coolant leak

grampyg · 08-28-2011, 02:47 PM

Hi all. I have a coolant leak some where in the front of the motor. Its a drip that is worse when parked headed down in front at a steep angle. Found out on a trip this week end added water got throught the trip fine without much more loss. I did find coolant down with top hose some what collapsed before I left. Is there a water pump fitting or hose that I have to look for. Thanks in advance Rick

**ob_1jr** · 08-28-2011, 02:57 PM

Look at the water pump weep hole. It is on the driver's side front of the engine. As far as the upper radiator hose being collapsed, soak your overflow cap in warm soapy water.

grampyg · 08-29-2011, 01:03 AM

I put my truck in the garage and now nothing is leaking. excuse my ignorance but what is a weep hole and what does it do I am new to diesels. I haul a 5th wheel and it is awesome.

**jc1843** · 08-29-2011, 06:50 AM

The water pump has a small hole in the housing to vent the shaft. It is located on the bottom- close whaer the lower hose attaches. If you have coolant stains on the lower hose-- the water pump is most likely leaking. They seem to leak more when driving, and a pressure test does not always show the leak.

If you have around 100k miles, that is around the mileage when most go.

grampyg · 08-29-2011, 05:30 PM

the truck has 130k so the pump is probaly the problem. I assume there is a how to for the pump on the forum somewhere. setting level in the garage tonite after coming from work no leak. The rad cap was the problem for the collapsed hose. when I opened it the hose came back to normal. I am no mechanic but I do alot of my own work so I am hoping if its the water pump I can do it.

**jc1843** · 08-29-2011, 05:41 PM

The pump is not real hard to do, but the damn balancer has to come off and that is torqued to 275 ft lbs. They make a special tool to hold the engine from turning, or you can remove the starter to hold the flywheel, so you can loosen and then later tighten it.

You may need a power drink to help. The cost to have someone do it is, $600--- $1,000!

grampyg · 08-31-2011, 04:03 PM

finally got a chance to look things over Is the weep hole on the very bottom of the pump I crawled underneath the truck and I think I found the hole on the bottom on pump and a very small amount coming out while truck is running. So I guess the problem is the pump. Any body in maine that has changed one close to bangor.

**ob_1jr** · 08-31-2011, 06:47 PM

Yep that would be a bad water pump. There is a DIY in the DIY section.

DeaconAz · 08-31-2011, 11:31 PM

A quick note, the reason your top hose is collapsed is because the coolant system does not vent to open air. When coolant leaks out through the weep hole or any other point where it is a slow leak air cannot enter the system so the top hose has to collapse to compensate for the loss of volume. If anything that means your cap is working since there is no external surge tank to draw fluid from. The cooling system is a completely sealed system.

grampyg · 09-01-2011, 03:53 PM

ok now I am worried. I found a mechanic that does work for the local diesel shop and asked about doing my pump no problem but he said he has had 2 trucks lose head gaskets within 2 months of changing water pump. I s this a isolated problem or a common problem. Big dollars to change head gaskets he said. He also said it was on 05s which is what I have. someone please tell me I don't need to worry this. Thanks for all the imput so far. A gtreat forum by the way.

08-28-2011, 02:47 PM	eBay Motors #1 (permalink)
grampyg DuramaxForum n00b Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 10	coolant leak Hi all. I have a coolant leak some where in the front of the motor. Its a drip that is worse when parked headed down in front at a steep angle. Found out on a trip this week end added water got throught the trip fine without much more loss. I did find coolant down with top hose some what collapsed before I left. Is there a water pump fitting or hose that I have to look for. Thanks in advance Rick

08-28-2011, 02:57 PM	eBay Motors #2 (permalink)
ob_1jr Administrator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Aviano Italy Posts: 8,369	Look at the water pump weep hole. It is on the driver's side front of the engine. As far as the upper radiator hose being collapsed, soak your overflow cap in warm soapy water. __________________ SOLD 2004 GMC 2500HD D/A CC Carbon Metallic w/ LB7 4" turbo back MBRP exhaust, Cognito UCAs & HD tierods TST Powermax Programmer, Diablosport Predator 305/70-16 BFG T/A KOs on Eagle Alloys Series 187 Clifford remote start. High Idle, Bilstein 5100s, 1.5" lift blocks CAT fuel filter w/ nicktane adapter Magnum Force Stage 2 intake with AMSOIL filter Racor 2 Micron pre-OEM with heater & water sep Lightforce 140s from Madjackracing http://WWW.ATPTRUCKS.COM/

08-29-2011, 01:03 AM	eBay Motors #3 (permalink)
grampyg DuramaxForum n00b Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 10	coolant leak I put my truck in the garage and now nothing is leaking. excuse my ignorance but what is a weep hole and what does it do I am new to diesels. I haul a 5th wheel and it is awesome.

