Mharvey500

Hi, is this going to cause engine damage by driving with slightly low coolant level in the radiator? With the water pump o-ring leaking coolant, the leak stops when the coolant level in the radiator gets maybe about 1/2 inch below the neck. I just drive around like that so it will stop leaking until I can fix it in the spring.

I guess there is air in the system, particularly around the water pump after the engine is turned off.. So far the engine has never overheated.

Donkeypunch

ya man. coolant in the engine always causes accelerated wear.
every time you drive it, it's hurting. but isn't going to blow up soon, unless the oil is totally milky.

Mharvey500

I neglected to mention it is a coolant leak dripping down the side of the engine. It is not in the oil at all. Just concerned if driving around with air pockets in the coolant system will be harmful.

Mharvey500

One more thing I'd like to add is there is still heat in the car from the heater core so coolant is moving. However, as I said, the water pump o-ring has stopped leaking due to I guess enough air in the system to form a nice air pocket in the water pump so it will stop leaking coolant. It seems ideal to leave it that way until the weather warms up and I can replace the orings.

User1

Leaking coolant = a big deal. Park it and fix it if you care about it.

Mharvey500

I will top up the radiator and put rags under the car. A gallon should last until April.

Amave

how do you know its the water pump leaking?


these cars rarely leak or have water pump problems

Mharvey500

It is the water pump orings, based on where its leaking from and how it is leaking and the descriptions of it on this forum.

Mharvey500

Maybe I'll catch the coolant and put it back in the expansion tank. Environmentally conscious.
If it would only warm up to plus 0 centrigrade I could replace those orings.

Mharvey500

Changed the water pump o-rings (3 day job at my speed) and now it's dry as a bone.

Donkeypunch

excellent. also for future people my oring was also leaking.
there is a weep hole on the side that tells you it's leaking, by leaking.
if it's leaking there its probably leaking into the engine even though you don't see coolant mixing-in with your meat eyes.

i tested the oil sent it to blackstone and yes there was coolant in the oil.

uptownsamcv

how can you tell the water pump o-ring is leaking when it's behind the timing chain cover?

Mharvey500

Because it always drips down behind the ac compressor. There are internal channels to send the coolant there is my understanding. That was what I read and observed and verified when I changed the o-rings. There are two orings, one for coolant and the other for oil. When I removed the old orings, the coolant o-ring just disintegrated while I was trying to slip it off, the rubber was so brittle.

maximatech12

Heres a link to my personal experience with the leaky water pump...
https://maxima.org/forums/5th-genera...g-oil-pan.html

Before I began this repair, I performed a few searches and found other maxima owners stripped out the water pump bolts... idk how they gained the clearance to tap a new hole but that would be disheartening to strip out one of the mounting bolt holes...