Remember this curiosity from 13 months ago?  (Probably not)  It never
leaked again until this week when I found one of the oil cooler hoses
has a split in it.  I bet it was a tiny split 13 months ago and the
weakest point in the system.  I know I looked at that hose back then
because it seemed to be one of few things that could leak in that
area.  That poor little hose is in a tight spot right next to the
exhaust header where it attaches to the head.

Edward

At 07:58 PM 4/7/2010, Edward Maglott wrote:
>I checked my van tonight and this one time leak remains
>mysterious.  I took the belt off the water pump.  The pulley has
>very little play in it.  Almost none in and out along the shaft axis
>and just a little click moving the pulley up and down.  That doesn't
>really mean anything in terms of measurement, I know.  I will try at
>some point to rig up a dial indicator to measure it.  the shaft
>turns smoothly by hand with a little resistance.  I pressurized my
>cold cooling system and got no leaking anywhere near the location
>that the roadside leak occurred.
>Puzzled-- Edward
>
>At 07:39 AM 4/6/2010, Ken Wilford wrote:
>>I concur with Dennis.  It sounds like a water pump starting to leak
>>to me.  They can be intermittent some times.  You need to get this
>>checked out and repaired very soon as the pump can lock up and fry
>>your engine in less than a couple of minutes.  Let me know if you
>>need any parts.
>>
>>Ken Wilford
>>John 3:16
>>www.vanagain.com
>>
>>
>>Edward Maglott wrote:
>>>I had driven for maybe 100 miles this morning, the last 20 or so on
>>>the interstate.  I stopped at a rest area.  I usually let the engine
>>>idle at least a minute in that situation because  I know it hates
>>>that hard running then engine shut off scenario.  Well, I was in  a
>>>hurry and shut off the engine.  I looked underneath to check for the
>>>leaking ATF situation I've been having and to my horror there was
>>>coolant dripping/running off of the oil filter and the oil
>>>cooler.  It was probably a few ounces total.  I came back from the
>>>restroom and set about finding what was up.  Looked from the top and
>>>saw nothing.  Crawled under with flashlight and still could not see
>>>anything in the way of a source of the leak.  started the engine and
>>>revved it bit-  still nothing.  Coolant level was fine in both tanks
>>>and the hose between them was secure.  I thought I heard what might
>>>be water pump noise, but didn't take the belt off to check for play
>>>in the shaft.
>>>
>>>Drove the rest of the way (about 160 miles of interstate, including a
>>>mtn climb) home with eagle eye on the gauge and light and frequent
>>>stops to check for leaks.  Nothing.  I'm guessing that the temp
>>>spiked when I didn't let it idle after the highway running and maybe
>>>had a pressure spike.  What in the area above the oil cooler and
>>>filter might cause this intermittent leak?  The weird part is that
>>>after that one time it didn't continue leaking.
>>>
>>>Edward