Intermittant Coolant Loss

[catweazle]

Hi, looking for some pointers.

My beloved Hilux appears to have developed an intermittant coolant leak. I was doing a standard fluid check and noticed the coolant level was a little down in the expansion tank. I topped it back up to the FULL mark (when cold). Then checked again after a couple of 3/4 mile trips and it was back down to just above the bottom of the tank. I've monitored this over the last few weeks and it seems once it drops it seems to stay there, what ever I do and where ever I go.

Its never overheated (even towing a horse box, temp goes up on hills but always drops again). The previous owner said the head gasket had been done at around 95K miles (its done about 10K since then).

Sometimes I notice a small patch of water under the engine. Not always, but that might be because it burns away. Also, and this may seem odd, but it seems to be more likely to drip if it is parked on a slope, nose down.

I thoroughly checked around the engine and found a drip of water sitting below the belts - see the picture.

I've read through various posts throughout the forums.......

Is it the water pump?

Would appreciate any ideas.

Thanks,
Roz

2.4TD 1992 Hilux Surf

[stormforce]

it might be the water pump gone which is causing the leak but have a really good look at the water pipes aswell and make sure none of them are perished and leaking.Also check the rad cap is ok and not faulty as that could be pushing some coolant out.It might pay to have a sniffer test done to be on the safe side also

[sv1000spilot]

I agree with stormy, prob the water pump leaking as dripping out of timing belt cover by looks of pic. Have a search on here for SUPERSURF and give him a call. He's just off Mutley Plain and is good for general repairs.

[NiftyNev]

Pressure test the cooling system. A simple way to do this without buying the proper kit which is expensive, is just find someone with a compressor and attach a fitting to the expansion tank hose from the thermostat housing and apply about 20PSI and look for leaks. Leaks from the bottom of timing cover will be the water pump.

Nev