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Was just doing a few things outside and noticed a nice puddle of coolant under the truck which has been sitting for a few weeks now. Same thing happened last winter and every time there was a cold snap like -25c or lower it would leak coolant, but it's only -15c so guess it's time to replace whatever seal is worn to crap.
I believe last winter I concluded the leak was coming from the seal on the metal coolant pipe that sits right beside the alternator then flowing down the valley and dripping down the back of the engine. Do I have to replace the whole pipe or can I just buy the seal/gasket or use a high heat gasket maker type stuff?
If there isn't any corrosion in the aluminum bore, I would source an ever so slightly oversized o-ring, lube it up with Sil-Glyde, and pop it back in. If there is corrosion or pitting you could clean it really well, and try gasket maker on the o-ring, or do the Jack mod:
If there isn't any corrosion in the aluminum bore, I would source an ever so slightly oversized o-ring, lube it up with Sil-Glyde, and pop it back in. If there is corrosion or pitting you could clean it really well, and try gasket maker on the o-ring, or do the Jack mod:
Thanks for the info fuzz, you have a link to the Jack mod thread by chance?
You would have to be very careful cutting the threads with the cover installed, as you would only be able to put a wrench on one side of the tap. Probably a higher success rate with the intake manifold removed at least.
You would have to be very careful cutting the threads with the cover installed, as you would only be able to put a wrench on one side of the tap. Probably a higher success rate with the intake manifold removed at least.
Yeah it's -15c outside so I'll just replace the seal first and go from there. Will 100% do this mod next summer though lol
Last winter my truck left a puddle of p.s. fluid on the floor. A week or so later did the same with a good size puddle of antifreeze. Couldn't tell either time where leak was from and never leaked again. My folks 04 mercury did the same thing with antifreeze from radiator sides, hasn't leaked since. The instances were during a single digit cold snap however vehicles are parked in garages and there was more cold weather after. Was very strange that they didn't continue to drip.
Last winter my truck left a puddle of p.s. fluid on the floor. A week or so later did the same with a good size puddle of antifreeze. Couldn't tell either time where leak was from and never leaked again. My folks 04 mercury did the same thing with antifreeze from radiator sides, hasn't leaked since. The instances were during a single digit cold snap however vehicles are parked in garages and there was more cold weather after. Was very strange that they didn't continue to drip.
Yeah it's only in cold weather when it drips coolant and during warmer weather not a drop of anything underneath and I doubt this would ever turn into a serious issue, but I still want to get it fixed just for piece of mind and to not look like I have a typical 6 blow lol. That and I'll be doing weekend trips with my truck camper so don't need any issues popping up when I'm camping 100 or more miles away from civilization
That is a great idea, but I don't think there is any "safe" way to do this without removing the front cover.
Would it be possible to this with a grease coated tap?
I am not sure I'd feel good about doing it that way.
Safe in terms of getting debris or chips into the coolant system? If that's what you mean, you would just have to stuff a rag down in there and vacuum it out before and while removing the rag. The main concern is driving the tap straight into the bore. Easy to do with wrenches on opposing sides of the tap.
So I checked the front cover discharge pipe yesterday and it was bone dry where it plumbs into the cover yet there's coolant just half an inch away right on the valley so in that location the only other thing that could be leaking coolant would be the front cover correct? The leak starts pretty much at front of the valley on the passenger side and runs the length of engine then drips down the back of the engine. Degas bottle level still looks good, but coolant puddle underneath looks to be 300-500mls worth.
Now if it's the front cover that's leaking could I just get in there and try tightening the bolts and go the RTV route if it still leaks after that?
