LT1 Based Engine Tech 1993-1997 LT1/LT4 Engine Related

Fill radiator

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Old Nov 21, 2003 | 03:15 PM
  #1  
andrec's Avatar
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Fill radiator

I try to fill my radiator through the radiator neck, but when its almost full, it pours out somewhere else under the engine!
Because of this i can't fill it to top.
Is this normal?
The car works perfectly and never overheats! The low coolant lamp is on though, most of the time.


Are you supposed to let the motor idle when bleeding the cooling system? Is the air/coolant supposed to come from the bleeders. When my engine idle and I opened the bleeders, all the air came out through the radiator neck!
Old Nov 21, 2003 | 03:38 PM
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Is your water pump leaking? If your loosing water you see it somehwere. Try bleeding the system with the cap on after it has run long enough for the t-stat to open. Then, after it cools a bit, top it off with coolant. First find the leak and fix it.
Old Nov 21, 2003 | 04:04 PM
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But it can't be a real leak. I can drive for weeks without adding any coolant at all. But when i try to fill more it comes out on the ground!
Old Nov 21, 2003 | 06:14 PM
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But it can't be a real leak. I can drive for weeks without adding any coolant at all. But when i try to fill more it comes out on the ground!

The WEIRD thing is that it comes out on the ground even when the engine is off and I try to add more!!!
Old Nov 21, 2003 | 06:22 PM
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Lightbulb

check under the battery, there is a metal line to overflow tank that gets corroded and it will leak,mine did.hope this helps,Jake
Old Nov 21, 2003 | 07:51 PM
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Originally posted by jakesnake123957
check under the battery, there is a metal line to overflow tank that gets corroded and it will leak,mine did.hope this helps,Jake
I'm with Jake on this. Where is the leak on the car???? what part of the ground does it leak onto. Example: Under the battery......under the trans.
Old Nov 21, 2003 | 08:48 PM
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I haven't located it yet, but it comes out somewhere below the intake elbow. But only when you fill radiator to top. No leak when car is driven!
Doesn't seem to be from the thermostat-connection. Maybe beneath that.

Should it be possible to fill all the way up in the radiator neck? It seems to be a overfill-function opening and letting some water out, but the engine is off. Weird.

It's a Camaro Z28 -95.

Thanks for all your help. Greatest Camaro Forum.
Old Nov 21, 2003 | 08:59 PM
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Well if it's coming under the elbow check the T/B hose that runs into the T/B which is under the T/B. Maybe a hose has a split in it.

Vinny
Old Nov 22, 2003 | 10:04 AM
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Found it

I have now located where the water comes out, when I try to fill the radiator to the top.
I show you on one of shoebox pictures:
http://andrec.com/wc.jpg

It's just a hole.
What is it?
Old Nov 22, 2003 | 10:54 AM
  #10  
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If I'm looking at the right place, it's the weep hole on the water pump. If that's it, your water pump needs to be replaced.
Old Nov 22, 2003 | 11:17 AM
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You are talking about the hole on the water pump aren't you??? hope so, did you know that was the water pump? Anyways you need to change your water pump like Dac said.
Old Nov 22, 2003 | 11:17 AM
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Can I not just plug the hole.
What is the hole's function and howcome it leaks when engine is off?

http://andrec.com/wc.jpg
Old Nov 22, 2003 | 02:16 PM
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Can I not just plug the hole.
What is the hole's function and howcome it leaks when engine is off?

http://andrec.com/wc.jpg
Old Nov 22, 2003 | 05:47 PM
  #14  
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Water Pump

How much of that "metal thing" is the water pump? All of it, or is the water pump inside that metal thing?

I know where the thermostat is, is it inside the water pump?

It is hard to replace?
Old Nov 22, 2003 | 08:08 PM
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When the bearing inside the waterpump starts to go bad, it starts to turn inside the waterpump. That opens the weep hole. That lets you know that the pump is getting ready to seize up on you and needs replaced. It also unfortunatly soaks the opti as well, and it usually needs replaced.

The waterpump isn't too tough. Plan on half a day if you are a fair mechanic, a whole day if you're a newbie.

Yes, that whole metal thing you described is the waterpump. It also houses the termostat in LT1's. I'm sure someone on here (Shoebox?) has this fix documented on the web with pics.

Good luck.



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