OK, my car has been losing a little bit of water for a while, noticed since I flushed the coolant, but it wasnt that much and I could see some coolant around the thermostat area.

The other day I hadnt checked it for quite a long time, and instead of just topping up the overflow tank, I had to fill the radiator a bit too. I also tightened some stuff up around the thermostat area to stop it seaping. Anyway a couple of days later (today) I see if it still seems to be leaking or if I could tell the level had dropped a bit. Anyway turns out the overflow bottle was already empty and the radiator needed a couple of litres of water :shock:

Strange thing there didnt seam to be a drip of water where it was leaking before, but I realised there was heaps around the belts area, on the oil filter and around there, dripping fair bit. It seems like something has happened as its losing a fair bit now. I thought this might be a leak around the water pump????

However while the car was idling and warm, I noticed it was pumping a little bit of smoke as well, it was cold and half rainy outside so I dont know if its just condensation but I havent noticed this before when it was warm. So now im thinking it could be a head gasket leak??? Or just a water pump leak, or maybe water pump leak and valve stem seals????

Im a bit worried now, think it might be costly, anyone got an idea or where I should go to get it tested?

Ollie

A rough idea on cost of both valve stem seals and a timing belt + water pump would be handy too, after some searching I have found widly varying prices, looks like its probably best to avoid Mistsubishi. By the way its a V6 so its a timing BELT not chain.

Cheers,

Ollie

It's more than likely that it's your water pump, given that you've got coolant all over the belts and sump. Can you smell boiling coolant while the motor is running, and at operating temp?

If your oil has turned coffee coloured, and the radiator is full of bubbles when it's full, and you've got the cap off while the motor is running, then that points mostly towards a cracked head or blown head gasket.

Pricewise, as you've discovered, there's a fair bit of difference. It cost me $700 to have all the belts and water pump replaced when I owned my KR. Valve stem seals are a bit of a different story though; some places will want to take the heads off, whilst others are happy to leave them on. The seals themselves are about $12 each, but the labour will be quite a bit. To put it into perspective - the mechanic I occasionally go to wanted $1000 flat to replace $144 worth of seals.

Thanks verada beast.

Sounding expensive :confused:

I checked my oil, seemed normal colour, that is darkish brown as its nearing an oil change, but I thought that was pretty much coffee colour...

I didnt think to run the motor with the radiator cap off, will try that tomoz, and also see if it still smokes.

Didnt remember smelling coolant though, but it definitely was there.

Im thinking you cant actually see the water pump as its covered by the timing belt cover, so that might explain why I couldnt tell where the leak was coming from. By the way anyone know if water pumps can start leaking fast??? not sure if im safe to still drive it round and make sure I fill up every day.....

Hopefully its the water pump, ive just clicked over 180,000km so I might just do an early timing belt change and a new water pump.

Ollie

I was losing several litres a day when mine was blown. So pretty much a full radiator's worth in 2 or 3 days.

It makes sense to replace everything while you've got that part of the engine in pieces; if you're feeling extra keen you could lift the motor out and give it a proper going over.

If you check your oil filler cap when you take it off look inside it... it'll be milky white. best way to check for water contamination of your oil sytem.

Sounds though like a water pump.....

Personally... unless you have an engine upgrade planned don't drive it.

you can get around with the radiator cap turned half way round (First "click") so it won't pressurise the cooling system (It's winter so you may get away with it, but reality is... get the water pump looked at...

Yes they can go real fast... I've had one drip for months and months with a bung seal (Toyota Cressida) to one going almost overnight pissing all the coolant on the road (Lancer GSR)

If you just keep driving it'll let go when you least want it too.. (Middle of nowhere, raining, cold and no service on your mobile phone.!!!)
I'm a pleasant positive thinking individual aren't I!!!???

On a side note though... water pumps are pretty common letting go around 150,000 to 200,000k's... don't hear much of head gaskets going in the magna's...
Ollie, if you overheat the car though.... that's when head gaskets mostly fail...


Steve

Thanks heaps Steve,

Sounds like maybe fortunately its the water pump. I didnt think it was common for these to go though. Im not too sure about driving it, but hey, it might give me an excuse for a deferred exam!!! I will try get it fixed ASAP. Dont want the water pump to fail and then stuff my head gasket up though :confused:

Ill keep an eye on the temp guage whenever im driving it and check the coolant everytime i stop.

