Hello everyone:

I just purchased a '05 MCS. I noticed that the temp gauge went to the top while I was idle for about 5 minutes. Noticed the reservoir had fluid when I opened it. I let the car sit and drove it when it cooled down. Temp gauge remained half way.

The Fan stays on everytime I turn it off for about 3 minutes at high speed. Temp here has been in the 60's. Today I noticed the reservoir is completely empty (after one day) and there seem to be an oily green susbstance next to the left part of the radiator, in front of the alternator and the drive belt. There is also what appears to be oil or coolant on the bottom of the engine on the passenger side, but the driver side seems dry. This appears to rule out the thermostat.

I did several searches and a lot is covered on the subject, but never read of anyone having what appears to be a leak by the bottom of th radiator. Help PLEASE!

 

Could be a failed water pump with leaks out bottom and down front of block. How's your oil condition?

Jeremy

 

Forgot to mention the oil. The oil was changed just before I purchased the car. It looks clean and not milky. The oil cap is also looking normal. I hope the problem is the water pump, because its covered under the limited warranty. I see on the carfax report that the water pump was replaced 40k miles ago by dealer. Is that their average life span? 40k miles?

 

My 04 had a leak in the radiator on the lower left side. You might want to have the system pressure tested to be sure.

 

One more vote for waterpump. When the internal seals go, it leaks out of a "weep hole" on the bottom, behind the pulley. Get it up on a jackstand or rhino ramps, remove the pan (two T3 Phillips screws, and five (I think) 10mm hex heads that just need to be loosened, not removed, and have a look. You'll need to put it in service mode to change, but since the coolant needs to be drained anyway, no biggie. I think it's actually an easy job on this car, since once it's in service mode, you have a good deal of room to work with, and the external design of the pump is easier than the "in the block" style.

 

If it turns out to be the water pump, can I buy an aftermarket one better than the OEM? If so where? That would mean that the current water pump only lasted 40k miles?

 

Look at the themostat housing, there were many problems there and if the the leak in there change the thermostat, housing and seal at the same time, AL.

 

I just wanted to give everyone an update since I had the time to work on the car. The leak was the thermostat housing. The green substance by the radiator appears to be the dye they run when checking for A/C leak. I will know more about it once the warm weather returns.

Thank you for all the help and suggestions