jarco

Hello,
I recently got an oldsmobile cutlass.
I found out that this coolant is leaking behind the timing cover.
Do I have to replace the gasket behind this or is there more problems behind?

JohnnyBs68S

The water pump bolts to the front of that cover, which encloses the back of the water pump (and covers the timing chain). If coolant is leaking from behind that cover, you've got a leak somewhere behind the water pump that is getting past that cover into the area where the timing chain resides (coolant is also likely getting into the oil pan too). I'd start by removing the water pump and see if you can find the source of the leak.

joe_padavano

There is no coolant behind the timing cover. You have a leak higher up on the engine that is running down there and APPEARING to leak from the timing cover. Most likely the water pump.

jarco

thanks for the response,
The only place leaking from what I can see is there.
Are you sure it can't leak there?

joe_padavano

I wouldn't have written it if it weren't true.

This is what's behind the timing cover. That's oil, not coolant.

Fun71

The most likely source of coolant in that area is the weep hole on the bottom of the water pump. From there it would run down and drip off the front edge of the timing cover as Joe described.