Today I noticed a small amount of fluid under my car. When I looked to see what it was I noticed that every few seconds I was getting what appears to be coolant dripping from around the front area of my oil pan. I dried the area with a rag and the drip came back. It looks like it is seeping out from the seal around the oil pan. I couldn't confirm this but it didn't appear to be dripping down from above the oil pan. If coolant has contaminated my oil would the coolant still have its green color?

I'm wondering if this is a water pump issue or if there is a gasket broken inside the engine. Should I drain the oil and see if there is any coolant in the oil before I start to assume I have a major problem? I would appreciate any help or ideas to diagnose this problem as I don't want to drive the car and possibly ruin the engine.

 

If the water pump needs to be replaced you'd need to drain your oil anyway so you should drain it first. That will tell you what you need to know. It's most likely a water pump issue IMO.

 

could be a water pump, as well make sure you confirm that the coolant is coming from the oil pan gasket, as it may very likely be coming from numerous other places.
One decent way to test and see if their is coolant in your oil without draining it is to pull out the oil dipstick, clean, insert, and then check your oil, take a lighter and put it to the oil on the end of the dipstick, if it lights on fire at ALL or bubbles it is very likely you have coolant in your oil. Which as 'nismo' said could be awater pump issue or an internal gasket.

 

Ok, I've drained the oil and there isn't any coolant in it. I can't seem to find the source of the leak but it is defiantly coolant leaking out. It is coming down the front wall of the oil pan. I can't see in there to good because of the AC. If a water pump goes out does it leak inside the motor and cause this problem?

 

Check the thermostat housing, and the lower radiatior hose.

 

a lot of your cooling system is on the belt side, almost directly above the oil pan, (water pump, thermostat, and the lower rad hose) so make sure that you thoroughly check them, clean the areas off, run the engine(pressure tester would be better), and check for leaks, could be something as simple as a hose that's split.

 

I've checked the lower radiator hose and around the water pump access cover and they are dry. Where is the thermostat located? I have traced the coolant and it is coming down between the bracket that holds on the AC compressor and the engine block directly above the front of the oil pan. With out taking off the AC compressor and bracket I can't see exactly where the leak is coming from due to the confined space. I looked in the How To's and in the write up it says "You may get coolant leaking from the weep hole toward the front of the engine with the inner seal failing on the water pump". Does any one know where this weep hole is located because that may be the source of my leak?

 

It's your water pump. When the shaft goes bad the it leaks coolant out of the weep hole and the coolant travels through a channel between the inner and outer timing covers.

BTW, the weep hole is on the water pump itself.

 

Thanks for the help nismology. I was thinking it would probably be the water pump. Is there any specific cause for a water pump going out? Are there any tips that are not in the write up on how the change the water pump that I will need to know?

 

It's not the water pump that is failing, it's the seal. It's a good idea to change them both at the same time, however, rather than using the same pump. There are threads about this (check the stickies).