View Full Version : Coolant leak. Pretty severe.
roxzorz
04-28-2012, 09:31 PM
Today, my ka24e overheated. When I finally got to stop, I checked everything out. Filled up an empty radiator and found a leak below the water pump. I won't be able to get a close look at it tonight but I'm freaking out wondering if it's possible for an overheat to crack the block. I've searched as much as I can but nothing comes up that describes to what I think I saw.
Could crack the block, likely warped the head badly. Easier to grab a new KA24E it sounds like than fix all that.
roxzorz
04-28-2012, 09:42 PM
Is there even a fix for something like a crack? I'm still a newb btw so if that's a crazy question, I apologize.
kandyflip445
04-28-2012, 09:44 PM
There is a thing at the bottom of the water pump called a weep hole. You probably just need to replace your water pump. When it goes out it will leak coolant through this hole until you replace the pump.
roxzorz
04-28-2012, 09:47 PM
That's very comforting to know because the steady stream of coolant leaked directly below the water pump. I'm praying that that's the problem.
PureRush
04-28-2012, 09:50 PM
A leak isn't a big deal unless the coolant is all gone like you said. Fix the leak then do a compression test to see if it's still running strong
dawagarage
04-28-2012, 09:52 PM
first thought that came to my mind was also the weep hole. in which case, you just have to replace the water pump.
roxzorz
04-28-2012, 10:30 PM
Thought just dawned on me and I left my car at a friend's house so I cant check at theoment, but if the coolant wasn't coming out of the weep hole, would that be a crack in the timing cover or the block?
kandyflip445
04-29-2012, 07:07 AM
KISS=keep it simple stupid. Check the water pump and report back.
roxzorz
04-29-2012, 09:58 AM
Instagram (http://instagr.am/p/KAmadbJJdp/)
Here's the water pump. I guess the seal was all fucked up. Is that what caused the leak through the bottom weep hole?
roxzorz
04-29-2012, 09:59 AM
Sorry. I'm on my phone and it was the only way I knew to upload it. Haha.
wangan_cruiser
04-29-2012, 10:50 AM
after you fix that do a compression test to check your headgasket if you didnt blew it
kandyflip445
04-29-2012, 12:32 PM
after you fix that do a compression test to check your headgasket if you didnt blew it
Word, that seal being like that would have made it leak out the weep hole. Now replace it and make sure you burp any air in the system when you refill it. If you don't know how just search the forums for it. There are a few threads here about it.
The compression test is a good idea just to be thorough. While you're at it you could also replace your thermostat since the car is empty of coolant.
roxzorz
04-29-2012, 01:04 PM
Got the new pump on there, now I just need to make sure it survives a drive home. I'll follow up on the compression test when I get the chance. Thanks everyone.
jdm213
04-29-2012, 01:42 PM
change your pump and ur thermostat since ur gonna be opening that anyways common sense nigga
roxzorz
04-29-2012, 02:36 PM
After letting it sit for an hour after bringing it home, there was coolant on the ground. Sigh.
SnakeKack
04-29-2012, 03:27 PM
I just went through this with my KA24DE. Fix the leak and anything else that may leak like any hoses that are crunchy when you squeeze them. Replace the thermo with a NISSAN thermo. Take out the radiator and flush the shit out of it and your block just in case any scaling broke loose from inside the engine and is flowing around, which is what happened to me.
My engine has 236k on it and overheated. It got so hot it melted the ends of my spark plug wires that attach to the plugs. I had bad misfiring and thought I blew my head gasket. I did a combustion leak test after I fixed my leaking hose that caused the problem in the first place and it passed. You can buy the leak tests at NAPA or order them online. My car survived it and is running great.
Good luck and try to replace any part of the cooling system that needs attention.
kandyflip445
04-29-2012, 10:25 PM
Make sure you aren't leaking from around your new water pump. Check the seal on it.
PureRush
04-29-2012, 10:48 PM
Did you pee in your radiator?
Morphious
04-30-2012, 01:22 PM
After letting it sit for an hour after bringing it home, there was coolant on the ground. Sigh.
Not the end of the world, check and make sure all of your connections are tight. I seriously doubt you cracked the block.
Clean everything off, as best you can, start it and try to see where its coming from.
Did you use RTV sealant on the pump?
How long did you let it sit for?
If you installed it and then drove thats probably the problem. RTV needs to sit for up to 24 Hrs. Every time i've changed a water pump on my KA and Sr i let it sit for a full 24 to make sure I didnt have to change the damn gasket again.
roxzorz
04-30-2012, 01:24 PM
Well I didn't let the rtv set for 24 hours, but I didn't see any evidence of a leaking pump at first glance. In time I'm eventually just gonna flush the entire system and maybe get all new parts.
japslapsilvia
04-30-2012, 02:46 PM
change your pump and ur thermostat since ur gonna be opening that anyways common sense n......
You should probably edit this post...
roxzorz
05-07-2012, 04:01 PM
So I got a new overflow tank and it seems like its still leaking from the pump. Maybe I didn't put enough rtv? The old pump didn't have a gasket on there so I didn't cake it with a lot of rtv.
ryandriftingfat
05-07-2012, 04:22 PM
Could crack the block, likely warped the head badly. Easier to grab a new KA24E it sounds like than fix all that.
Are you for real? Leaking water pump = new motor?
OP - if you're leaking from a water pump, then center your efforts around the pump - why did you buy a new overflow tank? So you got a new pump and it's still leaking from the same spot?
When you took the old off, did you clear off any remaining gasket from it? Did you lay down a bead of RTF around the whole water pump flange? Did you inspect the cover for any cracks? Is the leak getting any bigger or smaller? Could there just have been leftover water that you now see under your car?
Timing chain covers usually leak on the inside, as a result of the timing chain eating through the cover over time.
roxzorz
05-07-2012, 04:54 PM
I bought a new tank because I didn't have one and I originally didn't know the persistent leak was still coming from the new pump. Someone suggested it was coming out of the overflow, so I bought the tank. I put a small amount of liquid gasket to aid the water pump gasket, yes I cleaned off the surface of old liquid gasket. I'm assuming I'm just gonna have to remove the new pump, replace the gasket and applying liquid gasket this time around.
Tantwoforty
05-08-2012, 06:01 AM
I bought a new tank because I didn't have one and I originally didn't know the persistent leak was still coming from the new pump. Someone suggested it was coming out of the overflow, so I bought the tank. I put a small amount of liquid gasket to aid the water pump gasket, yes I cleaned off the surface of old liquid gasket. I'm assuming I'm just gonna have to remove the new pump, replace the gasket and applying liquid gasket this time around.
you can get a real gasket for that if you wanted to, i think they sell them at autozone.
But i rtv water pumps all the time, i suggest ULTRA GREY silicone. its worked for me 100s of times
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