Cooling system

[cabledawg]

A few weeks ago, my upper radiator hose sprung a leak. Thought no biggy, just replace it. Today the water pump blew out the seals and pumps water onthe ground just as fast as it can. This time the coolant looks like rusted water and doesnt even smell like coolant. When the hose leaked, it was a pinhole so it misted everywhere and I didnt notice any off color or odor. I think the radiator is plugged, but it looks fairly clean at the top where I can see into it. Could it be something else?

 

[dyeager535]

Which seals leaked? It would seem pretty unusual for anything other than the weep hole on a pump to leak, especially if you are talking a massive leak.

My immediate thought is way too much pressure (temp spiking) if you blew a hose then water pump gaskets.

 

[cabledawg]

It might just be the weep hole, but its hard to tell as it looks like it comes out everywhere when the engine is running.

When the hose leaked, the engine never went overtemp. Today I was jumping another vehicle and had it running with the hood open and after a while noticed the coolant running out. By then it had made a pretty good size mess and when I checked the temp it was just at the red mark on the gauge (stock gauge for 1990). So I dont know if it was overheating before or after the pump went out.

My radiator cap is new within the last year, but had some corrosion on it at the time I changed the hose.

 

[dyeager535]

If you are running antifreeze (and changing at recommended intervals), you shouldn't be seeing any corrosion on the cap IMO.

But back to the water pump. If it's coming out the weep hole, then I'd just chalk it up to coincidence. I'd verify that is where it is coming from, just to make sure though.

 

[cabledawg]

I havent intentionally changed the coolant. Winter before last, I drained it to install a block heater, but never got around to installing the heater, so I filled it back up with fresh antifreeze/water at a rough 50/50 mix. This past winter I drained the radiator to replace the petcock valve that was leaking and once again refilled using fresh antifreeze and water. thats when I replaced the cap with one that has the pressure release tab on it.

I've never had a vehicle long enough to know when to change the coolant. On these trucks I have now, something has always come up once a year or so that requires draining at least the radiator if not everything and I always replace it with fresh stuff (my pans are used for everything, so theres no telling what contaminants might be in there).