where's the water from?
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 426
Likes: 1
From: houston, texas (now Berli
where's the water from?
I have trouble finding a coolant leak. It seems to be coming from the front of the engine, since it's dripping around the oilpan (front and running along the pan to the rear). It doesn't seem to be the water pump, as it has been replaced about 8 months ago and looks fairly dry. Is the timing cover gasket also sealing water somehow? That'd be too sad if I had to take the timing belt cover off just to replace the gasket. What other gaskets could coolant be leaking from?
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 763
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From: home
where's the water from?
It could be the gasket between the water pump & timeing cover. I just replaced the waterpump on my 92 302. Check the bolts for tightness. You could have a bad pump. Check the weep holes. My to cents worth.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 166
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where's the water from?
I think have the same leak. Coolant from the front of the engine, looks like from where the front cover connects to the block, not water pump to front cover. But the funny thing is it only happens when I park overnight and there is a large temp change that night (like the first real cold nights of the year or first warm ones of the year in the spring) it will leak like a cup or two of coolant. I never investigated further because it only happens like once a month, and to do so seems costly ie pulling everything off the front of the moter to replace some seal or gasket. Oh btw, I check the weep holes every time it happens and they are dry. I searched the TSB and found nothing so let me know if you fine anything out.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 763
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From: home
where's the water from?
Gaskets & water pump seals tend to go out at the onset of very cold temperatures. They harden up and crack. On the weep holes of a water pump I push in a little piece of paper towel after the truck has been run. That way if they leak over night it stains & wets the paper towel. Often the weep holes will leak but dry out before you check them in the morning. I also put with tape a piece of paper towel below or arround any hose or other area I suspect is leaking. It may well be the timing cover, getting the harmonic balancer off can be tough. None of my Ford have ever leaked from there. 
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 426
Likes: 1
From: houston, texas (now Berli
where's the water from?
Now here's the weird thing: I could locate the leak and it's behind the water pump. I can see the water slowly drizzling out of what seems like a tiny crack. Now it's too tight corners to tell if it's on or behind the timing cover (I just hope it's the cover and not the block!!
). Has anyone ever had a leak at that spot? It's right behind the waterpump, to the left and below the two upper timing cover bolts (basically right under the throttle body)...
What do you say? Likely cause? Should I take the timing cover and all off just to be sure? The engine has never overheated and has been extremely reliable since I bought it.
). Has anyone ever had a leak at that spot? It's right behind the waterpump, to the left and below the two upper timing cover bolts (basically right under the throttle body)...What do you say? Likely cause? Should I take the timing cover and all off just to be sure? The engine has never overheated and has been extremely reliable since I bought it.
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 426
Likes: 1
From: houston, texas (now Berli
where's the water from?
I found it!!! It IS the timing cover gasket. I found out after looking at pictures of the iming cover online (neither Haynes nor Chilton manulas have decent illustrations!! 
).
And the reason it's leaking is the idiot of mechanic
I used before I learned how to fix things myself, broke one of the bolts holding the water pump to the timing cover. Guess where the timing cover is leaking: right where the missing bolt is, of course!! 
So I guess that bolt goes through both the timing cover and the water pump into the engine block (it's the leftmost bolt, seen from the front)? Am I correct? Which means the end of it is stuck in the block? Great!
).And the reason it's leaking is the idiot of mechanic
I used before I learned how to fix things myself, broke one of the bolts holding the water pump to the timing cover. Guess where the timing cover is leaking: right where the missing bolt is, of course!! So I guess that bolt goes through both the timing cover and the water pump into the engine block (it's the leftmost bolt, seen from the front)? Am I correct? Which means the end of it is stuck in the block? Great!
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 763
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From: home
where's the water from?
I just changed the pump last month on my 92 302. Some are like studs and others bolts. Some are very long and others short. Also trying to remember the one on my far left ( facing the engine) I think is a shorter bolt. Those on the right are studs and come out the back of the timing cover where you could put a nut on if you drilled out a broken bolt . The one the far left is where one of the water outlets for the pump to engine is located. With no bolt and the pressure water would find its way out. The best way would be to pull the water pump off and drill & tap out the bolt hole. Also get the correct bolts. Not fun. Good luck.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2003
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where's the water from?
Well, as you know, the design is such that the pump bolts pass thru the timing cover to threaded holes in the block. There is a gasket at the timing cover to block interface and another at the pump to timing cover interface. It is a given that water must pass thru the timing cover to get to the block so a leak can develop in either place. Generally with the fords a few pump bolts will break when the pump is being changed so the mechanic ends up removing the timing cover as well to get the broken bolts out and you get a new timing cover gasket as well, albeit not for free. If you are unlucky and no bolts break you don't get the new timing cover gasket (or the extra charge), but the old one may have been compromised for later failure having had the pump bolts removed. So if you are unlucky you pay now for the pump gasket and later for the timing cover gasket. I'm not sure which way is cheaper.
New User
Joined: Mar 2005
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I am dealing with much the same thing. A leak coming from behind the water pump which I just replaced. seems to be coming out from the top right area behind the pum housing. Is it probable that it is the timing cover? fyi it looks as if someone has been in there before, judging from the silicone I see. Any info. is greatly appreciated