Anitfreeze Leak - 98 K1500 Silverado

[canuckz71]

Where can this leak from? My Dad has checked the hoses and said that it's not leaking from there and he said maybe the water pump but it's also sealed. There was a puddle of antifreeze on the driveway Christmas morning but nothing this morning. What are the chances of a cracked block and could this only leak a little bit of antifreeze? My Grandpa said to pull the dipstick and see if there is any water in the oil to see if it's cracked. Will this work? Any other things to looks for while I'm at it? I want to try and figure it out before I take it to a mechanic and have them ring me up for $100 just to diagnose. Also would a product like a Preston Stop Leak that you dump in the rad be a short term fix if it's only a leaking seal or not a good idea? Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Zembonez]

A water pump leak can be hard to see. Look at it from underneath and I'll bet you see a drip coming from the weep hole. It's a sealed item, but once the pump wears out it will leak there. Fortunately that is an easy fix if that;s it.

 

[Bernie]

Where can this leak from? My Dad has checked the hoses and said that it's not leaking from there and he said maybe the water pump but it's also sealed. There was a puddle of antifreeze on the driveway Christmas morning but nothing this morning. What are the chances of a cracked block and could this only leak a little bit of antifreeze? My Grandpa said to pull the dipstick and see if there is any water in the oil to see if it's cracked. Will this work? Any other things to looks for while I'm at it? I want to try and figure it out before I take it to a mechanic and have them ring me up for $100 just to diagnose. Also would a product like a Preston Stop Leak that you dump in the rad be a short term fix if it's only a leaking seal or not a good idea? Thanks for the help guys.

Might as well ask, "Where can't this leak from?"

In a rough listing by priority or likelihood of being the cause:

• Radiator core
• Radiator cap
• Expansion bottle (cracked)
• Radiator hose
• Heater hose
• Water pump
• Heater core
• Freeze plug
• Head gasket
• Cracked head
• Cracked block
• From a different vehicle
• Spilled while filling
• Practical joke by a buddy
• Some other liquid but not coolant

 

[ScottyBoy]

I just had to replace my water pump because I was losing antifreeze. It took me a while to find the leak, but I finally saw it dripping from the weep hole on the water pump.

 

[OldCracker29]

I'd guess water pump.

 

[bubbatrucklover]

To add to the others check the drain cock on the radiator. I would hedge my bets and agree with waterpump first and look at the resovoir(as Bernie suggested).

As to leaking one day and then fine the next,if you were running it one day and then it sat the next. There wouldn't neccesarily be a leak because the pressure wasn't built up to cause it provided it is/was one of the suggestions mentioned that pressure would apply to or in the case of a possible cracked resovoir/overflow tank it would have leaked out.

Fill it up to full with water(so as not to waste anti-freeze),warm the engine up (put a piece of cardboard if possible underneath) and start looking for the leak. After 15-20 minutes you should have the engine warmed up enough to start tracking the source of it.

Good luck.

 

[Stumpuller6.5]

don`t add stop leak, stuff will clog stuff up, best to get it pressure tested, dye checked.

 

[canuckz71]

Thanks for the info guys. Seemed to only leak on Christmas and hasn't leaked the last two days although I've been driving it. I'll keep an eye on it though.

 

[700 sportsman]

Sounds similar to my water pump leak, at first it was spotty, only when it got good and warmed up. Take a peak from the bottom up at the weep hole on the drivers side of the water pump.

 

[canuckz71]

Sounds similar to my water pump leak, at first it was spotty, only when it got good and warmed up. Take a peak from the bottom up at the weep hole on the drivers side of the water pump.

Good to know. If I have time Ill put it on a lift at work and take a look.