Mitsubishi Repair: Coolant leak, coolant leaks, coolant leak


Question
1990 Mitsubishi Montero SUV four door, four wheel drive, A/C and automatic tranny.

Problem:  Coolant leak
cannot locate leak source.
Very pure looking Coolant(coolant recovered in a pan can be added back into the radiator) drips from the frame cross member area behind the transmission.
The removal of the front driveshaft guard permits one to see that the coolant seams to run down both sides of the transmission with no wetness on the underside of the floor pan.

I can't see the "freeze plugs" but the wetness seems to be well to the rear of the vehicle from where a freeze plug leak would be.

No evidence of a heater core leak - no wetness in cabin, no problem with foging up windows, no smell.

It's as if the coolant leaks into the main frame and then runs out "way back there".

Help!

Also, I don't know how to elect to have the question posted on the Mitsubishi Repair Message Board.  I would like that.

Answer
Raymond,
You'll need to get directly under the car with a shop light and find exactly where the leak is coming from.  It's possible you see drips coming from the rear of the engine, but its source is from the front and travels to the rear when the car is in motion.  The leak may be coming from the water pump.  That is a more common cause of hard-to-find coolant leak.  But your freeze plugs should also be inspected.  You should regularly have your coolant changed; every 2 years or so.  Over time, coolant will break down and start to become corrosive.  Corrosive coolant can eat throw anything from your water pump to a rubber hose.  
Good luck!