Coolant Leak...Somewhere

[profdlp]

Went to the gym yesterday and got home with no problems. Came out this morning and saw fluid seeping across the garage floor. Checked the coolant and the reservoir is empty and the radiator level is down about an inch from where I usually see it.

Crawled around underneath and saw a good bit of coolant coating things underneath but no obvious spots where it could be coming from. The upper and lower hoses look good to me, but who knows...

Any suggestions on where I should be checking and how to test it?

 

[Gyro]

Frost plugs/block heater ?
The antifreeze may glow under blacklight also, to help see where it is coming from.


Gyro

 

[eric1514]

You can put a dye in the coolant that will glow under a UV light. You can pick that up at an auto parts store for around $10.

You could also pressurize the system with low pressure compressed air and see where the coolant squirts out. You might try cobbling together the fittings to put an air hose on the system in place of the bleed screw.

Many good lucks.

 

[lfhoward]

Hi Prof, there’s no good time for this to happen!

When mine went, it was on the sides. The radiator is metal but the sides are plastic.

 

[profdlp]

Looking it things from above you can't see anything wrong. (Except the empty reservoir...) The radiator is essentially full.

I had a water pump leak nearly eleven years ago that only leaked from underneath. Could that be it? (I know it "could", but is it likely?)

I went back out a few hours ago and it seemed to be drying up, which tells me it has stopped leaking. I am looking forward to checking it again in the morning.

 

[lfhoward]

This is a long shot but my Commander with the 4.7 developed a coolant leak at the timing cover. Not an inexpensive fix. Probably not your issue, but maybe worth checking.

 

[DeVilliers]

I discovered a pin hole near the top mounting bracket on the front of the radiator.
Could also be that.

 

[profdlp]

Sorry for the long silence on my part. I do appreciate all the responses.

I have been trying to find the spot of the leak. I am 99.9% sure it is not the radiator or hoses. I am fairly certain it is the water pump. I got an estimate from the mechanic I go to and it seems a little high. (They always do, these days...) With a compression test the grand total would be about $850. I am looking at water pumps on Amazon and I can get one for $30 to $70. I need a coolant refresh anyway, so the cost of that is irrelevant. Does $850 seem anywhere near reasonable?

I actually did the replacement myself back in early 2015:

Water Pumps For N00bs

I was pulling up to the house last night and noticed a greasy spot on the street right below where my engine compartment sits where I park. Got out and looked for leaks. I saw right away that the coolant reservoir was on the low side. Made a note of that, then also noticed that the center of...

www.jeepkj.com

So if it IS the water pump, it wouldn't be my first rodeo.

You must be registered for see images attach

My hesitation is due to not being sure it even is the water pump. I also am having some other issues which have contrived to make me less confident than I ought to be. (That part is hard for me to explain, frankly, but I feel a little snake-bitten lately.)

If it were you, would you go for it? My brain is telling me that ~$100 in parts and supplies and I might well have this fixed quite quickly. And if it ISN'T the water pump, then replacing the one that has been in there for nearly twelve years is not really a bad thing in the long run. It would probably need it before too much longer anyway. I also have a new set of hoses and a thermostat I have been saving for the coolant change I already planned to do.

I think I may just need someone to tell me I can still do this stuff. (Or tell me I'd be better off paying $$$ to a pro.)

 

[lfhoward]

You can do it, Prof! I believe in you!

In all seriousness, yes it makes sense. You laid it all out.
1. The water pump is long in the tooth anyway.
2. You have done it before so you know the process.
3. You already have the thermostat and hoses ready to go.
4. There is a good chance this will solve your coolant leak!

I say go for it and put the other $750 towards groceries or that next vacation.

I understand your hesitation though. I have been putting off dropping the front diff to install a limited slip, change the front axle bearings and seals, and replace a bad CV. I know I can do it, but it’s a lot of work and time! And I don’t want to screw it up, even though I know it will be fine. The parts are all on the shelf in the garage.

 

[profdlp]

The one I put in there in Feb 2015 was a Gates. I can get one of those for about $60. The Mopar one I found is $186. My hillbilly math says that the original Mopar from the factory lasted 8.5 years so I'm thinking the Gates I've used for the past 11.5 years is still a good pick.

Anything I am missing here? (Like, did Gates go to crap over the past decade or something?)

And why does this sites spellcheck not like the word "Mopar"? That just ain't right...

 

[lfhoward]

I’m running a Gates water pump and a Hayden fan clutch. I’ve been happy with them. I think I got a MotoRad thermostat because I read they make the Mopar ones and cost less.

