Water by timing belt??

Water pump, very probably ....

 

Which bank, front or rear?

The reason I ask is the rear head cam belt cover bolts at the rear do penetrate the water jacket of the block and do need some sealer on them. I use liquid teflon.

Rick
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Are you sure those bolts go into the water jacket? No offense, but I'd not known that (I am relatively new to F-cars). I see your engine is a 1980. Could things have changed with the QV's? I've had the covers off of my '83 twice, in the last 3 years, and never used any sealant on those bolts. I just can't believe I've been that lucky.

 

Suggest take the wheel off & remove the arch liner so you can see the front of the engine properly. Start it (make sure its in neutral!!) & rev it - you will soon see where its coming from.

 

I've noticed that you can see the head bolts through both holes, but had no idea that it would penetrate the water jacket!
Are you sure about that? Never had a problem with my 328, and I've replaced the belts twice and did about 8.000Km

 

Yes

 

not possible

 

No... I saw that they penetrate into an interior jacket and I assumed it would be a water jacket. It could just be a dead space in the casting. I'm probably completely wrong. If so, I apologize for the misleading direction. Next time I'm at the shop I'll blow some air in there and see where it is chambered to.

And the others are probably right. Thinking about it, if it were a water jacket, it would leak water every time you pull the rear timing belt cover and I have never experienced that... Hey, I am still recovering from a MTBI.... <grin>

Now I'm curious about what is in that chamber.

Rick

 

Those holes terminate at the base of the head studs. If there is coolant there (and there often is) it means the head gasket is seeping and allowing coolant down around the studs. Not a great long term situation.

 

once again the master responds!!

Thanks Brian for helping us all out!!

Rob
who need all the help he can get

 

Great info, Brian! I'll be looking for it next time I replace the belts. Thanks !

 

Back to the original posting -- The most likely culprit in that area is the water pump. Check the bottom side of the pump housing. There are one or two weep holes there. If the seals/bearings are going, you will see evidence of coolant in that area, or near the pulley. There is also an O-ring seal between the water pump/thermostat assembly and the block. That gets dried out over time and can leak as well. Or the gaskets can leak.

Changing the water pump is not a big deal. I don't know about the GTSi, but the biggest problem with the earlier 308s is that you need to remove the cam timing belt covers to get the water pump out. And, of course, shipwright's disease sets in when you start pulling things apart. So you find yourself changing hoses, clamps, cleaning things up, etc. And of course, while the covers are off, there is the temptation to change the timing belts, tensioner pulleys, etc.

I just pulled the water pump on my 328 and had it rebuilt. Not an expensive proposition. I shipped it to a guy in Delaware who does a nice job and uses an upgraded bearing, new bronze impeller, etc. Pump came back better than new. Don't forget to change the thermostat while you are at it. And of course I'm changing the timing belts, tensioners, etc.....

Have fun. This is a good weekend warrior job to do yourself.