Saw the truck was running a little warmer that normal, so pulled over and checked coolant level, and saw red fluid everywhere! Coolant level was down, but still above the minimum mark, so I babied it home, and washed the engine bay out to get the old fluid off, so I could find the leak. The problem is, it is getting on the fan and blowing it all over the engine. Washed it all off, started it up, and no leak. Took it down the road a bit to load it up and heat the system, and it started leaking again. I can tell it is coming from the front of the engine somewhere, it seems to be dripping a lot off of the tone ring, but I dont know if it is accumulating there and then dripping down. It "seems" there is more coolant towards the right side as you are looking at the front of the truck, but this may just be a coincidence. There is coolant residue on the belt too. I cant see visible leaks from the water pump or coolant lines. Any help, Ideas on what might be leaking? THanks.

M Sandt

 

My first guess would be water pump.

 

Read all the posts about water pump probleams, so I started it up again and ran it, and the water pump looks bone dry! The biggest drips and puddle is formed directly under the crank/tone ring, and it drips the most right off of the tone ring when I started it up again. Any ideas, I wish it was the water pump, thats an easy fix. Thanks again.

M Sandt

 

could be...water pump..top hose leak..thermostat housing leak...that's all I can think of right now.

 

Thanks for the help ******, this is driving me crazy. If I knew what was wrong, id feel better and maybe be able to sleep tonight.

 

With the (clean,dry) engine warmed to operating temperature, have someone rev it while you watch for drips/sprays in the suspected area - you'd be surprised at how much easier it is to see a leak at 50psi+ than 10 at idle!

 

Found the leak, upper rad hose was rubbing on the idler pulley. How did I not catch tht last night! Thanks to all for your help.

M Sandt