RESOLVED: coolant leak after timing belt replacement

I came down with Covid about the time I was finishing my new timing belt. I never even got to crank it. When I started filling it with coolant once it got up to the top of the radiator it came gushing out right up under where the water pump would be

Covid kicked my ass and it'll probably be a week or two before I can even do anything to it, but I'm just baffled

I know I did the water pump gasket correctly. The aluminum gasket with rubber gasket with no FIPG.

FIPG for the thermostat housing

I went ahead and replaced the thermostat and used the factory seal with is much like the water pump gasket in that itis aluminum with a rubber gasket around the edges

was winding down and started filling the radiator with the pink super long life toyota coolant. When I start pouring the 2nd gallon, I hear it gushing out the bottom right under where the water pump is located

This isn't a slow leak This would be like at a minimum the coolant flowing through the overflow tube or more likely a hose the size of a heater hose. Gushing out pretty fast in other words

I'm at a loss for what could be possibly causing it to leak that fast. I never even bothered to crank it.

 

Did you reconnect all the tiny hoses that go to the oil cooler?

 

i'm almost positive I did but obviously something is wrong. By that time I was getting really weak so I could've missed something. But not sure if this matters the coolant was coming from under the water pump location

that would certainly make sense however. Because I can't imagine any of those gaskets even if they had a small issue would cause a leak that big.

 

There's always the possibility the housing of the wp was cracked too, but I highly doubt it.

 

yeah, I've got no issue at all with taking it all apart and inspecting it all closely And then reinstalling. Unless it turns out to be one of the hoses mentioned above

 

I just got under the truck and looked. As best I can tell they are all connected, but that's it for the day. I got no energy left. Hopefully I'll be back to normal within a few days.

 

One other question. Is it safe to run the truck for more than a minute or two without coolant?

I should've done this under my covered work area, but I wasn't expecting so many issues but if I'm going to redo it, I would really prefer it be under my covered work area

 

I think you're plenty safe with running a cold engine for a minute with no coolant. I'm guessing two minutes are fine as well? It takes some time for the engine block to heat up.

 

Just fill it full of water while you relocate it.

 

I'd fill it with water, move it, and watch and see where the water is puking out.

 

Yeah, I've already seen it. It is coming out right below the water pump, but you can't tell where exactly without taking it all apart again.

And it's as soon as it starts flowing into the upper radiator hose

I may give that another whirl once I move it around to my covered work area

 

It's just water, keep adding and you should get an idea where the gusher is.

 

Before you tear it all apart again, check the coolant tube/assembly in front of the timing belt covers right on the front of the engine. There's a rigid steel tube that connects to the thermostat housing and oil filter mount via rubber hoses. It can leak in at least two places and it all drips down by the crank shaft plastic cover at the bottom of the water pump plastic cover, right by the crank position sensor.

It's a goofy setup and the hose clamps fatigue with age.

 

This thing. It leaks at very top if the hose clamps are even slightly loose.

 

I'm assuming you installed a new water pump gasket? Did you scrape any residual gasket material off of the block?

This fella had a leak at the water pump and it was because the dealer reused the gasket.

 

That is the only thing that makes sense so far.

Thanks I will definitely check into that this morning

 

Yes, I bought the Aisin kit And most everything that was recommended in the timing belt master threads here in this forum

New gasket for water pump I even replaced the thermostat and used a new gasket and yes scraped all of it thoroughly. Throughly cleaned off the old FIPG and used new FIPG as recommended.

I didn't cut any corners. In fact, I was trying to make up for things that I wasn't sure we're done right in the past.

 

And you followed directions on the FIPG with regard to flash time, etc. and how long to wait before allowing contact with fluid or whatever? (I can't remember on the latter but feel like the flash time requirement is 10min)

 

yes, I did

And since I was only working a few hours a day, it was at least a day or two before I ever even tried to put in coolant

but trust me if you saw how fast this coolant was running out - I don't care if you didn't put any FIPG there's no way it's leaking that fast

 

I think the best bet is ultimately (and I know it sucks) to expose the pump and covers, crank the engine, and watch...

 

I just looked at it, and there is no signs that it is leaking there. But interestingly, I did see signs of coolant on that side from underneath.

I'm going to get some distilled water today, disconnect that upper radiator hose and have someone slowly pour it directly into the hose while I am under the vehicle to see if I can get a better idea where it's coming from



I finally did go ahead and crank the truck yesterday. I couldn't stand it anymore. Just wanted to confirm everything else was good and it cranked immediately without hesitation.

 

I'm not sure if in all of my rambling I made this clear. I never even cranked the truck. This was flowing freely as i poured in the 2nd gallon of coolant into the radiator. I don't believe I even got the 2nd gallon of coolant fully emptied into the radiator.

I may be wrong, but I don't even think you need to crank the engine if I can just expose the area where it's leaking

 

Yup, I missed that part. And yeah, looks like it'll be some teardown still, I'm curious to see what you see.

 

Did you forget the o-ring on the big round pipe where the thermostat housing plugs into the front water crossover? Perhaps the o-ring got pinched?

 

It's a little deceptive. Coolant is just thick enough to trail along the tubing until it reaches the low point, at least that is the issue I ended up with. Rub your finger beneath the hoses at the top of this tube.. There's not much room to work with but you'll be able to get your finger on it. Unfortunately you'll have to remove your fan shroud and fan clutch to repair it, if it is the issue. If you got all the surface prep right before putting the water pump on and torqued it correctly, I can't imagine it would be your water pump leaking. I'm rambling now, but hopefully it will be an easy fix for you.

 

No, I pulled off the old one and cleaned it and put on the new one. I was pretty careful with it but again still you would have to see how the water is gushing out of there. Just don't believe that could be it.

 

Missed a bolt on the WP maybe?

 

I'm just gonna have to start disassembling it after I get it moved back to my covered work area

I had someone slowly pour distilled water into that top radiator hose and I mean it is immediate. It starts coming out. And they pour it slowly and it was still coming out as quickly as they poured it

It appears to be coming from behind the air compressor, which is right in line with where the coolant flows through the top radiator hose toward the water pump


Don't know if these pictures help at all. Just gonna have to disassemble


I don't think these pictures really help except you can see where it is flowing at the bottom

 

Is it leaking at the weep hole?

 

No, I don't believe so I could be wrong, but could that really cause it to flow out this quickly?