 

[profdlp]

I was thinking that while I was at it I might as well replace the coolant reservoir. The original is kind of cruddy looking and the cap retainer is cracked. Amazon says this one will work:

https://www.amazon.com/BDFHYK-Compatible-52079848AA-52079788AD-52079788AE/dp/B0D5GVKGNP/ref=sr_1_1?af=eyJ2ZWhpY2xlTmFtZSI6IjIwMDcgSmVlcCBMaWJlcnR5IiwidmVoaWNsZSI6IjIwMDctNDItMzUzLTE0MS0tOS02LTgtNzc5OC0yNTAtMS0xLTExMy03OC0xIn0%3D&content-id=amzn1.sym.94dca4a3-9a70-41ce-8d29-d35aec04934d%3Aamzn1.sym.94dca4a3-9a70-41ce-8d29-d35aec04934d%3Aamzn1.automotive.PartFinder.VEHICLE_FILTER.all_product_search&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.I9aKYKsS5Z0dIXP7usvIZsxrcX7DawXZtDwOjViReIvAwAUGS3FSE5BX9JQJATA61j6_P1-oaASKgYUHcAin9DuSLCrQQubSSaa9RSUwi-TpQFBMtTxt_hmhh55ebvtZ9TvLQmOD9JfmpQ72Lq2whx5iMNAxDkFjI0UKJIDZrePmNaIPfg7PvHApVnX81gXlNmlGt2WpeITgjVUx806hfyn3In4Otn_ri0GwKzXLc6M.m8IOWQE-ytaL4Yp99xMJB_RCrSzwTIooLUKTBwo9V3Y&dib_tag=se&keywords=coolant+reservoir+2007+jeep+liberty&pd_rd_r=296f1923-9708-4fd5-8078-87ec4699701f&pd_rd_w=8yB73&pd_rd_wg=DRLHN&pid=DXpr2wh&qid=1789578075&sr=1-1&vehicle=2007-42-353-141--9-6-8-7798-250-1-1-113-78-1&vehicleName=2007+Jeep+Liberty

(That may be the longest URL I have ever seen...)

Any reason to not do this?

 

[profdlp]

My notes list the coolant system as needing 14 quarts. Does that sound right?

Ordering stuff and want to make sure I have enough.

 

[u2slow]

I've done a water pump change on ours in about 40mins. Topped it off with used coolant and water.

The next time I was near a quicky lube and had the coolant flushed & changed. Reason being theres no waste coolant disposal facilities around here.

 

[eric1514]

14 qts is correct and yup, very difficult to find place that will take your old coolant.

 

[profdlp]

Our little city has regular Hazardous Waste drop-off days. They take coolant, old gas, old oil, etc.

 

[u2slow]

Our little city has regular Hazardous Waste drop-off days. They take coolant, old gas, old oil, etc.

Lucky you! Mine does not...

 

[JeepLibertyKK]

‘I got an estimate from the mechanic I go to and it seems a little high. (They always do, these days...) With a compression test the grand total would be about $850. I am looking at water pumps on Amazon and I can get one for $30 to $70. I need a coolant refresh anyway, so the cost of that is irrelevant. Does $850 seem anywhere near reasonable?’

I don’t turn wrenches but as a reference, for California, for my 2012 KK, I looked up by ChatGPT:
RepairPal currently estimates $521–$722 total, including about $171–$251 labor.
KBB’s current dealer estimate is considerably higher, around $875–$973.

For a 2007 KJ, RepairPal currently estimates $521–$722 for a 2007 Liberty, including $171–$251 labor and $350–$471 parts. Their parts allowance is considerably higher than what genuine Mopar parts are currently selling for online. A genuine Mopar pump for the 3.7L is listed around $147–$191, depending on the listing.

For your Liberty, ChatGPT considers approximately $450–$550 at a good independent shop to be a reasonable target if you’re replacing only the water pump, gasket, coolant, and normal incidental items.

Important: If the pump is leaking, I would also have the shop check the thermostat housing, hoses, belt, and front crankshaft seal while everything is accessible.

 

[WWDiesel]

Flat rate for the 2007 Jeep Liberty 3.7L V6 engine shows ~2 hours for a water pump replacement. Shop rates typically in the $100-$200 labor per hour would give you $200-$400 for labor depending on what shop performs the work and their labor rate. Do the math!
New Water Pump cost between $50-$80 at most parts stores and on Amazon. OEM Mopar Water Pump cost is $170-$200 at Mopar online vendor sites.
Additional labor and parts for additional items would have to be calculated into the overall costs, i.e. thermostat, hoses, antifreeze coolant, new reservoir tank, etc...

Save yourself a lot of money and do it yourself! It is not that bad of a job....

 

[profdlp]

Parts came in over the weekend. I hope to get this done tomorrow.

Thanks!