navigator8320

I was driving home in my 2000 3.8 v6 and i could smell coolant coming through my vents, i checked the temp gauge which read normal, but when i got home the car was pouring coolant from around the engine, specifically from the left side and behind the crank pulley. My initial thought was a bad water pump, but the leak stops when the car is off, the weap hole at the top of the pump is clean, the car was not overheating, and the just the amount of coolant coming out leads me to doubts. Can anyone offer any help

i also checked the thermostat housing but appears to be coming from lower down

thank you

RyansQuick6

sounds like it's either a gasket leak of the pulley seal failed.

navigator8320

i took the pulley off the the water pump and it appears to be dry. but from what ive said above it has to do with the water pump and changing it will solve the problem?

thanks

JKs95stang

It sounds like the water pump seal has failed, but then again it sort of sounds different. How many miles? I would top off with plain water(cooled off), see if you can recreate the leaking and try to pinpoint the spot. Fords are notorious for blowing water pumps, I changed two in my old ranger, 1 in the 95 mustang I used to own. It's a pain, but very doable with standard hand tools.

navigator8320

i have done a water pump before on a different mustang, but this is the the first time on this car with almost 90 thousand miles on the clock, so i think it is most likely the water pump. i am having trouble isolating the leak, its from the water pump area. but there is no leak when the car is off and comes on real strong as soon as the the car is started. it seems to drip from behind the crank pulley and to the left of the water pump, but the pulley stays dry. i drove it down the street and there was coolant all over the place

Fink

I would change the water pump gasket and see what happens after that.

1ATony

Sounds like a pump issue to me. I have a new water pump here in stock if you need one.

Here's a link to it on our site.

Mustang 3.8 Water Pump

Matt's 95 Stang

^ Wow its like we have our own Billy Mays...hes always got the right tool for the job! Sorry Tony dont mean to poke fun but couldnt help it! haha

Matthew

RyansQuick6

Did you just say a site sponsior is like a dead guy? lol j/j

navigator8320

damn, i already ordered the water pump a few days ago. yeah but i think it is the water pump, its already off and i am just waiting for it to get here. Does anyone know how much do i tighten the studs when i put them back in? and also the manual says 51 inch-pounds for the bolts, this seems low is that right? thanks