Anti-freeze Leak - "70 Gt-1.9"

[scodari]

After three years of work, the car is finally on the road.....unfortunately it has developed an anti-freeze leak but I can't tell exactly where it is coming from. It appears to be coming from the right front side of the engind around the water pump area. See attached picture...are those freeze plugs in the picture? Could that be where the leak is coming from? We have not done any work on the engine; any work that was done was performed by one of the prior owners.

[jvandyke]

Are you sure that's not oil? Taste it.
That hose looks a bit "bulgy" maybe should replace it either way.

[scodari]

I have oil leaks too; but they anti-freeze leak is much worse. The lower hose is brand new from OGTS.

[namba209]

Check under the water pump, about bottom center of the shaft housing there is a hole in the casting. It's there to allow fluid to escape if the carbon seal for the shaft goes bad.

[BQS4]

I hate to think this, but, since you have not done any work to the motor, if you can clean off that side of the motor, then follow the timing cover up to where it meets the cylinder head. There's a small part of the timing cover that just sticks out from the head, and it has a 1/2 moon hole in it. Check to see if anti-freeze is not coming out this 1/2 moon hole. If it is, then it means the PO had the head off and forgot to put the frigging little rubber o-ring back in the top of the timing cover and anti-freeze is leaking out. If that is the case, the head is going to have to come off to replace a $.50 o-ring. I hope it's not the case, but, worth checking.

[73Manta72gt]

I would preasure wash the engine and get it good and clean. That will make it easier to find the leak.

[scodari]

Thanks for all the information. I did as suggested....cleaned the engine and then watched closely for the leak. See the attached picture....the little half moon is where the leak seems to be; is this where an O-Ring should be???

[BQS4]

Right next to that 1/2 moon is the hole for the o-ring, unfortunenately, it's under the head. At this point, your only means of stopping the leak is to pull the head, and put the o-ring in (it should be in most head gasket sets) and replace the head

[BQS4]

You also, for safety sake, after you pull the head and replace the o-ring and all, change the oil and filter, as you probably have antifreeze in your oil too. There's not much stopping the antifreeze from going down inside the timing cover directly to the oil pan. You'll see this if you have a spare timing cover, or when you have the head off.