Water pump dripping

I noticed that the water pump on my 96 4.3 engine occasionally has coolant on the bottom, usually just a few drops but enough to leave a few drops on the floor overnight. Is it normal for coolant to come out of the weephole on the bottom, or is this a wp issue? Also, I wonder if this may be causing my occasional sputter/surging problem mentioned in a previous post, since the wp is on top of the distributor?

Waterpumps should never leak. Even a little drip means coolant is getting into the bearings, which shortens their life. Imo it's time for a new one.

I noticed that the water pump on my 96 4.3 engine occasionally has coolant on the bottom, usually just a few drops but enough to leave a few drops on the floor overnight. Is it normal for coolant to come out of the weephole on the bottom, or is this a wp issue? Also, I wonder if this may be causing my occasional sputter/surging problem mentioned in a previous post, since the wp is on top of the distributor?

water pump leaks at the weep hole are common...it does happen at times ....if it leaks all the time then you have to replace the pump...


ON my vehicle I installed a weep hole drain hose...this directs the drip to the driverside of engine safely away from the distributor...use of a vacuum fitting in the hole with a very small dia hose ..secure with a tyrap ..the hose about 12 inches long...

water pump leaks at the weep hole are common...it does happen at times ....if it leaks all the time then you have to replace the pump...


ON my vehicle I installed a weep hole drain hose...this directs the drip to the driverside of engine safely away from the distributor...use of a vacuum fitting in the hole with a very small dia hose ..secure with a tyrap ..the hose about 12 inches long...

Good idea, especially on the LT1 350

water pump leaks at the weep hole are common...it does happen at times ....if it leaks all the time then you have to replace the pump...


ON my vehicle I installed a weep hole drain hose...this directs the drip to the driverside of engine safely away from the distributor...use of a vacuum fitting in the hole with a very small dia hose ..secure with a tyrap ..the hose about 12 inches long...
While I do not want to argue with you, respectfully, I have never seen this in all my years around cars, trucks and fleet maintenance. Good working pumps never leak. Period.

IMO as soon as a pump does leak, it's gone bad and should be replaced. Maybe not right away, but very soon.
Pumps are cheap and usually last a long time, leak-free. The annoyance of being stranded because the wp bearings are shot is expensive. A leaking pump will need replacement, eventually, so it makes no sense to put it off and risk being stranded. . :)

While I do not want to argue with you, respectfully, I have never seen this in all my years around cars, trucks and fleet maintenance. Good working pumps never leak. Period.

IMO as soon as a pump does leak, it's gone bad and should be replaced. Maybe not right away, but very soon.
Pumps are cheap and usually last a long time, leak-free. The annoyance of being stranded because the wp bearings are shot is expensive. A leaking pump will need replacement, eventually, so it makes no sense to put it off and risk being stranded. . :)

these water pumps do leak at times..my pump has been doing this for years....I have a new pump ready to put in ...but it is not often leak..last time it leaked was 3 months ago ..time before that was last year...if this had a fan on it that may explain why this type of pump acts this way... I hope this helps you and others whats with this very specific type design water pump....the bearings have no load...no fan..no belt..the ceramic seal is the problem, as when the temps vary it can weep out some coolant no much but a few drops...

the other specific design flaw is mounting the distributor directly under and behind the pump....to remove distributor cap ,,water pump need be removed ...it is a pita...

your post about water pumps with fans and belts I agree with ...normally they will get worse and in a few weeks the fan is flopping around because the bearing is shot..

with this design the distributor gets damaged then its 120 for pump plus 400-500 for distributor...unless the weep hole drain hose is installed..


when my vehicle was almost 2yrs old the weep hole had some coolant coming out...brought to dealership....you know they are the experts ...they said they all leak a little ...this is normal...

these water pumps do leak at times..my pump has been doing this for years....I have a new pump ready to put in ...but it is not often leak..last time it leaked was 3 months ago ..time before that was last year...if this had a fan on it that may explain why this type of pump acts this way... I hope this helps you and others whats with this very specific type design water pump....the bearings have no load...no fan..no belt..the ceramic seal is the problem, as when the temps vary it can weep out some coolant no much but a few drops...

the other specific design flaw is mounting the distributor directly under and behind the pump....to remove distributor cap ,,water pump need be removed ...it is a pita...

your post about water pumps with fans and belts I agree with ...normally they will get worse and in a few weeks the fan is flopping around because the bearing is shot..

with this design the distributor gets damaged then its 120 for pump plus 400-500 for distributor...unless the weep hole drain hose is installed..


when my vehicle was almost 2yrs old the weep hole had some coolant coming out...brought to dealership....you know they are the experts ...they said they all leak a little ...this is normal...

Okay, I see your point.... this waterpump design is the exception to the rule. Cool :) Thank you for the clarification.

jcat, what is a tyrap? ALso, what size and type of vacuum fitting and hose did you use? That sounds like a good idea.

jcat, what is a tyrap? ALso, what size and type of vacuum fitting and hose did you use? That sounds like a good idea.

1/8 in vac fitting in the weep hole then, the hose routed down . tyraps are thin pieces of plastic with a slot for the flat end to slide into this then is like a clamp ..just secure it tight enough so it will hold the hose in place..

is this always leaking or just sometimes ? do you add coolant often?

They also are known as 'zip ties'.

Good idea, especially on the LT1 350

Why would you specify with the LT1 350??

I can answer that for you IGNORANCE, the 4.3L used 94-96 is externally identical to an LT1.

The coolant/water issues with the opti are also blown GROSSLY out of proportion by the idiots on the internet. I have been daily driving and modifying these cars since early 2000, never had an opti failure. It is just a distrubutor ANY distributor gets wet inside and it will act up till it dries. They ALL also wear out the cap and rotor and people tend to neglect them on the LT1.

Why would you specify with the LT1 350??


Because of the close proximity of the dist to the water pump.



I can answer that for you IGNORANCE :screwy:, the 4.3L used 94-96 is externally identical to an LT1.


Please excuse my IGNORANCE, I did not realize the 4.3 has the same set up as the 350
So lets include the 4.3 also.