Leaking Antifreeze?

[Points70]

While driving today my low coolant light came on. It has never done that before. So im looking where it could have came from and there is a little wet spot on th passenger side of the engine. There is a really small spot in the drive way, and in my dads 2007 Buick lucerne his water pump went out and had the same symptoms. Just wondering if anyone has any idea of what it could be. I wet spot in the engine bay is right next to the oil filter, and pretty much below the water pump.
And if it is the water pump should i replace it with a OEM water pump or are there any better pumps i should get? Thanks

[Iceman6669]

#1 thing to check is the LIM gasket. #2 is the coolant elbows. When my water pump went out on my 96 GP it sprayed coolant EVERYWHERE...

[Points70]

Ok I'll check those, thanks for the advice

[matt5112]

cooling system pressure tester would help greatly in diagnosing this.

[Points70]

How many people have changed their own LIM gasket? How long did it take you? Because if this is my problem I have to do it ASAP but I still have to get back and forth from college everyday.

cooling system pressure tester would help greatly in diagnosing this.

Ok, so if the pressure is low then there is a leak? Is it lower if it is a coolant elbow versus the LIM gaskets?

[matt5112]

Four hours your first time.

Maybe more.

Job books 4-5 hours IIRC.

Well, a pressure tester can work multiple ways.

What it does it put pressure into the system.

So for a 15 pound system (like ours) you'd put 17 pounds in and see if it held it for 20 minutes.

If you start losing pressure immediately and suspect and external leak, inspect the engine for coolant flowing out of it.

I'd also suggest some engine shampoo before doing the test to remove any residual buildup.

[Points70]

Ok, thank you for your time

[Points70]

Ok my dad thinks if the LIM gasket is bad and there is an internal leak then u could smell antifreeze burning out of the mufflers? Is this true?

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

yes.

coolant will leak into the cylinders and get burned up with the fuel and cause that smell out the exhaust.

Its wise to change the gaskets right away befor the leak gets worse and then hydrolocks the motors and could cause piston and rod damage.

[matt5112]

cooling system pressure tester.

harbor freight probably has one for cheap.

[Points70]

Ok, after looking for the leak with out a pressure tester it seems to be coming from the bottom corner of the coolant resivior. But if there a way to check the LIM gasket for internal leaks? The owner before me had leaks and the dealer ship changed the lower intake and valve cover gaskets in Nov of 09. So i dont think that is the problem.

[Points70]

Ok we were just making sure because we Dont smell any. Which is good. And Matt i remember u helping me before and the owner before me kept his records and in NOV of 09 his LIM and Valve cover gaskets were leaking and changed. The coolant elbows look good too. But it seems to be the actual resivior leaking in the corner so im hoping its as simple as that.

[matt5112]

Thats good.

Happy coolant hunting.

[Points70]

Haha Thanks

[Points70]

Ok i got a pressure tester. and i pumped it up to 17lbs and it was very slowly leaking. could not find any sign of a leak externally. This is a terrible sign i know, could it possibly be the cap? I know it could be the LIM gaskets but i really hope not because they were replaced less than 2 yrs ago.

[Iceman6669]

IF it is your LIM look in your oil if your not burning it. The other good places to look is on the passenger side of the motor, under you s/c snout if you are charged, by the coolant elbows. or over by the TB if you are N/A.

[Points70]

ok so i checked the oil with the dipstick and it smells and looks only like oil. and i am not charged so i checked under the throttle body and it is not leaking there.

[Iceman6669]

I have heard something about the UIM cracking where it meets the TB. But I am SC so i dont have a whole lot of info on the NA stuff.. Srry.

[Points70]

ok thanks for trying. This is pissing me off, i cant find it anywhere so im assuming it has to be internal but it is hard to diagnose

[Iceman6669]

if it is internal it is either being burnt or it is going into the oil. I have read that you can cut open your old oil filter and see how much NON oil was going through it by the way the paper is laying. I would try to clean everything off and see if you can see the leak then.