coolant slowly leaking...
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 27
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From: Olive Branch, Mississippi
coolant slowly leaking...
I woke up this morning to find a decent size puddle of coolant underneath my truck. When I checked the level of coolant it was about a 1/2 gallon short. I can't seem to find where it is leaking from. It is dripping off the bottom of the oil pan and various other spots in that vicinity. It is a very slow drip drip drip. The truck has never run hot and still doesn't. The drip stays the same whether the engine is running or not. Any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated. Maybe somebody can just point me in the right direction. Thanks again.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Olive Branch, Mississippi
Since I haven't had alot of free time to check out the problem. I've been driving my wifes truck. Well the other day I had no choice but to drive my truck. I topped off the coolant level about a gallon or so, and started up my truck and drove to work. I expected to see a puddle under my truck when I left work but there wasn't one. I then expected to see a puddle under my truck when I woke up the next morning. Well to my suprise there isn't one. Is this a sign of a potentially bigger problem? Or could the problem have fixed itself? I consider myself to be a weekend warrior doing most of the maintience and smaller repair jobs on my vehicles but my knowledge of the cooling system is pretty limited. Any thoughts here will be greatly appreicated.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: peoria, az
Sounds like it may have plugged itself up for now. When you get some time, crawl under your truck and look up at the motor. Look along the sides where the freeze plugs are, look at the back where the engine and trans meet,look at the bottom of the waterpump, also look at the bottom of any hoses in the area where you saw the coolant. Was it dripping off the front of the pan? You don't need to see coolant dripping to find it. If there was a leak, there will be a "stain trail". If you find a trail, follow it up and it will lead you to where it was leaking. This will give you a place to keep an eye on. Also check the hoses up top. There may be one that was leaking onto the intake and running down.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Olive Branch, Mississippi
I checked the hoses pretty well. That was the first area I checked when I noticed the leak. It seems to be leaking off the back of the pan. As soon as time permits I plan on crawling underneath and inspecting further. Thanks for the input. I'll post anything else I find out.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: peoria, az
If its coming off the back of the pan it could only be the freeze plugs in the back of the block, freeze plugs in the back of the heads or possibly the intake leaking. Any way it goes, not an easy fix.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Olive Branch, Mississippi
Not an easy fix as in Don't even attempt it or it's just a pain in the butt? I have access to tools and a friend of mine is a honda mechanic. I have the Haynes manual. So I guess what i'm saying is should I start saving my dough or start researching for the repair? Thanks again.
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Posting Guru
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From: peoria, az
It's a pain, depending on where it is, determines the pain. If it's in the heads it's a small pain, if it's in the block it's rather large. If it's in the heads, you have to figure out where it is location wise and then drill about an 1.5" hole in the firewall (easy way) to get to it from inside the cab. If it is in the block, run to the nearest hardware store and get a for sale sign. 
Actually if it is from the block, you will need to pull the transmission to access it. If it's in the head it's just a headache, if it's in the block it's a pain on the other end. I would suggest start searching for the repair. This is only something that I would put off for a while if you like walking. Actually, it shouldn't blow out all at once but should start out as a drip and continuously get worse.
Actually if it is from the block, you will need to pull the transmission to access it. If it's in the head it's just a headache, if it's in the block it's a pain on the other end. I would suggest start searching for the repair. This is only something that I would put off for a while if you like walking. Actually, it shouldn't blow out all at once but should start out as a drip and continuously get worse.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,013
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From: Cajun Country
What side of the engine is the leak?Could it be the heater hose connections at the firewall leaking onto the engine then causing it to trail down the back of the engine?
Use a small mirror and a flashlight to see under the hose connections at the firewall.
Use a small mirror and a flashlight to see under the hose connections at the firewall.
New User
Joined: Oct 2003
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Stepman,
Thanks so much. I'll see if I can twist my neck severely enough to catch a glimpse of it. I'm suspect that it may be my prob. But if I can bug you once more, this is a drip that occurs even when the system is cooled, like in the AM when I get in it. Any way you would go about testing it for that plug or maybe a waterpump seal?
I appreciate your help. I moderate a tile setting/construction forum and I know something about the time you can spend helping others. By the way, that site is tileyourworld.com in case you ever need my help in any way.
thanks again,
Sonnie
Thanks so much. I'll see if I can twist my neck severely enough to catch a glimpse of it. I'm suspect that it may be my prob. But if I can bug you once more, this is a drip that occurs even when the system is cooled, like in the AM when I get in it. Any way you would go about testing it for that plug or maybe a waterpump seal?
I appreciate your help. I moderate a tile setting/construction forum and I know something about the time you can spend helping others. By the way, that site is tileyourworld.com in case you ever need my help in any way.
thanks again,
Sonnie
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 11,496
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From: Kansas
Sonnie, usually with a waterpump seal, it will leak while the motor is running. When you shut it off it may still seep a little just because there is coolant above the waterpump. I would suspect a bad waterpump and start looking there. If you can start the vehicle and with wheels properly blocked, look up under the engine at the water pump. You probably will see a stream of coolant running down from it. Watch out for the fan. If it is a freeze plug, sometimes you can get lucky and just replace the one that is leaking, but the rest are probably not far behind.
Try that and let us know what you find.
Try that and let us know what you find.
Last edited by Ultramagdan; Oct 15, 2003 at 09:51 PM.
New User
Joined: Oct 2003
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FTE,
You mean I shouldn't put my hand up there after I've started the engi............???
I'll try that, as well. A fellow DIY who's a lot more knowlegeable than I has suggested maybe we go to the car wash and get rid of some of the oil deposits around there. (I've got leaky valve cover gaskets). Not so bad. Had this block rebuilt at 170K, now at 380K. Don't guess I can complain if I had to sell her, but I's hopin' to just put a coat of paint on her and keep on truckin'.. and..... I don't have money for a new truck 
thanks again, I'll take a look at that. Water pump doesn't have many miles on it (changed it 3 years ago), but..... still thanks. I'll try to keep you posted as to what I find.
best regards,
Sonnie
You mean I shouldn't put my hand up there after I've started the engi............???
I'll try that, as well. A fellow DIY who's a lot more knowlegeable than I has suggested maybe we go to the car wash and get rid of some of the oil deposits around there. (I've got leaky valve cover gaskets). Not so bad. Had this block rebuilt at 170K, now at 380K. Don't guess I can complain if I had to sell her, but I's hopin' to just put a coat of paint on her and keep on truckin'..
and..... I don't have money for a new truck thanks again, I'll take a look at that. Water pump doesn't have many miles on it (changed it 3 years ago), but..... still thanks. I'll try to keep you posted as to what I find.
best regards,
Sonnie