Im seeing antifreeze on my #1 valve cover that looks like it is splattered from somewhere. Is this cause for a new water pump? I dont see any leaky hoses or anything that would lead me to believe that something simple is wrong. Help please as I am taking an 1100 mile trip next week. Thanks.

 

The first check should be for a crack in the overflow hose from the radiator to the recovery tank.

Check the weep hole on the waterpump. If it is streaking rust or wet, then you have the culprit.

Although, from the location of the coolant, I would tend to suspect the inside thermostat gasket is not centered or has sprung a leak.

 

Not schooled on the inside thermostat gasket. Can you point me in the right direction?

 

From what Ive seen the only H2O youll see from a bad pump will be coming out the weep hole on the bottom of the pump, Unless the shaft and bearing are completly wiped out and it should be screaming or grinding at least. The thermostst gasket is If memory serves me is a O ring type deal on the thermo itsself. This would be in the large housing part where the top hose goes to. I would check hoses and clamps first. My 95 had a mysterious leak under and finally found a leaking lower from a loose clamp. It would only leak when it felt like it it seemed.

 

Thanks I will give everything a twice over and see what I can find. So if the pump was leaking it would be leaking from the bottom not the top, and top is where I am seeing my fluid.

 

Unless a gasket went which is questionable but a possibility the leak should be from the bottom. Get a small inspection mirror or the misses little make up kit mirror and look under for the 1/8 hole in the pump casting. The pumps pretty far down IMO to send coolant to the top of the engine even with the fan blowin etc. Check the 90 degree bent hose in front corner of head,clamps,metal heater lines etc.