90' Camry Coolant flush question

This morning I noticed a large puddle of coolant fluid under the engine bay on my 90' Camry. After some thorough searching I found it to be coming from an 8mm hole on the front of the water pump (next to the gasket). From searching through this newsgroup I assume this is the weep hole and it's time for a Water Pump replacement. This seems very coincedental to me because I just flushed the coolant system and refilled it with the green stuff the day before. My question is this... Could there be any link between me flushing the system and this leak occuring, it's only had plain water for quite a while so could it be the first use of green coolant fluid thats done it ? Referring to the follonwing post it seems I'm not alone.

From: Jason James ( snipped-for-privacy@byplane.com) Subject: Re: Mysterious Coolant Leak Location -- V6 Camry

Any suggestions would be great, although the bottom line is probably a new water pump I don't want it happening again.

Cheers, Phil

Reply to
Phil
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If you can get all of the green coolant out, the best mixture for your Camry is the factory red color coolant and distilled water only. Since you'll be changing the water pump, that may help get all the old coolant out. Regular water will tend to leave mineral deposits that reduce cooling efficiency over time, and the green coolant can cause the water pump and seal to wear out more quickly. I'm not sure about this next part, but I think there is an electrolytic potential between dissimilar metals in the cooling system that accelerates corrosion of the metails, especially with an aluminum radiator (and heads) as in the Camry, so it is important not to run plain water. All you can do at this point is drain it out thoroughly, flush with water to remove any residue, and re fill with proper coolant mixture and type.

Reply to
Daniel M. Dreifus

There's nothing wrong with the green stuff - just as good and 1/2 the price as the Toyota brand. Just be sure to flush it every two years with new --- or save up for a new radiator.

Reply to
Wolfgang

Glad to hear that. Been using the green in my '77 Toyota truck, changed regularly, mixed with water from the garden hose, and the limiting factor at top speed in summer with A/C on, is the engine temperature. Drove to Nevada once, and had to keep a careful eye on the temperature gauge on long up hill sections. Been using Toyota red with distilled water in my Camry, and regardless of conditions, always just below mid point on the temperature gauge. Can idle with A/C on in 100 degree temps. or pull long up hill grades

- no change, never over heats - really great. Plus I've put a couple of radiators in the truck. While it's true, that the plastic upper tank in the Camry developed a very small crack, leaking only a few drops and I replaced it with another Toyota radiator, there's not a trace of sediment. Supposedly the green is not silicate and phosphate free. I imagine it would be better than plain water, and will lower the freezing and raise the boiling point, but am not convinced it is "just as good" as the Toyota brand.

Reply to
Daniel M. Dreifus

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