Strange Coolant

[jacob_coulter]

I have a 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera with 2.8 V6 2 Bbl Carb. It has a strange coolant leak to it. It leaks about a pint a week. I put some UV dye in the coolant to help determine the leak, but I still can't see where it is coming from. Most all of the hoses have been replaced, and there appears to be no leaking at all around them. I suspected it was the water pump, since that is near where the coolant drips down, but that was replaced a few years ago, and there doesnt seem to be any sign it's leaking either. The rim of the pump has no coolant aoround it. Is there a detonation sensor that could be leaking, or something I'm not thinking of?

Also, I'm a novice shade tree mechanic. How difficult a job is it to replace this water pump.

Thanks again,

[94CuttySL]

Re: Strange Coolant

I have a 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera with 2.8 V6 2 Bbl Carb. It has a strange coolant leak to it. It leaks about a pint a week. I put some UV dye in the coolant to help determine the leak, but I still can't see where it is coming from. Most all of the hoses have been replaced, and there appears to be no leaking at all around them. I suspected it was the water pump, since that is near where the coolant drips down, but that was replaced a few years ago, and there doesnt seem to be any sign it's leaking either. The rim of the pump has no coolant aoround it. Is there a detonation sensor that could be leaking, or something I'm not thinking of?

Also, I'm a novice shade tree mechanic. How difficult a job is it to replace this water pump.

Thanks again,

Only thing that comes to mind is the intake gaskets. Could be internal.

[Doubt_Incarnate]

doing that water pump should be about like doing any other one, take off 90% of the accesories, and then swap it out. just its fwd so your space to work is limited, unless you yank the motor. my car blew a head gasket but i dont think it had a coolant leak, just the gassed escaping into the coolant caused anumber of hoses to pop off. check for the core or "freeze" plugs, maybe one finally rotted through or something.