Need help 3.8 v6
#1
Need help 3.8 v6
OK so a friend of mine called me saying his 1999 3.8 Camaro was leaking water from the engine so I was thinking it was the water pump. So we ordered a new water pump and put it on and after we had it back on started to add water, it started to come behind the water pump. It was not coming from around the bolt's but behind the water pump. What could this be?
#3
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Eastern PA,
Posts: 10,462
There is a plastic elbow just under the intake, I think I have a pic. The issue is vert common. Anytime a coolant system will not hold pressure it will oveheat.
The shinny part is where the water pump mounts
The shinny part is where the water pump mounts
#7
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Eastern PA,
Posts: 10,462
It is going to be either the lower intake or the belt tensioner. If it was my car I would do the lower intake IF the car has never had an intake gasket done. The lower intake gasket failure is a weak spot on these 3800's.
#9
OK so it was the elbow, it was very bad cause there was not elbow. But after we got that fixed and after driving it for about 5 min. the gauge was getting a little hotter than usual, pulled over and looked but no leak. I let it get the air bubble's out before we put the cap on and started are drive. Why could this be?
#10
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Eastern PA,
Posts: 10,462
OK so it was the elbow, it was very bad cause there was not elbow. But after we got that fixed and after driving it for about 5 min. the gauge was getting a little hotter than usual, pulled over and looked but no leak. I let it get the air bubble's out before we put the cap on and started are drive. Why could this be?
As I said before coolant systems need ot build pressure. Without pressure the coolant can NOT cool around the cylinder heads very well. If he drove the car any distance without coolant pressure he may have blown a headgasket.
Last edited by Gorn; 10-03-2012 at 07:08 AM.