What appears to be a coolant leak by the oil filter...

[Flimflamman]

Washed my GT today and noticed the coolant football was pretty low. Looked under the car and see a leak coming through the oil filter cover. I'm going to try and attach pics if they turn out well enough.

I looked all over the place and I am pretty sure the leak is coming from somewhere around the black plastic cover/tank right next to it, and don't see it coming from anywhere above it.

Funny thing is, it didn't smell like coolant and kind of looked like trans fluid. There was no odor and I made my wife smell my finger (lolz) to make sure it wasn't just me. Doesn't make any sense at the moment. *sigh*

Anyone seen anything like this before? Hopefully something I can take care of but will get it to a shop if need be.

No mods and have 51k on the clock.

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[EFI]

What color is the coolant in the expansion tank? That doesn't look like ATF, but it doesn't look like coolant either as it's usually a yellow/light green unless you changed it.

 

[Flimflamman]

What color is the coolant in the expansion tank? That doesn't look like ATF, but it doesn't look like coolant either as it's usually a yellow/light green unless you changed it.

Thanks for the reply. My coolant was red/orange from the factory. I haven't changed it.

 

[EFI]

My coolant was red/orange from the factory. I haven't changed it.

That far forward I doubt it's ATF, and the lines are on the passenger side not where the oil cooler is...but check them anyway.

Other than that, your best bet is to get one of those coolant dye kits and use a flashlight to see where it's coming from. That stuff makes any coolant stains really pop and might be easier to see where it's coming from.

 

[Flimflamman]

That far forward I doubt it's ATF, and the lines are on the passenger side not where the oil cooler is...but check them anyway.

Other than that, your best bet is to get one of those coolant dye kits and use a flashlight to see where it's coming from. That stuff makes any coolant stains really pop and might be easier to see where it's coming from.

Gonna look into that. Thanks

 

[Cobra Jet]

If the car has the belly pan, put the car up on ramps or safely on stands and pull off the belly pan. This way you can actually see where the coolant may be coming from.

Also check the nipples on the coolant overflow tank - some M6G members have reported that the nipples were found to be cracked, which would allow coolant seepage under expansion/contraction temps.

Check all hose clamps on every coolant hose. Hose clamps sometimes become loose over time, again allowing coolant to seep past the hose and hose outlet. Tighten all clamps.

Water pump could be on its way out and could be another leak point. External water pumps usually have a weep hole integrated into the underside portion of the front of the pump or snout. When the internal bearing or seal is starting to go on external water pumps, coolant will seep from the weep hole onto the ground or face of engine cover.

It was posted on here that early S550 water pumps had plastic impellers and were known to fail prematurely. I'm not sure of the year cutoff for that concern, but if needing a new water pump, replacement pumps should have a metal impeller.

 

[Flimflamman]

If the car has the belly pan, put the car up on ramps or safely on stands and pull off the belly pan. This way you can actually see where the coolant may be coming from.

Also check the nipples on the coolant overflow tank - some M6G members have reported that the nipples were found to be cracked, which would allow coolant seepage under expansion/contraction temps.

Check all hose clamps on every coolant hose. Hose clamps sometimes become loose over time, again allowing coolant to seep past the hose and hose outlet. Tighten all clamps.

Water pump could be on its way out and could be another leak point. External water pumps usually have a weep hole integrated into the underside portion of the front of the pump or snout. When the internal bearing or seal is starting to go on external water pumps, coolant will seep from the weep hole onto the ground or face of engine cover.

It was posted on here that early S550 water pumps had plastic impellers and were known to fail prematurely. I'm not sure of the year cutoff for that concern, but if needing a new water pump, replacement pumps should have a metal impeller.

Build date is 1/19 so I'll check into that cutoff.

Based on what I initially saw, I thought the leak was more steady. But it appears to be slow at this point, and certainly looks like it is seeping from the bottom of the water pump.

I put some coolant dye in it yesterday but only put about 10 city miles on it. So it might not have worked its way out yet.

The factory red/orange coolant doesn't show up much when it is dry but is slightly more visible with a UV flashlight. I can see a faint trail from the bottom of the water pump, down past the crankshaft pulley, and onto the black tank (oil cooler?), then ultimately drips through the oil filter cover.

Guess I best replace it soon. Appreciate the help!

 

[Flimflamman]

Finally got it to the dealership. They did a pressure test and proved out the weeping. All covered under warranty thank goodness. Happy to have it back.

 

[Cobra Jet]

Finally got it to the dealership. They did a pressure test and proved out the weeping. All covered under warranty thank goodness. Happy to have it back.

Great news and glad it's a rather simple fix too!

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