Ollie

Thanks heaps Steve,

Sounds like maybe fortunately its the water pump. I didnt think it was common for these to go though. Im not too sure about driving it, but hey, it might give me an excuse for a deferred exam!!! I will try get it fixed ASAP. Dont want the water pump to fail and then stuff my head gasket up though :confused:

Ill keep an eye on the temp guage whenever im driving it and check the coolant everytime i stop.

Ollie
Dont forget it could also be the water pump GASKET not the actual pump. New pump is about $60. Mightaswell change the timing belt while your at it though. Dont know how much this is but at least $600ish. Its a pretty labour intensive job....

Can you take off the front timing cover (2 10mm bolts) and flash a light where the water pump is to see if anything is leaking?

If its gotta be changed, its gotta be changed....Dont keep putting it off mate it will turn out worse in the end

']Dont forget it could also be the water pump GASKET not the actual pump. New pump is about $60. Mightaswell change the timing belt while your at it though. Dont know how much this is but at least $600ish. Its a pretty labour intensive job....

Can you take off the front timing cover (2 10mm bolts) and flash a light where the water pump is to see if anything is leaking?

If its gotta be changed, its gotta be changed....Dont keep putting it off mate it will turn out worse in the end

Could be the gasket??? If so I guess everything still has to come out anyway. And I assume the gasket is replaced with a new pump?

While were at it, anything else that would be good to change while the belt and pump are out and being replaced?

havent looked at the timing belt cover, I forgot the water pump ran off the timing belt and not the fan belt, so I didnt think anything would be coming from there. If its easy I might try take it off and see what goin on down there. Will ring for some prices tomoz.

Ohh and I couldt hear any unusual noise coming from the water pump, not sure if this pinpoints it down at all????

Ohh one more thing am I better off sourcing the parts from repco or ebay or something and supplying them to either mitsu or any mechanice?

Ollie

Could be the gasket??? If so I guess everything still has to come out anyway. And I assume the gasket is replaced with a new pump?

While were at it, anything else that would be good to change while the belt and pump are out and being replaced?

havent looked at the timing belt cover, I forgot the water pump ran off the timing belt and not the fan belt, so I didnt think anything would be coming from there. If its easy I might try take it off and see what goin on down there. Will ring for some prices tomoz.

Ohh and I couldt hear any unusual noise coming from the water pump, not sure if this pinpoints it down at all????

Ohh one more thing am I better off sourcing the parts from repco or ebay or something and supplying them to either mitsu or any mechanice?

Ollie

Probably safer to replace the lot once it's all apart.... it's expensive yah but once it's all done (If you plan on keeping the car for a while still anyway) you won't have to worry about that part again for a long time.

You'll find that parts like water pumps are generally made by the same manufacturer between mitso and places like repco so it wouldn't hurt to buy from repco... just don't buy the cheapest version they have.

Sometimes it's cheaper to source them yourself... some mechanics aren't keen for this as they can't (or it's harder) to rip customers off.

Yeah if a seal has gone or a gasket, it won't make any noise at all... it's when bearings go that the racket is created...

It's good you caught it in time too.....
keep a close eye on the temp guage...
and make sure you have plenty of water in the car to top up.... if the water level is low, your guage may read wrong... so it wouldn't hurt to check your levels every time you drive.

Let us know how it goes!

Steve

if it was your headgasket the car wouldnt be idling or runnin well, if at all. i was losing alot of coolant recently, ended up being loose hose clamps and two shot welsh plugs.

itll most likely be something small and easy youve missed dude :D

Im starting to get a bit worried now, that it might not be the water pump, and that its just a welsh plug or something. I took a bit of the timing belt cover off but couldnt see anything. However I saw some consistently dripping water from just above but behind the oil filter I think. Im not sure what to do, should I ask the mechanic to diagnose it first???

I filled it up last night, drove 20 mins to uni today. Before going back home, I had to fill it up with about 2L :shock: , and then I drove home. Got home, level doesnt seem to have dropped at all:nuts:

Anyway cheapseset price was from Mitsubishi midland so far, for $650, but they are booked until early july.... Next was Service automotive myaree which was recommended, they said $850 but they change the cam oil seals and stuff also.


do you guys think it could only be a water pump gasket or should I get it checked out first. I just dont want to have to bring my car in somehwere, and pay them to tell me its the water pump gasket....

