Coolant leak

[PackMan22]

I have a 1990 5.8L with AT. I just bought it about 2 months ago and it was running great, despite a very small oil leak that I was willing to live with for the time being. But then it started dripping coolant. So I topped off the coolant and it really started to pour out. Despite my limited mechanical acumen I noticed the drain hole on the bottom of the water pump seemed to be the source of the leak. After some research I thought maybe it was just the waterpump gasket, but a whole new water pump was only $35 bucks, so I decided to swap out the whole thing. It took me about half a day, but I got the waterpump switched out without much of a problem, and the gaskets seem to all be sealed, however there is still a pretty good coolant leak. But I can't figure out where this leak is coming from. Like I said, the waterpump seems to be sealed tight and there is no seepage from the gaskets, and I checked the overflow reservior and there are no cracks there. The dripping seems to be dripping from somewhere above the oilpan, because the coolant is dripping down the side of the oilpan and dripping off the drain bolt on the bottom of the oil pan. Now it is causing the coolant to leak to the extent that the engine is running hot and would likely overheat if I drove it more than a few miles at a time. Any ideas where this leak might be coming from? Anyone deal with this before? I will try to post pics in the next day or two if that will help.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help with this frustrating issue.

 

[Krafty]

sounds like you got a lemon water pump. with a decent pump even with low coolant it shouldn't overheat.

 

[PackMan22]

sounds like you got a lemon water pump. with a decent pump even with low coolant it shouldn't overheat.

CRAP! That would ****. It hasn't overheated yet. But I haven't driven it more than a few miles at a time because it starts to run hot and I don't want to overheat and risk causing more damage.

Is there something I could have done on the install that would cause the pump to work improperly or not at all? Maybe too much gasket sealant or something? When I was researching the waterpump swap I heard how it is not uncommon to install the new waterpump and not get a good seal and have to go through it all over, so I wanted to make sure I got a good seal. I just can't imagine a waterpump straight outta the box not working at all, that would make me mad, but at least it would be a fix I would know how to do....

 

[PackMan22]

Okay, so I looked more closely today and it looks like there is a pool of coolant just behind the waterpump on the driver's side. So it is right where the waterpump connects, so it is possibly leaking from right above that.....

I dried up the pool and ran the engine for a few minutes, and sure enough it was starting to pool right there again. And for some reason it is dripping around the engine and dripping off by the oil pan, but I'm pretty sure it is all from the same leak. If someone could help me ID what part this is, and/or if there is a fix for it (other than replacing the part, of course) I would appreciate it. And again, pics coming soon.