YACT:78 Cutlass Supreme leaking coolant

[Insane Koolaid Man]

Okay, I own a 1978 Cutlass Supreme with a 260 V8 2barrel. Just recently it started leaking coolant. I looked underneath it and it appears to be coming from near where the pulleys that power the accesories are, and it appears to leak down to near a crossmember of some sort beneath the motor.

I'm thinking it might be the water pump going out. Anybody have any other suggestions as to what I should look at.

 

[Pepsi90919]

the water pump, again.

 

[iamwiz82]

It is most likely coming from the water pump weep hole.

 

[notfred]

It's the water pump. It's not going out, it's already gone. The water you're seeing is coming from the weep hole of the water pump. When the water pump dies, that's where water comes out.

At least a water pump is only about $35.

 

[TechnoKid]

Water pump outlet neck. maybe just the hose is old and craking where the clamp is on.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Water pump outlet neck. maybe just the hose is old and craking where the clamp is on.

What hose? 😕

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Water pump outlet neck. maybe just the hose is old and craking where the clamp is on.

What hose? 😕

the hose that goes from the raditor to the water outlet neck on the block? its been a while since i looked at a 260 v8. i probably am gettting something mixed up here.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Water pump outlet neck. maybe just the hose is old and craking where the clamp is on.

What hose? 😕

the hose that goes from the raditor to the water outlet neck on the block? its been a while since i looked at a 260 v8. i probably am gettting something mixed up here.

I believe you are TechnoKid, from what I remember, the water pump doesn't have any hoses attached to it, anyone want to clear this up for us? 😕

 

[RU482]

pics!

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: TechnoKid

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Water pump outlet neck. maybe just the hose is old and craking where the clamp is on.

What hose? 😕

the hose that goes from the raditor to the water outlet neck on the block? its been a while since i looked at a 260 v8. i probably am gettting something mixed up here.

I believe you are TechnoKid, from what I remember, the water pump doesn't have any hoses attached to it, anyone want to clear this up for us? 😕

read. he just said it was on the block.

too much beer

 

[Insane Koolaid Man]

Originally posted by: redly1
pics!

Trust me, you don't want pics of this piece. It's all rusty, and to begin with it was a crappy brown color. So at least the rust blends well. We usually also refer to it as the "Gutless" since it's so slow.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: TechnoKid

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Water pump outlet neck. maybe just the hose is old and craking where the clamp is on.

What hose? 😕

the hose that goes from the raditor to the water outlet neck on the block? its been a while since i looked at a 260 v8. i probably am gettting something mixed up here.

I believe you are TechnoKid, from what I remember, the water pump doesn't have any hoses attached to it, anyone want to clear this up for us? 😕

read. he just said it was on the block.

too much beer

The OP said his water pump was leaking, from what I remember about the engine in a 78 Cutlass, the water pump is bolted to the front of the engine, while the radiator hose is attached to the top of the block, that's why I asked for some clarification from someone who knows about engines in a '78 Olds 🙂

 

[Iron Woode]

While the hose is attached to the intake at the top of the engine, there has to be another hose attached to the pump (lower rad hose) for the coolant to enter the pump.

Dudes, you should all know this by now.

He may have an internal bypass too. Mine is external on my mopar (318).

Chances are his pump is shot.

<---------------used to work at a radiator shop.

 

[jemcam]

There is a lower radiator hose on that car, and it runs from the lower right hand ( passenger side) to the waterpump. It very well could be leaking at the clamp by the pump. However, you might as well just do a waterpump while your at it. You can do waterpumps on those cars with a 29.99 craftsman tool kit and a pump remanufactured with a lifetime warranty at a place like Pep Boys. The only hard part is removing the other accesories out of the way in case they block anything, like the p/s pump or A/C compressor brackets. You can't really hose it up unless you don't scrape all the old gasket material off and put the new one on correctly. Hell, it's an excellent beginner's job on that car.

p.s. Make sure and remove the radiator first, it's a lot easier in the long run.

 

[Crucial]

If you replace the pump yourself make sure you drain the antifreeze first.

Why would you remove the radiator?

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: Crucial
If you replace the pump yourself make sure you drain the antifreeze first.

Why would you remove the radiator?

Clearance, my good man.

The extra room makes things easier.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: Crucial
If you replace the pump yourself make sure you drain the antifreeze first.

Why would you remove the radiator?

Clearance, my good man.

The extra room makes things easier.

Also you do not want to put a tool through your radiator on accident.

 

[Crucial]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: Crucial
If you replace the pump yourself make sure you drain the antifreeze first.

Why would you remove the radiator?

Clearance, my good man.

The extra room makes things easier.

I would think with a v6 in a car that old would give you plenty of room. I would be more worried about something happening to the radiator while taking it out. It just seems like so much extra work for a few inches of clearance. To each his own though.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: Crucial

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: Crucial
If you replace the pump yourself make sure you drain the antifreeze first.

Why would you remove the radiator?

Clearance, my good man.

The extra room makes things easier.

I would think with a v6 in a car that old would give you plenty of room. I would be more worried about something happening to the radiator while taking it out. It just seems like so much extra work for a few inches of clearance. To each his own though.

He has a 260 V8, not a V6.

The engine bay is not overly generous in the G-bodies.