Major anti freeze leak

[kpabt0525]

99 GTP, 126000 miles. Major anti freeze leak passanger side bottom of engine. Near crankshaft area. Removed front right tire but cannot tell where it is coming from. Hoses are fine. Not a small drip, much more then that. Warm weather so shouldnt be a cracked block. Thanks

[inafogg]

water pump??/if its leaking bad you should be able to pressure test & locate
fairly easy.does it leak all the time or just when engine is running??you say
in/near crankshaft,the water pump should be right above this area.with a light
& a mirror see if its coming from behind w/p pulley

[kpabt0525]

Yes. only when running. From behind power steering fluid resevour. How do you axcess that area? Pull belts, alternator and pullys?

[kpabt0525]

Also, it it be running out versus a small drip here and there?

[inafogg]

do a search in gp forum this is 1 of many

GM revised the upper plenum in late 99, that addressed the commom EGR stovepipe failure on early 99-older Vin-K 3800's. The problem is that they still used the same JUNK gasket. If you see no external leaks, or if it has a small leak from the throttle body area (dirver's side), then it's most likely an upper plenum gasket failure, not a bad plenum. Another common coolant leak issue on the Vin-K 3800 is the plastic elbows that go from the intake to the belt tensioner on the passenger side. They get brittle with age, and will begin leaking only under pressure, then get progressively worse. At first, they will not leak enough to get on the ground, but you will smell coolant under the hood. The other leak area is the water pump casting. When the bearing seals fail, they will leak coolant out the "weep hole" and again, it will start as such a small leak, you may not see it on the ground.

[kpabt0525]

It is a large leak when running. Close to a constint run of coolant. I think i will pull everything out down to the waterpump and see if the pump is the case.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by kpabt0525

99 GTP, 126000 miles. Major anti freeze leak passanger side bottom of engine. Near crankshaft area. Removed front right tire but cannot tell where it is coming from. Hoses are fine. Not a small drip, much more then that. Warm weather so shouldnt be a cracked block. Thanks

i'm thinking water pump also can you hear any bearing noise or squealing yet?

[kpabt0525]

Do noise at all. Just a sudden MAJOR antifreeze leak. Replaced one on my 2002 tahoe but it was a very small drip type leak. What I have now is close to running antifreeze while engine is running.

[BNaylor]

Based on the location by power steering pump check the coolant bypass elbow on the back side of the tensioner. Also, the heater hoses pressure and return lines.

Can you tell if it is from above or the engine block?

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by kpabt0525

Do noise at all. Just a sudden MAJOR antifreeze leak. Replaced one on my 2002 tahoe but it was a very small drip type leak. What I have now is close to running antifreeze while engine is running.

yes because it's under pressure with cap on it. if not water pump may have maybe frezze plug that rusted threw? i still think water pump if all hose aren't leaking?

[tblake]

Did you look into the coolant bypass elbows (two) as Bob stated? I'm betting thats your leak.

[kpabt0525]

Well, you are all correct. Coolant bypass elbows. $20 for both. Probably saved me $250 to $350 with all your help. I really appreciate it. Thanks all of you for all the help!