Coolant leak where is it coming from?

[p-Bar]

As the title says I have a coolant leak , it appears to be dripping from air conditioning compressor bracket. Water pump looks dry , lower radiator hose looks dry . Any ideas ? I will get a brighter light and have another look . Thanks in advance 158k on the clock

 

[cerberusiam]

Generally it comes off the bottom of the WP from the weep hole and that track can be hard to see if it is small. Bright light and feel around to make sure it is not the WP.

The AC compressor mounting base has coolant flow thru it and there is a gasket that occasionally will go bad and it leaks. Hard to track that until you verify it is not coming from above though.

 

[p-Bar]

90% sure it's the AC brkt . My Cummins guy says it's a Dodge item . Not sure if that make sense because if it had no AC brkt on there it would have a cover plate? I'm going to PM Mwilson

 

[cerberusiam]

That would be a good idea. See if there is a cummins part for it since it is engine attached. A lot of the installations use AC so maybe you can get a better prices. Might not need a bracket, might just need a gasket redo. If it is cracked that would do it but not seen one with that problem to date. Rarely see the leak on the gasket so investigation is warranted.

 

[p-Bar]

OK Cerb apparently there is an O-ring for the seal on the bracket to the block This is from the Dodge dealer . Also a new bracket is in the neighborhood of 500.00 so I am hoping just the gasket. Bought the camera with flexible shaft will get into this tomorrow.

 

[cerberusiam]

That is just a stupid price for a bracket.

 

[SnoKing]

My 2001.5 leaked similarly and it was the water pump. Really hard to see. Take a paper towel and wipe around below the water pump and it most likely get wet. Snoking

 

[PWong]

Check upper radiator hose at thermostat housing. Can not see the leak from the top. Have to put your fingers to feel underneath the hose clamp. Can not see it from the bottom either.

 

[p-Bar]

That is just a stupid price for a bracket.

AGREE. I'll get mine magnafluxed before I pay that

 

[p-Bar]

Check upper radiator hose at thermostat housing. Can not see the leak from the top. Have to put your fingers to feel underneath the hose clamp. Can not see it from the bottom either.

With over 500.00 riding on this you bet I'll be checking that

 

[jgillott]

The water pump on my '07 was leaking in the same way. I'd be surprised if that isn't your problem.

 

[Regcabguy]

Mine was leaking in that exact spot even after a Cummins water pump was installed. It turned out to be the lower water inlet. My shop guys had never seen it on a low mileage engine.

 

[mwilson]

Am on vacation away from my resources. When I get a chance I will check this out. The o-ring from Dodge won't hurt you too bad, but in the very slim chance that the bracket has issues.I want to see if Cummins offers it.
I am thinking it is going to be the water pump.

Mike.

 

[p-Bar]

Thanks everyone for your input but it looks like the water pump. The papertowel trick worked. Got about 60k out of a Gates pump. May try a Cummins but think they are reman? Mwilson?

 

[SnoKing]

Yes, Cummins will sell you a Recon pump. Been running one for a lot of years. SNOKING

 

[cerberusiam]

Cummins has reman WP's for $142. A new WP is $156. Guess which one is probably th ebetter way to go.

 

[mwilson]

My Cummis B water pump stock changed to new about a year ago. They have a different name on the pump itself.

I have an old thread on here about the pumps somewhere, I'll see if I can find it using this itty bitty phone tomorrow.

 

[p-Bar]

Thanks again it was the waterpump went with a new Cummins . Going to take it to the radiator shop and have them flush it and vac out the cooling system . Staying with HOAT as spec'd by Chrysler