Faulty waterpump or gasket?

[quadkid]

Hey guys, this is my first post on here, so bare with me, haha.

Ive learned through various sites that the waterpumps on the 3.4L's have a tendency to go back. Well my problem is that Im losing coolant somewhere and I can figure it out. About every other week the idiot light comes on for Low Coolant. Today before class I popped the hood and checked everywhere but couldnt even see any hint of coolant. Since it takes a couple weeks for it to leak out Im wondering if its even the pump. I remember when the pump went on my 98 GMC Sierra with the 350 it was a violent leak and sprayed everywhere, compliments of the fan. The fact that there isnt any moisture around the pump has me worried. Is there a common spot for the coolant to leak out of the intake or head gasket?

Im sorry, im not too familiar with the 3400 motor, this is my first car car. Im used to working on my truck.

Thanks in advance
Sean Gallagher

[eric99gt]

Sounds definately like the LIM gasket. Check out the oil to be sure the coolant is not mixing with the oil. Search around on here. You'll find that to be the most common problems with this motor.

[quadkid]

thanks. I will probly be changing the oil in both my car and truck tomorrow, so ill check it out.

Is it a hard job? Ive never worked on a V6 motor before, but i did just do the intake gasket on the vortec 350 in my truck, so should i have anything to worry about?

[4kQuad]

Before you tear it apart it could also be the heater core. Look at the fire wall where the hoses meet the fire wall and hook to the core. Under that place they connect you should see a V. That V is there incase the heater core blows so all the water don't dump out in the car.

next time you run it for a while, pop the hood a place a paper towl in that V. Come back in about 1 hour, look for moisture on the paper towl. If not, back to compression testing to see if there is a leak.

[quadkid]

okay, thanks for that bit of info. Im headin out in a little while to go tinker so I'll give that a try.

[quadkid]

okay, just went out and changed the oil. I could smell coolant from letting the motor warm up a bit, but i couldnt see anything resembling moisture around either the pump or what i think is that V you were talking about.

Im kind of worried about the amount of buildup there is in the coolant resevoir. Its that yellow/amber junk. Just because of that I think im going to have my system flushed. Ive never done that before myself, is that a hard operation? I understand you take the thermostat out and disconnect the inlet hose for the radiator and run water through the system. Is it really that easy?


I haver to run out and get some heatshrink for a project on my truck, so ill take the car and keep an eye on that V area.

[eric99gt]

How did the oil look? Clean? or a milky residue?

[quadkid]

the oil looks normal. darker from normal wear, but nothing to get excited about.

[quadkid]

okay, so today i went for a drive and came back, opened the hood, and looked around for maybe 30 minutes. Finally found a tiny puddle of coolant just below the throttle body. I gave the motor and good pressure wash and im gonna see if the puddle comes back.

what does this usually say about the 3.4L's? is that the LIM, head gasket, or could it be a bad thermostat houseing gasket?

Ive also noticed that around the power steering box theres a good amount of buildup of just crub, could be gunked up oil or PS fluid, not sure though.

[quadkid]

oh, should also mentioned its dripping coolant, but cant really source where its coming from.

[4kQuad]

Get some paper towels, wipe all rubber hoses and along where the head meets the block. Insure all is dry. Drive the car a couple miles to pressurize up the cooling system. Park it and let it cool just a little. Then grab the paper towels again. Slowly wipe all hoses and along the head again. Also do the water pump area.

When the towel gets wet......Your close. Look to the highest point from were it gets wet. Water runs down hill is my thought.

[eric99gt]

It's the LIM gasket.

[quadkid]

Well i pressure washed the engine a couple days ago, it sat through the snow storm we had. I drove it yesterday but forgot to check it out. This morning I remembered and there was a puddle of coolant in the little bowl or whatnot underneith the TB, kind of right near the thermostat housing.

Tomorrow after my classes Im going to take the intake and TB off to get a better view. Ill try to get pics too.

Im thinking its the LIM gasket, but want to make sure its not the head gaskets.

[quadkid]

oh, and btw, i appreciate you guys helping out.

[eric99gt]

head gasket wouldn't be accumulating there.