Water leak
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 73
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From: Loxahatchee
Water leak
Hey All,
Got a 1988 351w, Got a leak coming from what looks like behind the starter. Can't really tell. Comes from behind the starter and drips down off the transmission bell housing.
I need to know if there is a freeze plug in that area that I can not see until I remove the starter? or could it be coming from somewhere up above that i am not considering?
Only leaks when the truck is running and its a consistent drip, kinda like what you would see from a car with the AC on.
Any help would be appriciated.
Thanks
Bill
Got a 1988 351w, Got a leak coming from what looks like behind the starter. Can't really tell. Comes from behind the starter and drips down off the transmission bell housing.
I need to know if there is a freeze plug in that area that I can not see until I remove the starter? or could it be coming from somewhere up above that i am not considering?
Only leaks when the truck is running and its a consistent drip, kinda like what you would see from a car with the AC on.
Any help would be appriciated.
Thanks
Bill
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,735
Likes: 38
From: Sunny Florida
Could be your heater core leaking from the cover and dripping down or you could have a bad head gasket in that corner.
It also sounds like it won't leak until the system developes pressure, head gasket?
I would blow everything off with air and clean things up a bit and then start the truck and try to trace it down.
It also sounds like it won't leak until the system developes pressure, head gasket?
I would blow everything off with air and clean things up a bit and then start the truck and try to trace it down.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Loxahatchee
Thanks guys for the quick response. The heater core is bypassed so its not coming from there. I guess i'll take RTM's advice and try to clean it up. One question though.
How long does the system take to develop pressure? As soon as the engine fires the drip appears within 10 seconds. Do you think it could still be a head gasket. I hope not, thats beyond my shade tree experience
Thanks
Bill
How long does the system take to develop pressure? As soon as the engine fires the drip appears within 10 seconds. Do you think it could still be a head gasket. I hope not, thats beyond my shade tree experience
Thanks
Bill
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 368
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From: NH
i'm leaning to head gasket like 94f150 said but for fun start it up and when it starts dripping put your hand on the back of the head right where the intake meets the head. i have seen a couple of blown out intake gaskets.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,483
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From: Northern California
good point Rob, it very well could be a intake gasket, I zoned on that one.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: NH
the last two i had come in blew out the intake gaskets right on that same corner. when we put a straight edge on the intake 
i had to pull out the tape not the feeler guages. any one know why? i have heard from a few other guys about the same problem.
i had to pull out the tape not the feeler guages. any one know why? i have heard from a few other guys about the same problem.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Midwest
Don't know why but I have experienced several oil/water leaks from the back of the stock intake. And they are a real pain to get to reseal once they start leaking. On the other hand Edelbrock performer intakes seam to seal real nice. Wink wink, nudge nudge.
T. Roberts
UFD Local 1147
T. Roberts
UFD Local 1147
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Northern California
What you had yelowjeep is electrolysis, this is not the antifreeze eating the maniford but a electrical reaction generally associated with dissimilar metals in contact with each other. One thing to be certain of is good grounding between your frame, engine and batterty to help eleminate this problem. If you still have problems, look further to dissimilair metals in contact with each other, sometimes someone has plumbed a copper or galvinized iron fitting of some sort to your aluminum manifold. If you still end up with problems, there is a company that manufacurers a radiator cap with a replaceable sacrificial zinc anode attached that would get eaten first in the electrolisis process, thus you replace the anode rather than an expensive manifold or timing cover.
Last edited by 94F150-408; Jul 18, 2004 at 09:02 PM.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 203
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From: Killeen Texas
I am very familiar with electorlysis. Over time coolint can become acidic or alakaline, either of which is corrosive to nonferrous metals and creates a slight electrical charge. You can check this by using a voltmeter and testing your coolant. A reading of 0.2V is acceptable 0.5V is borderline and 0.7V or higher, your coolant should be flushed. But the solution i suggest is that we stick to topic, which in this case is a coolant leak and has nothing to do with electrolysis.
EDITED FOR CONTENT We do not need to start name calling or threatening! Wiz427
EDITED FOR CONTENT We do not need to start name calling or threatening! Wiz427
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,483
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From: Northern California
Listen Jellowjeep, I was trying to help out here with your problem, my manifods dont leak or get eaten, as I have taken the proper steps to prevent that from happening. Thats too bad about your manifold, its really the pits that a six dollar bottle of antifreeze could have prevented that, this is why preventative maintaince and taking the proper steps to insure that electrolysis doesnt cost you an entire manifold or timing cover are always done to your rig!
We dont call names on here yellowjeep, this is a family site and I have no idea whatsoever why you would take offense to nothing more than a suggestion to keep that from happening!
Also, threatening someone can lead to a knock at your door my friend, its not legal !!
We dont call names on here yellowjeep, this is a family site and I have no idea whatsoever why you would take offense to nothing more than a suggestion to keep that from happening!
Also, threatening someone can lead to a knock at your door my friend, its not legal !!
Last edited by 94F150-408; Jul 18, 2004 at 09:43 PM.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 203
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From: Killeen Texas
First of all 94f150-408 I was not threatening you. Secondly my offense comes from people like yourself who feel that they know everything and are presumptuous in their comments thinking that others know nothing. You are helping to prove my point by presuming that the leak was caused by my own neglect. You don't know me or my truck or when i purchased it or anything. That, "friend", is why i suggest that you stick to topic and don't try to solve a problem that wasn't asked or ever present for that matter.