First, Happy New Year to all. I have occasionally visited here since buying my truck in 02. Since then it has been pretty much built up, rebuilt and repaired on a regular basis but still going strong much of the time. Todays issue appears to be a coolant leak on the drivers side top rear under the intake and thought I would scope it here prior to removing stuff as sometimes these repairs are a little over my head.

 

Top like near the valley or top like near the oil cooler? The oil cooler is really the only coolant moving part on the drivers side of the engine. Going toward the front of the engine you have the water pump and going under the engine you have plugs and heater...

Pictures of the leaking location would help, but I am betting your cooler is leaking. It is not typically the coolant leaking from there, but it does happen.

 

Thanks Sous. I had the oil cooler replaced last winter but that must be it.

 

Could be... We have seen gasket maker used instead of the gaskets and in addition to the gaskets. We have seen rolled o-rings that didn't seat properly as well.

That would be my first place to look though. Let us know what you find.

 

 

 

When you say under the intake are you talking about in the valley? Could be a heater hose leaking

 

No, I have a large S&B sealed airbox connected by a large hose structure connecting to a large Garrett turbo. Under the connecting structure I noticed steam eminating from there yesterday after driving a short while. Is there a hose there? I thought I may have seen a disconnected hose perhaps beneath but I cant really tell or take pictures without removing the whole S&B deal.

 

No coolant hose under the S&B intake pipe to the turbo. Only fuel, power steering (ATF) and the oil cooler.

 

Are you sure it is coolant?

As Sous said, no coolant is routed up top back there. The only thing on top is the heater hose in front that goes down the passenger side and the upper hose that goes from the thermostat housing in front to the radiator.

Could your doghouse be leaking and it's coming from the CCV?

 

Well it just looked like steam emanating and the coolant reservoir was down a few inches so that's what I assumed it to be. I don't know what the doghouse is. Yesterday, he check engine blinked on really briefly and then never came on again. Hope its nothing too serious. I can't seem to spend enough money on this thing. Like the guy with the bucks bazooka. But I need it for various things like fifth wheel towing, hauling, 4x4.

 

Thats your CCV (crank case vent) the only coolant on the driver side is the oil cooler, thermostat housing (very common) or an uncommon place head coolant freeze plug.

 

That's a common phenomenon that a lot of us have. Level slowly decreases in the overflow for no apparent reason.

 

Well believe it or not it was just the CCV not connected into the cold air feed. I was working on something else a while ago, disassembled it and didn't realize the CCV became separated. Thanks for not calling me a ******* at least to my virtual face. Everyone has always been fairly gracious at this forum and much appreciated being a nonmechanically talented dude. I still need to find out where my coolant is going though. That would seem to indicate a leak somewhere.

 

Glad it was a free and easy fix! Those are the best kind.

We're a pretty easy going bunch here in the 99-03 forum and are happy to help.