strange coolant leak: please help :) - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

speedstar01 · 09-15-2006, 07:23 PM

i have a 91 240sx with a stock engine and i recently noticed it has been leaking a small amount of coolant (maybe a cup or two at the most every few weeks) at first i thought my engine was just using (maybe burning a little coolant) but last week i saw it drip a small puddle (a few tablespoons) of coolant in a parking lot outside a local Gamestop where i buy games....

Anyway i jacked up the car to see where it was leaking and inspected my hoses, radiator, water pump, and heater hoses. could not find anything. the leak seems to be on and off. today i noticed it leaking again after shutting the car off from a half hour long drive. it seems to be dripping from the drivers side of the oil pan. i filled up the coolant resevoir and broght my car home and jacked her up. i could not see any coolant leaking. i went underneath and only saw trace amount on the drivers side of the oil pan...almost near the power steering pump...im stumped

a friend told me it might be the "freeze plug" on the side of the block. i have never heard of this leaking coolant.has anyone had this? it would make sense if it were leaking there because maybe it burned off before i could catch the small leak. i will drive her again tonight and try and get more details. please help me out guys, ive tried to be as descriptive as possible. THANKS!

i apologize for the long read but the passion i have for my nissan inspires me to care enough about my ride to keep her in shape and type all this out

Matt

WilloW · 09-15-2006, 07:59 PM

Are you sure its not leaking from the water pump weep hole? Look again carefully, because if it is leaking from the little hole on the underside of the waterpump you will need to change it.

speedstar01 · 09-15-2006, 08:05 PM

hmm, that could be a possibilty. i think i will try using a small mirror to check under there since that underdrive pulley is in the way...i will check tonight, thanks!

wilfonzo · 09-16-2006, 07:38 AM

i once had a leak from the coolant runner on the intake mani, if have recently taken it of double check the tightness of the bolts

street_white180sx · 09-16-2006, 06:09 PM

check for residue around the water pump or the uppose gooseneck by the upper radiator hose because the reason for u not probably findin the leak is because of the heat from the block and it is causing the coolant to burn off. or u can find sumone with a pressure tester and pressure test the cooling system. thas my input.

ledzeppelin240 · 09-16-2006, 06:36 PM

Get the coolant system pressure tested. Or clean everything really good and then run the car for a bit and try to find where it is leaking from...

Ryencool · 09-16-2006, 09:35 PM

I just had the same issue. First it was a crack in the rad, which I replaced last week. Now Im getting a semi steady flow of coolant the is dripping off the oil pan from hte front of the engine. Its gotta be the water pump. There is a small hole in the bottom designed to leak when its goin or is out and thats where the drip was comming from

soreballz · 09-17-2006, 02:47 AM

Its probably a freeze plug. One of mine is leaking, too. Made a hell of a mess under there, with all the mixing with the old oil girme and whatnot.
On my DOHC, its the plug to the right on the block bleed screw under the exhaust manifold. Its gonna be a bitch to get to without removing the engine. I'm lucky, because my DOHC is out of the car right now.

Good luck.

speedstar01 · 09-17-2006, 08:34 AM

would a freeze plug leak on and off tho?

speedstar01 · 09-17-2006, 03:34 PM

i changed the water pump today and it hasnt been leaking any coolant so far. i will continue to test it tonight and tomorrow (hoping its not my freeze plug that is leaking)

09-15-2006, 07:23 PM	#1
speedstar01 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NY! Posts: 389 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	strange coolant leak: please help :) i have a 91 240sx with a stock engine and i recently noticed it has been leaking a small amount of coolant (maybe a cup or two at the most every few weeks) at first i thought my engine was just using (maybe burning a little coolant) but last week i saw it drip a small puddle (a few tablespoons) of coolant in a parking lot outside a local Gamestop where i buy games.... Anyway i jacked up the car to see where it was leaking and inspected my hoses, radiator, water pump, and heater hoses. could not find anything. the leak seems to be on and off. today i noticed it leaking again after shutting the car off from a half hour long drive. it seems to be dripping from the drivers side of the oil pan. i filled up the coolant resevoir and broght my car home and jacked her up. i could not see any coolant leaking. i went underneath and only saw trace amount on the drivers side of the oil pan...almost near the power steering pump...im stumped a friend told me it might be the "freeze plug" on the side of the block. i have never heard of this leaking coolant.has anyone had this? it would make sense if it were leaking there because maybe it burned off before i could catch the small leak. i will drive her again tonight and try and get more details. please help me out guys, ive tried to be as descriptive as possible. THANKS! i apologize for the long read but the passion i have for my nissan inspires me to care enough about my ride to keep her in shape and type all this out Matt

09-15-2006, 07:59 PM	#2
WilloW Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: * ** Posts: 1,529 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Are you sure its not leaking from the water pump weep hole? Look again carefully, because if it is leaking from the little hole on the underside of the waterpump you will need to change it. __________________

09-16-2006, 06:09 PM	#5
street_white180sx Zilvia Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Nassau, Bahamas Age: 38 Posts: 156 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	check for residue around the water pump or the uppose gooseneck by the upper radiator hose because the reason for u not probably findin the leak is because of the heat from the block and it is causing the coolant to burn off. or u can find sumone with a pressure tester and pressure test the cooling system. thas my input. __________________ 1993 S14 Silvia Slant Top, Blitz Bov, Fmic, Catback exhaust, HKS evc 3

09-16-2006, 06:36 PM	#6
ledzeppelin240 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sinse Posts: 688 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Get the coolant system pressure tested. Or clean everything really good and then run the car for a bit and try to find where it is leaking from... __________________ Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power. Looking for: JDM S13 OEM Sideskirts

09-15-2006, 08:05 PM	#3
speedstar01 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NY! Posts: 389 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	hmm, that could be a possibilty. i think i will try using a small mirror to check under there since that underdrive pulley is in the way...i will check tonight, thanks!

09-16-2006, 07:38 AM	#4
wilfonzo Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: dunedin florida Posts: 33 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i once had a leak from the coolant runner on the intake mani, if have recently taken it of double check the tightness of the bolts

09-16-2006, 09:35 PM	#7
Ryencool Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Austin Posts: 24 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I just had the same issue. First it was a crack in the rad, which I replaced last week. Now Im getting a semi steady flow of coolant the is dripping off the oil pan from hte front of the engine. Its gotta be the water pump. There is a small hole in the bottom designed to leak when its goin or is out and thats where the drip was comming from

09-17-2006, 08:34 AM	#9
speedstar01 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NY! Posts: 389 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	would a freeze plug leak on and off tho?

09-17-2006, 03:34 PM	#10
speedstar01 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NY! Posts: 389 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i changed the water pump today and it hasnt been leaking any coolant so far. i will continue to test it tonight and tomorrow (hoping its not my freeze plug that is leaking)