HELP! Car stranded on road, coolant running everywhere!

[Fords4ME]

Car is 95 Cobra, 5 speed, stock 5.0

Well what I thought was a typical water pump change might not be the case. I was driving in traffic and noticed my heat went cold. I didn't have a Low Coolant light but I stopped anyway and shut off the motor. Coolant was pouring out everywhere somewhere from the front so I guessed water pump. I was less than a mile from home so I figured I would let cool, top off and go. It held 2 gallons of coolant so far. The reason is that as I am pouring in, it is running out. I felt all over the pump and can't find any coolant. I checked around and I see coolant on the passenger's side front off the block. It is running from somewhere above down to the oil pan seam and off onto the ground.

I felt around the bottom of the pump and no coolant.
None of the upper hoses are leaking either.
The lower hose comes off the drivers side so I ruled it out.

Is there a freeze plug in that area to cause this?
Could a head gasket leak like that?

All the water placed in the upper radiator hose will leak out but its not instant. The level in the radiator will drop below the upper radiator hose port after about 1-2 minutes.

Thanks in advance. Its still there cause i'm afraid to start it!

 

[Meangene21]

You probly looked for it or yours may not have it but......


My SVT Cobra lower intake has a freeze plug on the passenger side and its in the rear, overtop the last spark plug. Check there. If you dont see any plug or a spot where it might be, you can goose the throttle and if the plug wasnt there and it should be. It will spit at you..

Worth a look i guess.

 

[wytstang]

Sound like a freeze plug to me. Jack the car up and take a peek.

 

[Fords4ME]

Nah as far as I can tell thats not it. I'm 99% sure its off the front or front corner of the block. From what I can see I don't think its coming off the side of the engine anywhere either. Looks to be the front under the alternator somewhere.

Still looking....

 

[Fords4ME]

I dont have access to a jack because its in front of house on the street. Luckily hes a friend ( I guess ) and I'm using him computer.

Would coolant run out of the plug when poured into the water pump?

I'm not sure how the path works but the coolant appears to go down the upper hose, into the pump, and out of _______ . Can the coolant make it passed the pump and run out of a freeze plug?

You can make it leak over and over with the engine now cold. Everything above the pump runs out.

Thanks in advance

 

[Meangene21]

Check your bypass hose, if there is a pin hole in there it can squirt anywhere and confuse you as to were it is coming from. I had that happen to me, it was squirting far enough to make me think it was the pump.

So check the bypass hose. Hell, grab it with your hand when you start the car up to feel if its leaking or not... As long as the car is cold

 

[Fords4ME]

Mean, the coolant runs out with the engine cold and not running so I ruled out the spraying hose effect. All the hoses on the pump are dry top and bottom. I'm leaning more towards the freeze plug, just can't pinpoint if coolant can run out of one like this.....

 

[wytstang]

If it's cold the t-stat would stay shut and not allow water to pass (I think). So the h2o is being drained from the lower hose and pouring from a freeze plug I'm guessing that "could" be it.

 

[Fords4ME]

I was thinking that the stat wouldn't allow coolant to run back down into the pump either. It isn't wide open that I know of but it must be letting some coolant to run back somehow and leak out of somewhere.

Still scratching my head...

 

[Meangene21]

Man, The only way i see it leaking from anywere up top when your adding coolant. Would be from the upper radiator hose were its connected to the upper Hose. I believe there is a freeze plug on the front passenger side of the engine as well.But that will not show any coolant on the upper part of the engine.

 

[wytstang]

I wonder if the timing cover could cause this. Seeing as how the h2o passes through the cover.

 

[Meangene21]

Man, the only thing that water should pass into. (If your adding in the radiator is...), the Radiator, and the lower hose and a little might get into the upper hose but not much. IF you dont start the car and it still leaks its gotta be one of those. I dont see ANYWAY the water can go anywere else if the car has yet to be started and its leaking.

 

[Fords4ME]

I got it towed to the shop...

I still can't figure it out either. If the thermostat was open even a slight bit it could let coolant run into the water pump through the upper hose. That has to be what is happening because the coolant will leak out and the level in the radiator will drop down ~1" from the bottom of the fill neck. I hope the mechanic can find something without too much trouble.