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Old 08-05-2010, 01:30 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: San Diego
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87 124 engine leaks coolant

87 124 engine leaks

I'm looking for some advice before working on my cooling system. My wagon sat for 2 weeks, nose up in the driveway at a slight incline. It dripped oil, tranny fluid and coolant. I'm most concerned about the coolant and tranny fluid. The car has 296K miles and a recently rebuilt head/gasket, looking for another 100+K miles.

The coolant is leaking from the front of the engine (water pump?) and I've seen drips at the center line almost parallel to the radio/gearshift (auxiliary pump?) Is this the time for a pressure-testing via the radiator cap? (rad-cap is new and seals well...but clear tank is no longer clear it is dark but not oily)

Sometimes the front just drips coolant, sometimes it leaks a cup - Some could be due to running the AC. Where does the AC condensate drip?

Are there other hoses to replace with the pump(s)? From underneath the front of the car, there is a hose/tube (oil coolant line?) with a wire coil around it - running back from the radiator beside the oil pan - it looks wet (from the water pump? a leak?. Do brands/new or remanufactured pumps matter?

A/C off reduces the temp by approx 10 degrees. It cools nicely - but is not "icy". How do you know when the AC needs a recharge because it is overworking/overheating the engine?

Thanks


Last edited by johnscars; 08-05-2010 at 01:37 PM. Reason: clarity
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Old 08-05-2010, 01:54 PM
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Front of the engine is most likely the water pump, it will drip from a "weep" hole on the underside of the pump if its seals are on the way out. Could also be any of the coolant hose connections, a visual inspection should help figure that out.

The coolant leaking from the rearwards area could be cabin heater hoses between the engine and the cabin heater core, look at the connections in and around the firewall area. If the coolant appears to be leaking from somewhere further rearward than the firewall area, you need to get under the car and get a look at the two heater box drains that outlet above the tranny behind the bellhousing area these are the two corrogated hoses not the rubber duck bill drains (these drain the front fan area of the heater box that rain water can get into). If that is the source of your coolant leak then it is most likely your heater core or the connections to it which are leaking.

The thing to do if you can't find the obvious leaks or you want to confirm the lapparent eaks is to pressure test the coolant system and observe the areas you identified as potential leaks. Usually at 20 PSI any leaks will manifest themselves pretty clearly.

Tranny fluid leaks at the front of the engine are most often the spring armoured tranny cooler hoses, or on the 124 OM 603 there is a steel pipe that runs from the top tranny fluid cooler connection of the tranny fluid cooler integral to the radiator, down to the connection of the armoured hose under and just behind the radiator. There is a small support bracket on that steel pipe, on the pipe's bottom horizontal leg, this is a frequent rust through/abrasion failure point that will leak tranny fluid.
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Old 08-05-2010, 05:55 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2007
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Thanks Billybob, I just checked the bracket for the tranny's armoured hose off the radiator about 6" from the front of the oil pan. No sign of a drip there. Since it was parked on a slight incline, could it be a rear tranny seal? The fluid level appears low.

I'm resigned to the water pump - but haven't replaced one and don't see a DIY on it. The auxiliary water pump on the firewall is dry and fairly sediment free, probably original. How long do they last? do you know if people swap these out for good reason, or maybe wait and do some new hoses when next changing the fluid. I guess I'll have to try to line up a slight pressure test. I don't want to stress too much. Do you know about pump brands, new/reman... ?

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