coolant leak

[shorty]

anyone have a clue, Bueller Bueller Bueller ? have no idea
it is not coming from t-stat housing
any help is appreciated

[86VickyLX]

Intake gasket. Timing cover gasket, water pump gasket.

If you have access to a coolant system pressure tester, hook it up, put it under pressure, see where it comes out.

[1990LTD]

Intake gasket. Timing cover gasket, water pump gasket.

If you have access to a coolant system pressure tester, hook it up, put it under pressure, see where it comes out.

Honestly I would replace all of those gaskets. It wouldn't hurt to pressure test it anyway but I would replace them all at the same time...the same stuff has to come off to do either the water pump or timing cover gaskets, and the intake gaskets are NOT far away.

[sxcpotatoes]

My previous '91 had a small hose on the back of the block that was spewing coolant out onto the exhaust.

[johnunit]

I hate to second-guess, but this is from personal experience with a leak that pooled in the same spot:

Why are you 100% sure it's not the t-stat? I spent a good week (actually, a very shitty week) trying to re-seal the warped and corroded t-stat housing. A half dozen paper gaskets, two different liquid gasket types, different cure times, false starts that varied from incredibly slow leaks to full-throttle only leaks to leaks that didn't manifest until the car was sitting cooling at a friend's place after a 30 minute drive. If the leak is a pinhole at the bottom of the t-stat housing I found you could even run your hand over the offending area without getting it wet.


Just food for thought.

[1990LTD]

I hate to second-guess, but this is from personal experience with a leak that pooled in the same spot:

Why are you 100% sure it's not the t-stat? I spent a good week (actually, a very shitty week) trying to re-seal the warped and corroded t-stat housing. A half dozen paper gaskets, two different liquid gasket types, different cure times, false starts that varied from incredibly slow leaks to full-throttle only leaks to leaks that didn't manifest until the car was sitting cooling at a friend's place after a 30 minute drive. If the leak is a pinhole at the bottom of the t-stat housing I found you could even run your hand over the offending area without getting it wet.


Just food for thought.

I can't find any leaks at the T-stat on mine. I haven't opened the front cover yet so the source of the same leak pooling remains unknown.


Thanks for the idea though, I had ruled it out because it was recently replaced along with the hoses, tstat, water pump but I never did the timing cover gasket.

[Lincolnmania]

intake manifold gasket mostlikely

[sly]

weep hole behind the water pump is just below that bolt directly over the coolant in the first picture. that's where my Mark was leaking. probably needs water pump seals or new water pump.

[86VickyLX]

I can't find any leaks at the T-stat on mine. I haven't opened the front cover yet so the source of the same leak pooling remains unknown.


Thanks for the idea though, I had ruled it out because it was recently replaced along with the hoses, tstat, water pump but I never did the timing cover gasket.

Just because something was serviced, doesn't mean it was done correctly. A certain Mark VII owner that came for a rack and pinion and oil pan gasket after Scottfest, complained of leaking coolant in that area. Even after he replaced the T-stat gasket twice. Cleaning the surfaces to the best they could be, a nice amount of blue RTV (yes I use blue RTV. I don't have any issues with it. To each his own however), a paper gasket (with a sticky side VERY HELPFUL, [didn't know about it the first time around, I did it twice because Scott pointed it out. Thanks lol.]), and blamo all done.

Also, check your clamps, just because they're new doesn't mean shit. Some come loose and will cause hoses to leak, and potentially blow off of the neck. BTDT

[Lincolnmania]

i check hose clamp tightness like every other oil change

[shorty]

did a pressure test, coolant leak in top of timing chain cover. is this a crack, or rust hole in the cover or a weep hole ? any clue
the cover is aluminum

[1987cp]

*though* the top of the timing cover? How weird.

Will need to pop that off and repair it - either find a replacement in your price range, or find someone competent in brazing or welding aluminum. A shop across town from me will weld up anything starting at $25; I had them fix a cracked aluminum oilpan once.

[sly]

if you mean the little hole in the top of the timing cover that is directly behind the water pump... it's a weep hole.

Here's a pic of the one on my Mark's engine since it's actually semi clean in there...

The blue circle is around the weep hole.
The red arrow points to the front of the car.
the green arrow points to the water pump.

[1990LTD]

what's the hole there for? maybe that's where mine is leaking from...it's not wet anywhere else

[shorty]

if you mean the little hole in the top of the timing cover that is directly behind the water pump... it's a weep hole.

Here's a pic of the one on my Mark's engine since it's actually semi clean in there...

The blue circle is around the weep hole.
The red arrow points to the front of the car.
the green arrow points to the water pump.

ok its a weep why ? and why is it leaking any ideas