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cant find coolant leak

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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 09:26 AM
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cant find coolant leak

My truck has a coolant leak that I cant find. The coolant that is leaking is mostly on the front of the alternator and air cond. pump. I cant seem to find the weep hole on the water pump. Can anyone explain where it is? Any other tips on finding the leak?
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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 10:22 AM
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Might want to check the rubber hose that connects to the steel tube. I had a friend thats where his was leaking. A week later the one on the rear under the exhaust manifold started to leak. Just a Thought
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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 10:33 AM
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If you have access to a compressor, pressurize the radiator and see what happens. No more than normal driving pressures though.
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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 11:41 AM
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I had the same problem. Put a hose clamp on the overflow tube that is right under the cap that goes to the overflow bottle... see what that does. I had coolant puddle in the grooves in the airbox, too.
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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 02:06 PM
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Thanks for the ideas. I will go out and see what I can find right now. I have a air compressor and would like to try the pressure test. Where do I connect the air line and with what fittings? How much pressure is safe?
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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 02:23 PM
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Remove the cap, stuff a rag in there with the air chuck and let it rip. If you have a pressure reducer on the compressor, set it 10-15 psi. If not, then just be careful, you don't want to over-do it. Let us know how it works.
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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 02:25 PM
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Need a lev-r-vent cap and a piece of hose w/ clamps to adapt where the overflow hose connects on the radiator. Don't go more than 12 lbs. to be safe.
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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 02:33 PM
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How does the rag stop the air from coming out? What the heck is a lev-r-vent cap? You guys are kind of confusing me. What if I pull the overflow hose from the overflow bottle and put the air chuck on that?
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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 03:37 PM
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I pulled to hose from the overflow bottle and put my air chuck on it. I have a good seal at that connection. I have 12-15 psi in there and cant find coolant leaking anywhere. I can see some rusty crud on the engine block just below the water pump, but don't see any fresh fluid. I think it is probably the water pump, but I cant confirm it. I still for the life of me cant find the water pump weep hole. Where the f is it. I have a mirror and flash light and have been looking and feeling around with my hand and cant find it. Whats next?
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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 04:45 PM
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Your cap is going to stop air flow, which is why I mentioned one of these:
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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 05:01 PM
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Thanks, so if I use the lev-r vent I will be able to pressurize the system with the tube from the overflow? And if I use the stock cap the system will not pressurize through the overflow tube? Thanks for the clarification.
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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 06:11 PM
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Yes and yes.
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Old Sep 23, 2008 | 08:42 AM
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when my water pump went bad it was peeing fluid out of the pump where the pulley shaft goes in...
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Old Sep 23, 2008 | 09:00 AM
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How risky is it to pressurize the coolant system? I have a compressor and a regulator on it. The guy at my auto parts store thought it was a bad idea unless I used the system designed for it. I dont see how I can harm anything as long as I keep the pressure low like suggested.

Thats good to know about where the one poster above said about his leaking from the pulley. I would say there is a good chance that is where my leak is as well.
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Old Sep 23, 2008 | 09:32 AM
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As long as you keep the pressure under 16 lbs, I don't see what it can harm.
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