Radiator Fluid Leak???

[dwbailey]

Well I'm befuddled! My 2000 Alero 3.4 (supposed to be same engine as in the Malibu) with 200,000+ on her sprung a leak. I could have sworn it was the water pump laying down and just went ahead and changed it. NOT! After a closer examination, it looks like it is dripping off of the block between the crank pulley and the a/c pulley but closer to the a/c pulley. And it leaks pretty bad. Yesterday I pull up in the driveway and quite a bit leaked out. Just filled the reservoir back up after the pump change and it started dripping out almost immediately. Anybody ever experience anything like this in this area before? Can't imagine where it is coming from. Any ideas/experience sharing will be greatly appreciated gents. Thanks.

[dwbailey]

Additional info. I think I recall somebody once telling me that they had a similar leak and had chased it to an o-ring that apparently goes around the timing chain cover where the engine routes the radiator fluid as part of the cooling system. Sound familiar to anybody? If so, how difficult to do-it-yourself? Thanks again.

[NHRA]

does it take 3 diffrent post to ask your question?

[wpbharry]

3.4 has never been in a Malibu.

[gmtech1]

Are you sure it's not running down from the intake?

[procaddytech]

Are you sure it's not running down from the intake?

Sounds alot like an intake gasket leak. Check the corner of the lower intake gasket and also the heater bypass pipe that bolts down right on top of the water pump housing. One bolt holds it down and the o-ring gets hard and brittle over time. Sometimes the pipe itself will crack. Clean and blow the area dry and try to pinpoint the origin of the coolant leak.

[dwbailey]

Originally Posted by NHRA

does it take 3 diffrent post to ask your question?

3 different posts???? Maybe you mean posting it in Olds and Pontiac forums????

[dwbailey]

Wasn't sure about the 3.4 ever being in a Malibu. Just had heard that the Malibu and Grand Am are basically the same car with slight changes to the body but that the chassis and everything else was about the same. Not absolutely sure its not running down from the intake. I had the intake manifold gaskets, upper I think it was, changed with GMs new and improved ones but that was a LONGTIME ago. Will check it out to see. Thanks. Also thanks for the suggestion to the suggestion about the heater bypass. Will check that, too.

[inafogg]

Originally Posted by dwbailey

3 different posts???? Maybe you mean posting it in Olds and Pontiac forums????

really it can get confusing with a couple threads for the same problem
maybe a mod can put responses all together in 1 thread.that way we
will no whats be suggested & whats already be done

[dwbailey]

Originally Posted by inafogg

really it can get confusing with a couple threads for the same problem
maybe a mod can put responses all together in 1 thread.that way we
will no whats be suggested & whats already be done

Makes sense. I put it in the 3 different places in case somebody that has one of the 3 types that I thought the engine came in and was looking at that specific forum but not the others would see my problem and provide a possible resolution.

[dwbailey]

P.S. Took an inspection mirror and tried to look around from up top and it was really hard to see much from there. Everything around the intake manifold looks dry from what I could see at least so am doubting it is the intake gasket. Would be tough and sticky with radiator fluid dripping while its running to jack it up and try and trace it from underneath unless somebody has a better idea to check it. It really seems like it is coming from the timing chain cover especially since someone had told me long ago that they had the same problem and it wound up being the o-ring that keeps the radiator fluid out of that area around the cover. Why GM would route the cooling system around the timing chain is beyond me but I'm sure there must have been a good reason. Problem is having to take half of the engine apart to get to it with everything (alternator, power steering pump, etc) surrounding it.

[dwbailey]

Was talking to this guy and it looks like we narrowed it down to the accessory bracket that holds the water pump and other accessories onto the engine which apparently has a crossover gasket made of metal. he said if that has a problem it will leak antifreeze. The leak is directly across from the idler pulley and is dripping down between the a/c bracket bolt and the block. Intake manifold gasket is dry from what I can see and the water pump is tight and not leaking so we think it has to be that. Will tow it to the shop tomorrow and we'll see.