Piddlin coolant leak.

[Fake Name]

A month ago, I developed a leak where the water pump meets the block on the driver's side. A little pisser it was. I pulled off all the stuff- powersteering pump, AC pump, alternator, and finally the water pump. Turns out I had used the wrong gaskets when installing- a REAL DUMB move. But no big deal, I got new gaskets, gave them a schmear of rtv and buttoned the whole thing up.

But.

Since then, I've had a &$%^@* little leak from the bolt area on the lower bolt on the passenger side. It's small, just a few teaspoons a day. I figured since that bolt goes into the waterjacket, I should have used some rtv on the threads. So, drain the system, pull the bolt, goop it up, reinstall, refill, and drive it.

OK?

Nope. It didn't leak for an entire day. Checked it this morning, it was fine. But now, it has a few tablespoons of coolant under it. Thing is, I didn't run it all day yesterday or today, and it does not leak while running.

Anyone have this mystery issue?

It's a 390 with a high-volume Edelbrock pump.

Thanks.

fn

[fordman]

when you put that bolt in put rtv on the bolt. the will seal it up.

[Fake Name]

I figured since that bolt goes into the waterjacket, I should have used some rtv on the threads. So, drain the system, pull the bolt, goop it up, reinstall, refill, and drive it.

fn

Yes, I did that. No help. Does the timing cover bolt directly beneath it go into the block as well? How about the upper water pump bolt?

Thanks.

[NM5K]

I dunno if the RTV is a problem, but in general I prefer Permatex for water/fuel pump gaskets..
The brown looking stuff.. I think it might seal a tad better. I don't think I've ever had a gasket
leak with that stuff. I'll coat the whole gasket with the stuff, front and back. Don't leave any
dry spots on the gasket.
Never know, yours might seal on it's own before too long, if it's not leaking when running.

[fordman]

yes do all of the bolts that go into the water jackets. permatex is made to go into water or gasoline if you use the permatex number 2 i think is what i remember. permatex number 1 is for dry applications.

[convincor]

that lower passenger side is the only one that penatrates the water jacket.
Should use a thread sealer like http://www.permatex.com/products/Automo ... ealant.htm
Now with all that other crap in there your going to want to clean the hole.
Get yourself a small round wire brush like for cleaning copper pipe before sweating.
Run that thru the hole, twisting it. Spray the hole out with brake clean, then blow out with air.
Reassemble using the thread sealer and it'll never leak.

[Fake Name]

Still leaking. Sometimes. Making me crazy. Are the timing bolts "wet"? Will the intake leak near the center of the motor, between the tstat and the dizzy?

[thebannister8]

non-hardening permatex has been my choice for years..i've never had a leak with it...i have no idea if the bolt is "wet" ...i've never heard of that....if a bolt is exposed to the internals of the pump...i.e. water....it should have a sealer washer( or make one anyway with gasket material)....

[fordman]

the only wet bolts are the four long ones that hold the water pump to the timing cover and into the block. maybe a gasket is leaking or a cracked timing cover or a imprefection in the block . maybe the water pump is messed up or bad. you have to look at it and hunt down the leak. how high up does the leak start at? maybe the tstat housing gasket is leaking. maybe the intake is leaking out to the front of the block. can you narrow down the leak for us?

[JMcTurnan]

If you want to know a trick, mix some mustard with pepper, and put it in your radiator. And after a while the pepper fills the small gap, and mustard hardens because of heat. And you get a temporary seal untill you want to completely work on it.

[willowbilly3]

I don't think rtv is a good thread sealant, nor would I slather it on the waterpump gaskets, that is what the gasket is for and they don't need gooped up..
If it is a small leak you might try Barsleak, not any of that silverseral or metallic powder stuff though.

[whisperer]

First off you need to be absolutely SURE of where it's leaking from. It could be the water pump bolt, because it is wetted, but if you have 'any' good sealer on the bolt threads then I would assume that it is sealing until you know otherwise. Clean the area well and look carefully at the T-stat housing, the upper radiator hose where it attaches to the T-stat housing, the temp sensor, both heater hoses and fittings, and the ends of the intake manifold where it meets the heads. A good trick is to pressure wash the engine at your local spray wash place, let it dry, and then when you park the truck lay paper towels over the suspected areas. push them down flat against the surfaces (1 layer). When it leaks it is usually fairly easy to see the green antifreeze spot on the white paper towel.