Somewhere, through trial and error, mostly error, the leak is somewhere above the water pump, not from behind the timing chain housing, near the thermostat housing... I'd tried a few new parts to stop the leak, intending to sell the car in pretty decent shape.

But I can't find where it's coming from. Is there some common spot for 2.8's to leak that I'm missing, or am I looking at selling a base coupe with a crack in the block that's spitting water?

 

I would check the tubing that comes from the top of the water pump, and check the water pump itself. Generally water pumps have a little hole behind the pulley, so when the pump goes bad it leaks. Then the pulley slings coolant everywhere

I had this problem on my cousins car, and we just couldn't find this massize hemorage not matter what we did, and then his pops came out for about 2 minutes, listened to what we had to say, didn't even look at the car, told us to go get a new pump and went back inside. Could have used that kind of help to begin with

 

That was, unfortunately, the first thing that got changed.

The pump, then the top hose, then the heater line from the pump, then a new thermostat housing, which involved some expensive shop repair after breaking the thermostat housing off... That's basically where I'm at right now. Everything close to the leak that could have been a source of the leak and could be replaced, has been.

 

I'm not exactly sure which sensors are there but maybe one of the nearby sensors?

How about the Throttle body coolant lines?

The pump sealed well?

I don't think it would be able to get to the area I'm thinking of, but maybe a freeze plug is leaking somehow?

Just throwing ideas out there.

 

Another spot to check is the intake manifold. The aluminum on these manifolds actually corrodes from the antifreeze. This can cause for leaks, big and small.

 

I had a leak on my car that I just fixed yesterday. It was getting frustrating because it leaked enough to smell, but not enough to find. Turned out that the hose from the top of the radiator to the thermostat housing was occasionally leaking a drip or two where the hose attached to the housing. Tightened the hose clamp and leak disappeared.

 

That would be where i'd look first as well. Don't forget those freeze plugs too.

 

Crack two eggs into the radiator cap hole [engine warm] and pour in a can of black pepper. It will stop.

 

 

Check the routing of your heater hoses. I had one that was forever being nicked by the AC belt. A molded hose solved the problem.

 

Like MDv6Man was saying, also check for pinholes. I burned a pinhole into a heater hose on my exhaust manifold (I run straight hoses from the pump to the firewall). Only when the system was hot (and pressurized) was there a leak- and it sprayed the coolant right onto the exhaust manifold and Evaporated!! So there were never any drips on the ground. Only way I caught it was I popped the hood on a hot day after driving, and saw/smelled the antifreeze steam.

You can also throw a ton of baby powder in the area. When the coolant leaks, it'll make a trail thru the baby powder.

Or you can ask someone to buy you this: http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...emType=PRODUCT

 

Whats the pepper for?
The egg in the radiator works for a leak in the radiator though, not sure about elsewhere however.

 

Black pepper works great also for coolant leaks. I have used that one myself. Its an old timers trick. The pepper flakes act like platelets in your blood. They get clogged up leaving a leaky spot n plug it up.

 

I have the nearly the exact same problem with my 2.8. It seems like the coolant is leaking from around the water pump whenever the coolant gets above a certain level. I think it is because the water pump gasket needs to be replaced. I am going to wait untill the spring to do it tho, because I dont drive it much in the winter.

 

You might want to check this

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...t=coolant+leak


https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...threadid=61181

 

Rexer looks like he had just about as much fun as I'm having.

That odd little fitting on mine is out of the way of the rust pattern down the block from the leaking water, which runs down just to the left side of the water pump, basically right down over the heater line. The rust pattern looks like it forms just to the passenger side of the thermostat housing, which is why I've been digging at it too much, but I might check the fitting anyway, just for something new to break off.

 

I think I remember a thread not long ago about that metal filling rusting and finally breaking off and messing with ya. Maybe post 3 months ago. I guess its real PITA.

have ya tried any coolant sealers????

alumina seal works good. works like black pepper. flakes of crap get caught up n clog the leak. Its does work well on small funny leaks.