Yesterday I came out to find a coolant puddle underneath my car. It was exactly the amount in the reserve bottle. So naturally I checked the bottle and it was empty. I checked the bottle of any possible leaks, but there was none.

I found the very slow drip coming from the bottom of the oil pan on the drivers side. I'm assuming that it's the waterpump slowly leaking.

Things that have been replaced related to the cooling system.

Rad Cap - A month ago
Rad - 2 years ago
Fresh Coolant - Last April
New Water Pump - Last April


It's not the headgasket, because I did a leak down test on my car last week and all cylinders were under 10%.

I'm replacing the thermostat and hoses just in case on the weekend, along with new coolant.

I'm just wondering what could be possible sources of coolant leaks, that are on the drivers side? The only thing I came up with is waterpump.

 

Did you replace all the hoses?

 

No, none.

The thing is I couldn't find the source of the leak. It's not coming from the rad or any of the hoses on the passenger side.

 

I know you replaced the rad, but maybe there's a leak somewhere. That happened on my old car. I couldnt find the leak but the rad was cracked at the bottom on the drivers side.

I'll bet its a hose.

 

check your rad, take it out fill it with fluid and see if it leaks. U have an aftermarket plastic one, so its best to check that first.

 

VW did it right.....aircooled.

Just remove all the coolant

 

could be the water neck, there's 2 o-rings (one on either side of the water neck). Or the small coolant hoses that go from the water neck to the IACV then to the FITV and back to the intake manifold, so check those as well.

 

Thanks guys, I'll be checking all that tomorrow.

I never thought of the IACV hoses and FITV. Those are gonna be a pain to disconnect.

I really hope it's not the waterpump, cuz it sucks trying to that crank bolt loose.

 

^^Dave...please don't give him any road trip ideas...Trenell's crazy enough to travel out to get that tool....

 

would this tool work for water pump leaks as well? I think that's where it's coming from.

The weird thing is, it only happens at idle when the car hasn't been moved for a couple of hours. During driving it's fine and it's doesn't even come close to overheating.

 

So I've been outside for the last hour or so with my car running, heat on and off. Took the timingbelt cover off, took off the lower splash sheild underneath, etc.

No more leaks....WTF. I can't be bother anymore with this ----. I'm just gonna do a flush and replace the thermostat even though my car heats fine and doesn't overheat at all. Bah!

 

did you use the baby powder trick like i told j00?

 

^^ I don't even wanna know what "trick" you're talking about...

 

Kinda, I didn't want to cover the waterpump in powder and I just dabbed a bit with my finger around the area. Anyways it's not the waterpump.

I guess the only thing left is the rad. I took a couple of quick looks at the IAC and FITV, but didn't see any coolant leakage.


I wanted to do the baby powder trick on the lower part of the rad, but it was already moist so I couldn't do it.

 

i got an itr rad if you need one dude.

 

Is it just me or did you just find your leak? Since it was already moist.

 

^^^ Normally yes, but the but the entire bottom of the car is wet due to the weather.

 

^^^ crappy tire doesn't have it