08-29-2011, 06:50 AM	eBay Motors #4 (permalink)
jc1843 Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: So. Cal Posts: 9,319	The water pump has a small hole in the housing to vent the shaft. It is located on the bottom- close whaer the lower hose attaches. If you have coolant stains on the lower hose-- the water pump is most likely leaking. They seem to leak more when driving, and a pressure test does not always show the leak. If you have around 100k miles, that is around the mileage when most go. __________________ Chevy 04.5 LLY, 2X, shell, XDR, MikeL 6spd, TransGo, deep pan, blocked, fingered, de-badged, PCV, 65 Gallon replacement Aero tank, PPE on 2, LBZ-mp, shimmed, Pre-fuel filter, tow mirrors, BU cam, gauges, GPS, Sirius, bags, custom grille, fender vents, HD trans cooler- Curt front hitch, footwell lights, load lights, Studs, head gaskets.

08-29-2011, 05:41 PM	eBay Motors #6 (permalink)
jc1843 Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: So. Cal Posts: 9,319	The pump is not real hard to do, but the damn balancer has to come off and that is torqued to 275 ft lbs. They make a special tool to hold the engine from turning, or you can remove the starter to hold the flywheel, so you can loosen and then later tighten it. You may need a power drink to help. The cost to have someone do it is, $600--- $1,000! __________________ Chevy 04.5 LLY, 2X, shell, XDR, MikeL 6spd, TransGo, deep pan, blocked, fingered, de-badged, PCV, 65 Gallon replacement Aero tank, PPE on 2, LBZ-mp, shimmed, Pre-fuel filter, tow mirrors, BU cam, gauges, GPS, Sirius, bags, custom grille, fender vents, HD trans cooler- Curt front hitch, footwell lights, load lights, Studs, head gaskets.

08-29-2011, 05:30 PM	eBay Motors #5 (permalink)
grampyg DuramaxForum n00b Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 10	the truck has 130k so the pump is probaly the problem. I assume there is a how to for the pump on the forum somewhere. setting level in the garage tonite after coming from work no leak. The rad cap was the problem for the collapsed hose. when I opened it the hose came back to normal. I am no mechanic but I do alot of my own work so I am hoping if its the water pump I can do it.

08-31-2011, 04:03 PM	eBay Motors #7 (permalink)
grampyg DuramaxForum n00b Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 10	coolant leak finally got a chance to look things over Is the weep hole on the very bottom of the pump I crawled underneath the truck and I think I found the hole on the bottom on pump and a very small amount coming out while truck is running. So I guess the problem is the pump. Any body in maine that has changed one close to bangor.

08-31-2011, 06:47 PM	eBay Motors #8 (permalink)
ob_1jr Administrator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Aviano Italy Posts: 8,369	Yep that would be a bad water pump. There is a DIY in the DIY section. __________________ SOLD 2004 GMC 2500HD D/A CC Carbon Metallic w/ LB7 4" turbo back MBRP exhaust, Cognito UCAs & HD tierods TST Powermax Programmer, Diablosport Predator 305/70-16 BFG T/A KOs on Eagle Alloys Series 187 Clifford remote start. High Idle, Bilstein 5100s, 1.5" lift blocks CAT fuel filter w/ nicktane adapter Magnum Force Stage 2 intake with AMSOIL filter Racor 2 Micron pre-OEM with heater & water sep Lightforce 140s from Madjackracing http://WWW.ATPTRUCKS.COM/

08-31-2011, 11:31 PM	eBay Motors #9 (permalink)
DeaconAz Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 83	A quick note, the reason your top hose is collapsed is because the coolant system does not vent to open air. When coolant leaks out through the weep hole or any other point where it is a slow leak air cannot enter the system so the top hose has to collapse to compensate for the loss of volume. If anything that means your cap is working since there is no external surge tank to draw fluid from. The cooling system is a completely sealed system. __________________ Don't have a d-max, but my family has 3, a 2005 with a 6" cst lift on 35's, a 2006 with a 6" rcd lift on 37's, and a brandnewish 2010 not currently lifted yet but plans in the works (he just traded in his 2003) I do have a 93 jeep Cherokee with a 8 inch rustys off road long arm kit, 33-11.5x15 mudders and a "short top conversion" which means I rolled it and cut the roof off.

09-01-2011, 03:53 PM	eBay Motors #10 (permalink)
grampyg DuramaxForum n00b Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 10	ok now I am worried. I found a mechanic that does work for the local diesel shop and asked about doing my pump no problem but he said he has had 2 trucks lose head gaskets within 2 months of changing water pump. I s this a isolated problem or a common problem. Big dollars to change head gaskets he said. He also said it was on 05s which is what I have. someone please tell me I don't need to worry this. Thanks for all the imput so far. A gtreat forum by the way.

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