them. I would say you should weigh the savings of reusing them against the actual condition of the parts. This is best determined after a complete disassembly. Keep in mind, time estimates will vary a bit depending on many factors. Either way, the labor is the largest cost.
If you would like to have the water pump replaced, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to perform this service at your convenience.
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Can a jeep run and drive without a water pump??
ANSWER : Driving or running the engine without the water pump working to circulate the coolant through the motor will cause the motor to overheat and may damage the engine costing thousands of dollars versus using a tow truck to take the vehicle to the shop that will cost a lot less. I would not recommend running the engine more than a few minutes at a time or you will overheat it.
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I used stop leak to fix a slow leak in my water pump,it worked but the car went into limp mode after it.
ANSWER : Stop leak in the cooling system is likely to cause more problems than it will solve. Modern cooling systems are much more finely drawn and have far smaller passages than older cars, and stop leak will jam things up. I can’t think how it would make your car go into limp home mode however, unless it was a coolant level fault.Of course a code read is in order and that should tell the story. Meanwhile, it’s clear that you need to take care of that water pump problem It may appear to be fixed, but the leak will be back. If you want some help with this, you can Contact Your Mechanic. They can send a technician to your home or office who can read the codes on your Jaguar and tell you what this limp home thing is all about.
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My mechanic told me that my car has an oil leak. And that oil leak has damaged my water pump. Is that possible?
ANSWER : Hi There,
It is unlikely that an oil leak may have damaged the water pump, although not impossible if somehow the oil may have gotten inside the water pump. Again, this is not likely to happen. Water pumps often times will begin to produce a bit of a whining sound when they are starting to fail. A common problem also associated with this is the water pump may begin to leak around the water pump shaft due to the seal being damaged. Gaskets can also fail over time due to excessive heat and will eventually shrink causing them to fail and create an oil leak. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and repair your oil leak.
It is unlikely that an oil leak may have damaged the water pump, although not impossible if somehow the oil may have gotten inside the water pump. Again, this is not likely to happen. Water pumps often times will begin to produce a bit of a whining sound when they are starting to fail. A common problem also associated with this is the water pump may begin to leak around the water pump shaft due to the seal being damaged. Gaskets can also fail over time due to excessive heat and will eventually shrink causing them to fail and create an oil leak. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and repair your oil leak.
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Leaking water pump new Honda pump at 134000!! Any suggestions besides changing the pump
ANSWER : I never recommend using a "fix-in-a-can" or a "stop leak," as this can add sludge to your engine. You may just have a faulty gasket for the water pump or even a faulty water pump. In either scenario, the valve cover and timing covers have to be removed to determine the cause of the leak. It may be a simple gasket problem or an issue with installation. I would definitely not recommend using stop leak as it will sludge your engine.
I would recommend a pressure test and a visual inspection of the leak once the covers are removed.
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Is leaking water but the thermostat the water pump and the heater core is good but it’s slowly dripping water onto the ground
ANSWER : Based on your description, you may have a small leak somewhere in the connections to your radiator, water pump or to your engine. Often times water leaks start out small and develop over time increasing and decreasing depending on the temperature of the water. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to diagnose and repair your cooling system.
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My car has a coolant leak
ANSWER : Hello. The most common cause of a random coolant loss on this vehicle is a leaking intake manifold gasket. It commonly starts leaking coolant into the engine, which will be burnt off or will leak externally. I typically do a pressure test and a dye test on the system first to see if I can locate an external leak. If nothing is found, then I do a block test to make sure that there is not a head gasket issue. If nothing shows up there, then I replace the intake gaskets. If you need to have this done, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose the coolant leak and replace the intake gaskets if necessary.
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Motor smoking and water pump pulley spits out liquid.
ANSWER : This suggests that your water pump may be leaking around the shaft where the pump bolts to the pulley. This is a common place for many water pumps to leak. There is a seal inside this shaft that will often times fail for various reasons. When this happens, this will cause the pump to leak causing the water to be burnt from the hot motor causing a steam or smoking effect as you describe. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to replace your water pump.
Read Full Q/A … : Water pump possibly leaking.
