Wet spots under car
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 909
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From: New York
Car: 91 Firebird
Engine: 3.1 V6
Transmission: TH-700-R4
Wet spots under car
Got home from school today.Went outside to take out garbage and noticed a few spots under my car.Moved car out of driveway and examined the spots.One little blotch was oil and about a few inchs in front of it was another wet spot.It was my coolant.I traced the coolant leaks and its dripping slowly from the corner of the overflow tank.I have no idea why.Why the hell am I dripping oil and coolant?
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From: Toledo, OH
Car: 1992 Firebird
Engine: forged 357
Transmission: 700r4, 2200-2400 stall, vette servo
Axle/Gears: stock pegleg 2.73 drum (temp)
Put a big piece of cardboard under your car, white if you can, and find out where it's coming from and what it is. There's a chance it's not your car. However, oil leaks are very common. Find out where it's coming from, and we can tell you why it's leaking.
a coolant leak is a good indicator of a bad radiator cap- when is the last time you changed your radiator cap?
a coolant leak is a good indicator of a bad radiator cap- when is the last time you changed your radiator cap?
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From: New York
Car: 91 Firebird
Engine: 3.1 V6
Transmission: TH-700-R4
Originally posted by Token
it's not your car. .
a coolant leak is a good indicator of a bad radiator cap- when is the last time you changed your radiator cap?
it's not your car. .
a coolant leak is a good indicator of a bad radiator cap- when is the last time you changed your radiator cap?
There was not alot of oil.Just a few drips that spread out into a little spot.I recently did an oil change (week ago)
Last edited by V8 Slayer; Feb 17, 2005 at 04:15 PM.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Toledo, OH
Car: 1992 Firebird
Engine: forged 357
Transmission: 700r4, 2200-2400 stall, vette servo
Axle/Gears: stock pegleg 2.73 drum (temp)
Originally posted by V8 Slayer
Well it has to be my car because thats my particular spot in the driveway.I never changed the radiator cap.Its leaking right out of the corner of the tank..almost as if theres a tiny crack down there
There was not alot of oil.Just a few drips that spread out into a little spot.
Well it has to be my car because thats my particular spot in the driveway.I never changed the radiator cap.Its leaking right out of the corner of the tank..almost as if theres a tiny crack down there
There was not alot of oil.Just a few drips that spread out into a little spot.
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 909
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From: New York
Car: 91 Firebird
Engine: 3.1 V6
Transmission: TH-700-R4
Im just curious.Why would a radiator cap make your coolant leak out of random spots?Do I need one FOR my car or are they universal?
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,995
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From: Toledo, OH
Car: 1992 Firebird
Engine: forged 357
Transmission: 700r4, 2200-2400 stall, vette servo
Axle/Gears: stock pegleg 2.73 drum (temp)
Originally posted by V8 Slayer
Im just curious.Why would a radiator cap make your coolant leak out of random spots?Do I need one FOR my car or are they universal?
Im just curious.Why would a radiator cap make your coolant leak out of random spots?Do I need one FOR my car or are they universal?
The radiator cap is meant to pressurize the system, and if there is too much pressure for the cap it will move to the overflow tank. It sounds like you're not getting a good seal. Look at your cap and the top of the radiator and see how it all works together.
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From: New York
Car: 91 Firebird
Engine: 3.1 V6
Transmission: TH-700-R4
The oil spots arent anything to worry about? It was just a tiny spot.I Changed the oil about a week ago and maybe I just poured in a little too much.
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From: Bonner Springs, KS
Car: 1995 Corvette
Engine: LT1
Transmission: 6 spd Manual
Axle/Gears: Dana 44, 3:45:1
You will still have fluid in your overflow tank, so putting a new radiator cap won't change anything if there is a crack in the reservoir.. (getting a new cap is a good idea if the old one is trashed nonetheless)
The overflow isn't pressurized...
The overflow isn't pressurized...
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From: Pensacola, FL
Car: 1999 Saturn SL2
Engine: 4 cylinder
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Have a look at where the hose meets the overflow tank. Check to see if it is loose and tighten the clamp around it if it is. If the tank is cracked, well... just buy a new one for $10.
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From: New York
Car: 91 Firebird
Engine: 3.1 V6
Transmission: TH-700-R4
The coolant level seems good.I topped it off about a week ago.Marked the tank with a sharpie when the engine was cold and hot.Those marks seem fine.I check the hose leading to the overflow tank and its fine.The wet spots are directly under the water pump.I was outside for a half hour trying to find a single drip or wetspot on the water pump and everything seemed good.
I squezzed the radiator hoses to find any drips and nothing.
I squezzed the radiator hoses to find any drips and nothing.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 909
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From: New York
Car: 91 Firebird
Engine: 3.1 V6
Transmission: TH-700-R4
I keep randomly running outside and checking under the car..I still see wetspots but im not sure if their new ones or the ones i noticed this afternoon.I felt around the entire engine bay..Everything seems dry.
WTF?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?
WTF?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?
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From: Bonner Springs, KS
Car: 1995 Corvette
Engine: LT1
Transmission: 6 spd Manual
Axle/Gears: Dana 44, 3:45:1
Could be the water pump leaking from the weep hole... Start it and see if it leaks while running...
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From: New York
Car: 91 Firebird
Engine: 3.1 V6
Transmission: TH-700-R4
Originally posted by thirdgen88
Could be the water pump leaking from the weep hole... Start it and see if it leaks while running...
Could be the water pump leaking from the weep hole... Start it and see if it leaks while running...
Thanks.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Bonner Springs, KS
Car: 1995 Corvette
Engine: LT1
Transmission: 6 spd Manual
Axle/Gears: Dana 44, 3:45:1
It will be a little hole located beneath the pulley on the water pump housing... This hole exists so that if the water pump bearing and seal has deteriorated, it will leak and let you know before it eventually just locks up (which would be bad)...
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From: New York
Car: 91 Firebird
Engine: 3.1 V6
Transmission: TH-700-R4
Originally posted by thirdgen88
It will be a little hole located beneath the pulley on the water pump housing... This hole exists so that if the water pump bearing and seal has deteriorated, it will leak and let you know before it eventually just locks up (which would be bad)...
It will be a little hole located beneath the pulley on the water pump housing... This hole exists so that if the water pump bearing and seal has deteriorated, it will leak and let you know before it eventually just locks up (which would be bad)...
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From: Smithfield, NC
Car: 1987 Camaro SC
Engine: 2.8L MPFI (rebuilt)
Transmission: 700R4 swapped to T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 open
Sometimes they will start out only leaking when hot, just a few drips at first, gets worse over time.
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