Yes, block coolant drain plug. I don't know that there is more than one. I think I remember seeing one hiding behind the starter. There might be one on the other side, I don't remember since I never actually used it. I likely should before this summer because it's likely time to change the coolant.

 

So I got here from wondering why I was hearing a grating sound, the last two times, when I started the van.

The sound went away when the engine warmed up.
I finally got a dry enough day to jack-up and crawl under the van.

(Pics at Bottom)
There are drops of coolant hanging off the round bottom of the drive(?) pulley and a drop hanging on bottom of the water pump. (Pic 01)
The base of the water pump is moist. (Pics 02, 03)
The drop on bottom of the water pump is active. Very slow but active. I never saw it in the gravel.

I'm guessing the first drop of coolant I found on the bottom of the oil pan was due to blow back.

What I am not seeing is anything I recognize as a weep.
I used an extension mirror to see more under the projection from the fan shaft.
The projection holding the fan shaft is dry.
The fan itself does not wobble.

I do not see more than what is suspected to be splash back off the drive pulley onto the bottom of the water pump.
General information suggest water pumps have weep holes that will start to leak prior to the coolant getting into the bearings.
Too late.
I was suspecting that was the slow leak up to this point. But I do not see anything that I would identify as a weep hole.
Anyone know if there is a weep on the water pump for this van?



01.UnderDrive

02.LeftOfDrive

03.RgtOfDrive

 

I'm sure there is a weep hole. Yep looks like time to put in a new water pump. Have fun removing the bolts holding the dipstick tubes on to get the upper fan shroud off. I'd replace all the hoses attached to the water pump while you are in there.

https://charm.li/Chevrolet/2013/Expr...nt%20%28V8%29/

 

Go to rock auto and look at pic - pump by US Motor Works - "Pump Only" weep hole is located under black pulley - sorry I wasn't able to paste the pic here.

 

Rednucleus,

Thank you for the location.

I finally was able to find and angle to see the weep hole.
Am mistaken that I would see leaking from the weep hole with the engine running?
There is definitely coolant along the bottom of the water pump.
The wet I see elsewhere must be getting thrown from the crank shaft pulley (?).

The gravely sound I hear is coming from a small pulley to the passenger side of the crank shaft pulley.
It looks like a tensioner for the second belt running the AC compressor(?).

I took a short drive to warm up the engine to see how it might impact the weep hole.
The gravely noise stopped and then after a mile turned into a ratcheting noise.

 

Take the belt off, give everything a spin, ane order everything that doesn't feel great. I put a new tensioner and idler pulley on mine when I did the belt. I think it was the idler pulley that had the bad bearing.

 

It can be a pretty slow drip even with the motor running at pressure. If there's coolant at the bottom of the pump it sounds like time for a change.

 

Three radiators sounds wild but if its anything like my buddy's 2022 Silverado with the 3.0

 

I am resigned to replacing the water pump.
I have looked at a video and gone through the repair manual.
I have the tools I need sans the 36mm(?) wrench to loosen the fan.

Is there a hack for getting the fan off relieving me from chasing down the wrench?
The wrench looks very narrow in pictures.