Hey all!
So I changed the water pump, and the next day had both a coolant leak that looks like it's coming from the radiator, and a power steering leak. Not a leak, more of a dump. Ordered a new lump and high pressure hose. This morning had the original two leaks plus a third that I can't figure out for the life of me. It's some sort of runoff, because it's dripping directly from the right front corner behind the front tire. Looks like it's a pooling behind the wheel well wall thingy. I'm pretty technical as you can see. It's clear, looks like clean oil. I have no idea. What would leak and run that direction? When I'm parked pretty flat the radiator leak is on the driver's side, and when I'm on a slant (against a curb for example) it runs to the passenger side. So this leak running behind the wheel well might be running that direction from somewhere else but I don't see anything obvious. Transmission fluid is full, plus it's red and this new mess is clear.
Any ideas? I just hit 200k and am always ready for the next thing to fix but I didn't expect all hell to literally break loose in there. Would the radiator leak and power steering leak just be crazy timing or is there something I possibly did when changing the water pump?
Fooey!
Hope everyone is good and safe out there. I'm in CA where we're on fire. Luckily not too close to any to be in danger.

Thank you!

 

Most probably a "Fooey" the clear liquid could probably be a third liquid LOL say brake fluid, you really hit the jackpot if so. I would tackle one at a time check the obvious first, clamps and fittings the drain at the bottom of the radiator.

 

Oh, that's fun!
While I'm at it, any suggestions for a radiator? I tightened a couple clamps that seemed loose but I'm not sure that was it. Good lord!

 

Radiator is a tough one but I would get it running hot then look for leaks as the heat should vaporize most the seepage and maybe show the leak. They sell leak detection kits with a black light. I would maybe also dry it off and then run a paper towel around to see if you can pin point it.

 

Been running your A/C?

 

I'll take a better look at the radiator. I got under there after driving for a while and the only wet spot was some pooling around one of the holes on the driver's side. What is that, a drain hole? I don't mean holes like damage I mean the big silver dollar size hole.
And no, no air conditioning. Never have used it.

 

IMHO a tester to pressurize the cooling system is well worth the cost. It allows checking for cooling system leaks on a stone cold engine. (That's the only way I could find a minor, but steady, water pump seal leak many years ago. The coolant evaporated on a hot engine as fast as it leaked.) A tester also easily allows checking for the leak site on the radiator, hoses, water pump, etc., rather than trying to find the leak by just looking at where the puddle is. Again IMHO the puddle location can be deceiving since coolant dripping onto any surface below the leak can run horizontally before falling to the ground (not under the actual leak site). I don't know for sure, but your FLAPS may loan out a cooling system tester.

 

If the hole is on the bottom driver side, it is the drain plug. If there's coolant leaking from that, the first step would be to replace that plug as its plastic and more than likely worn after nearly 30 years of being on there (Assuming it's the original plug).

 

I know some vehicles run the aircon when the defroster is on whether you tell them to or not (using the evap core as a dehumidifier). I don't know if these rigs do that or not.

 

They do...

 

I haven't run my defrost, either. I didn't check the drain plug but I'll do that. The radiator is maybe a year old!

 

If it was the radiator you would see the coolant. The PS fluid is clear and oily and if it took a dump that might be it also. It is very light in viscosity so If you drove it when it was leaking I am thinking it is just blow back from the dump. You can feel the fluid and see if it feels the same or smell it. Sandy

 

Hey! Maybe I wasn't clear. There are three leaks, and the coolant one is below the radiator- just can't figure out where. Nothing is wet except the ground below it.

The other is definitely the power steering pump which is dark and oily because it's atf.

The third is the passenger side behind the tire doohickey and that's pretty viscous and clear.

The radiator is less than two years old, the water pump was just replaced last week, I have a new power steering pump in the box ready to go in, and the other thing is on hold until I know what the heck it is...

 

It sounds like the area where the connection of the brake hard line where it meets the rubber line. Or you could have a pin hole in the hard line in that area and I think that the brake fluid in that area is all it could be. All of this depends on the condition of the thingy and the doohickey and proper connections of each. You got this. Sandy

 

Whew! As long as it isn't the thingamajigger or the whirlydoo!
Thank you!