Coolant Leak (91 camry 2.0 dx)

[RolentoGrenades]

I've felt across all my bypass hoses and heater core/throttle body hoses and it seems I can't detect where this is happening. Anyone else ever get a leak like this? Intake maybe? Here's some pics indicating exactly where I'm seeing tiny bits of coolant every day. (sorry in advance for the blur)





I just replaced my water pump and that side of things seems to be dry, as well as the outlet gaskets and inlet gaskets.

[Doctor J]

This is the common place for coolant to collect when it leaks
look around the engine block to oil pan joint (the coolant can run along it from the water pump cover to block joint) and then drip from the place you indicated
other things to inspect:
-small hoses from idle speed control valve
-freeze plugs
-the freeze plug on the end of the engine block (covered by transmission and ican be verified by removal of lower flexplate cover; the repair calls for tranny removal

[RolentoGrenades]

Originally Posted by Doctor J

This is the common place for coolant to collect when it leaks
look around the engine block to oil pan joint (the coolant can run along it from the water pump cover to block joint) and then drip from the place you indicated
other things to inspect:
-small hoses from idle speed control valve
-freeze plugs
-the freeze plug on the end of the engine block (covered by transmission and ican be verified by removal of lower flexplate cover; the repair calls for tranny removal

Thanks. I checked the oil pan to engine block joint and it seems it's only wet in the place right above the crossmember, as well as even further up on the block itself (I placed a temporary bolt into a block hole a while back, not knowing it was just for mounting onto an engine stand. I thought it was a missing bolt. That bolt is wet at the head, which is above the pan, so I'm guessing it may be the freeze plug for the block, which I have no idea where it's at exactly. I felt all around that temp bolt and the oil pan to engine block joint and the cross member and each spot has a little liquid (very very small amount). I'm thinking the main engine drain plug may be the culprit? On the water pump side of things, the oil pan joint is dry, the bottom timing cover is dry, the small exposed part of the pump is dry, the upper timing cover is dry, etc. Could seepage also be caused if I added too much coolant to the reservoir initially? If this isn't the pump or the main drain, it could be intake right?

[Doctor J]

These pictures show locations of the coolant drain plugs (circled) and freeze plugs

[RolentoGrenades]

Originally Posted by Doctor J

These pictures show locations of the coolant drain plugs (circled) and freeze plugs

Ah, MUCH better than the illustrations, haha. Thanks again.

[RolentoGrenades]

Finally got some time to get the car in the air again. I've circled where the coolant seems to always accumulate. From there, it seems like it drips down onto the aforementioned area. There's a bit of another mess all over from a distributor leak that someone else alerted me of on here a while back when I put in a new shaft seal. I'll fix that soon enough, but I'm mostly concerned about this coolant at the moment.



That IS the drain plug circled, right? It looks very similar to Doc's first pic, but at a slightly different angle. Might be on the opposite side. Looks like whatever is in there isn't even drawn up all the way, with the threads showing. Not sure if it's the original plug, something I put there (LOL), or something a mechanic may have put there. Of course the leak could be coming from further up, but I wiped some of the residue off up there and it didn't look/smell/taste like coolant. Yeah, I know tasting this kinda' shit isn't good, but it's one sure way to know, heh.

[71Corolla]

That's the drain plug, they do look like that, sticking out. I wonder if that one is cross threaded, it's hard to tell from the picture. I think you should address the oil leaks first, once those are taken care of, clean off all the oil and look for the coolant leak, it will make it much easier.

[RolentoGrenades]

Originally Posted by 71Corolla

That's the drain plug, they do look like that, sticking out. I wonder if that one is cross threaded, it's hard to tell from the picture. I think you should address the oil leaks first, once those are taken care of, clean off all the oil and look for the coolant leak, it will make it much easier.

Yeah, I didn't think I had a bolt with that diameter. Pretty sure that is where this is coming from. I thought about it being cross threaded myself. Maybe the last shop that did the water pump did this and I caught it by accident. Or maybe even a lube place when I had my coolant flushed.

I had been filling up the coolant reservoir like once every two months, etc. in the past. I'm pretty sure all the oil is coming from the distributor rings, which I'm planning on having re-serviced. Agreed it's easier to diagnose something without another problem in the way. Thanks for taking a look and letting me know what's up.

[Doctor J]

On older engines the dreain plugs were brass , had cylindrical threads and taper setif there is a burr on this seat the plug may not seat correctly

[RolentoGrenades]

Originally Posted by Doctor J

On older engines the dreain plugs were brass , had cylindrical threads and taper setif there is a burr on this seat the plug may not seat correctly

Makes sense. I don't know for sure if this one is cross threaded, not seated properly, etc. Upon re-inspection it seems like the leak is even further up at the freeze plug. Maybe I'll just get a pressure test done on it.

71Corolla,

above that coolant drain, that IS a freeze plug right? I saw it up close and it seems like it's damaged right inside at the bottom. Not by much, but I've read about how these freeze plugs can rust out and such. I live on well water and have put that junk in the system before, so maybe that caused it? distilled from here on out, heh. The other freeze plugs (if that is what they are) are not leaking at all. But even in that photo, you can see where this one is wet zoomed in. Never knew those were plugs, because I never had to deal with that part of the block ever.

[71Corolla]

Yes that's a freeze plug. It's hard to tell from the photo, but it does look like it's leaking. Always, and I mean always, use demineralized water, it means the difference between crud building up (especially in the radiator) and a nice clean system.

[RolentoGrenades]

Originally Posted by 71Corolla

Yes that's a freeze plug. It's hard to tell from the photo, but it does look like it's leaking. Always, and I mean always, use demineralized water, it means the difference between crud building up (especially in the radiator) and a nice clean system.

I am a believer of that now for sure. I went outside one day at around this time in 2009 and saw that our well pump tank had literally exploded. I guess what caused it was pressure build up in the tank or something, but likely also whatever is in that water. Well water has its advantages sometimes, but it can also suck, haha.

[Doctor J]

It sounds really crazy and old fashion, but my friend was able to seal the freeze plug using this new "block seal' stuff. The replacement of this freeze plug called for transmission removal, so we used a block seal; right after the application we flushed the radiator (off the car), no oveheating so far.
If plug is secure in the block you may try 2 hour graphite filled epoxy (not very positive about JBweld)

[RolentoGrenades]

Originally Posted by Doctor J

It sounds really crazy and old fashion, but my friend was able to seal the freeze plug using this new "block seal' stuff. The replacement of this freeze plug called for transmission removal, so we used a block seal; right after the application we flushed the radiator (off the car), no oveheating so far.
If plug is secure in the block you may try 2 hour graphite filled epoxy (not very positive about JBweld)

I thought about that as a temporary fix myself. The two hour graphite would probably be permanent though. I also am not sure about something like JBweld. It sure didn't work well on my OEM radiator years ago, haha. Patched one part of it, cracked on the other side, etc. So I went plastic and haven't had a problem in that area since.

I picked up some new plugs yesterday. I know a really good local mechanic that I'll probably have install these for me. He doesn't charge much and has a nice shop with lifts and stuff and this plug is in a very odd area past the cross members. I want it to be seated correctly for sure. If I ever get enough money, I'll buy a damn car lift, haha.

[phenixphyre]

Changing out the freeze plug was "interesting" it wasn't too bad. The worst part was getting a rusty water bath when the frost plug came out. I guess that is why you make sure the engine is drained of coolant.