Intermitent Coolant Leak
 

Hi Guys,

W124 1995 E320 Sedan.

I'm needing your help again. My car has a very strange coolant leak. It happens only about once a week. It leaks when the car is parked. The coolant level reduces about 1/2 inch in the expansion tank and I see coolant under the car, on the garage floor.

It is also strange because the leak is not in the engine area. It is in the transmission area. Could it be something related to the heater core? I also checked the overflow tank and it's ok.

This is really confussing....

I would do two things...

1) put some paper towels under the water pump. Even though the coolant is not appearing under the pump, it could be running back and dripping far away from the pump. Intermittent leaks are usually the pump.

2) Get the system pressure tested. If the leak is not at the pump, a pressure test should find it.


Do not pour stop leak into the system. This stuff usually does not stop a leak and will only gunk up the water passages in the radiator and engine block.

good luck!

Yeah check the waterpump, the most logical suspect. it could be some hoses but your gaskets at your waterpump or the waterpump itself could be leaken.

don't forget the cap.

Water pump seconded (thirded?)

Seal is contracting when it cools, thus leaking.

Pressure test may not show it when motor is warm, unless it's a really bad leak. Must test cold........but again, this was the exact symptom of my water pump.

Thank you for your imputs. The water pump is about 1 year old but you theory sounds logical to me so I'll check that.