Ollie

If unknown just go to someone to diagnose what the problem is then tackle it from there. Its pointless making assumptions. Could be water pump could be a welsh plug. If the problem isnt obvious to you take it to someone who knows and tell you what the issue is.

Regards

If you are a member of the RAA you can call their helpline, and they can tell you what sorta problems could cause this, and also problems that specific cars have etc etc. I've found it very useful in the past. Also (if you're a member) you could call someone out to have a lookover for you at no charge. I mean they wont do a full inspection as well as a proper mechanic or anything, but if its something small they might pick it up for you, or they can give you an indication of what to do... after all, why do you pay for RAA membership if you dont use it :P

Oh hangon, RAA is only South Australia [I think...??] but surely you'll have something similar in WA?

Yeh I am a member of the RAC that we have here, and didnt think of that. However I have a feeling that they are just gonna say yeh its leaking coolant, could be the water pump, or could be this or that. but hey I havent used it before so might be worth it.

Although I just did heaps and heaps of searching, and found a thread where someone had posted up a picture, pretty sure they said it was the water pump, and it was dripping in exactly the same spot, and accumulating on the oil filter, and considering im 95% sure its that, and that im only just over 15,000km from a timing belt change, I will probably just do it anyway and hope for the best.

Ollie

Yeh I am a member of the RAC that we have here, and didnt think of that. However I have a feeling that they are just gonna say yeh its leaking coolant, could be the water pump, or could be this or that. but hey I havent used it before so might be worth it.


Yeah it's worth a try, you never know your luck. And since you pay for it anyway, there's no harm in getting your moneys worth haha.

Good luck with everything anyway mate. ;)

Thanks for all the help so far, but ive been ringing around for quotes, but one guy strongly recommended I replace the indler pulley and tensioner I think it was at the same time. I wouldnt really mind doing this but apparently the kit costs $220, so im not sure if its worth it, as I dont think the other places do it and I havent heard of people doing it here or elsewhere.

Anyone done this or would recommend doing it?

Ollie

Started to read then skip so sorry if I am repeating

If you have coolant over the belt area, especially on top of the oil filter (this is the direction the coolant drains out of the cover) then yo have a water pump going ni night

DO YOUR BELT regardless of how old it is as the belt does not like the glycol in the coolant.

Belt, pump and stem seals if you go the right person you will have change from $800 easy including parts and labour.

Complete belt / tensionor kit $145
Stem seals $35
Water Pump $125
Oil, Filter coolant $75

Above $380 plus labour

Started to read then skip so sorry if I am repeating

If you have coolant over the belt area, especially on top of the oil filter (this is the direction the coolant drains out of the cover) then yo have a water pump going ni night

DO YOUR BELT regardless of how old it is as the belt does not like the glycol in the coolant.

Belt, pump and stem seals if you go the right person you will have change from $800 easy including parts and labour.

Complete belt / tensionor kit $145
Stem seals $35
Water Pump $125
Oil, Filter coolant $75

Above $380 plus labour

Thanks, yeh I did say in an above post, but someone showed me a pic with a water pump leak and its leaking in exactly the same spot.

BUT I would really appreciate if you suggest the tensioner is worth doing instead of just the belt and seals. It seams a bit more expensive for this.

I had many quotes over $1000, 2nd cheapest was $600, but Auto Masters in Maddington quoted me $485 for belt, seals and pump. Its so much cheaper than everything else it seems a bit suss, although my sister has been there before and is happy with them. Only thing is its booked till 1st of July, but for the cost I think I might try push it and use the car as little as possible.

One more questions, why do you recommend doing the stem seals at the same time??? Its not really related is it? It seems my stem seals are fine as I didnt see any smoke at all today, although they might need doing soon. I just thought I could easily go back another time and it wont really be more expensive....

Ollie

Stem seals, only do them if they need it. If id dont broke.....

ALWAYS replace the tensionor, this why I gave you the price for the full kit which includes belt, 2 cam and 1 crank seal and tensionor.

Awesome, thanks a lot madmagna, will ring and check about the tensioner and get them to include it if its not, although they said all the seals so I guess they are getting the kit.