I've got a coolant leak that drips off the bottom front of the engine just below the crank pulley. The heater hoses are new and the main radiator hoses are old but apparently good enough.

That leaves, I suppose, the water pump. However I haven't heard any bearings screeching nor is the car overheating.

Is there a way to diagnose this or should I just go ahead and replace the pump? Anything else that would be handy to replace simultaneously?

Thanks,

Steve Merelman

Although this is not an opinions forum, I will offer my humble one that you buy your water pump from Volvo. You will get a unit more precisely finished at the sealing surfaces, and their unit is offered as a kit containing all the fan studs, nuts, gaskets and seals and mounting bolts.

It costs about twice what the aftermarket pump costs, but I've purchased both and this is one time I'll go with OEM.

The water pump needs to be replaced. The shaft seals fail long before bearings fail. The thing also to replace is timing belt. ALSO if you've got oil leaking in the timing belt area, get the IPD oil seal kit.

Use the orange antifreeze, not the green stuff. It's easier on your new water pump and lasts longer.

/// What system is the "Orange" antifreeze for. There have been several articles on the subject of the new antifreezes and I read that they are not all interchangable.

Asking not complaining. Are there maybe five new compounds available?

The "orange" stuff, I understand, does not contain silicates that are rough on water pump seals plus it lasts a lot longer than the green stuff. I use Texaco Dex-Cool. You should do a complete flush with fresh water before switching. Don't forget to run the heater on 'full blast' durnig the flush.

Larry, the orange stuff I buy is Dexcool by Havoline. I like it 'cuz its orange.

Others say it lasts longer and is better for your water pump seals, but I haven't used it long enuf to conclude that all by myself.