Another coolant leak!
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From: SC lowcountry
Another coolant leak!
95 4X2 302 - Am getting leakage that I haven't been able to trace to the leakage point. Drive is sloped up - normally park nose in; coolant is showing up at rear of engine/trans joint - - tried backing in and leakage is showing at front cover joint both sides on bottom - must be running along pan gasket when nosed in (up). Have looked carefully with light and mirror and can't locate hose leaks - thermostat, bypass, throttle body hoses, nothing at water pump. This doesn't mean I haven't missed something or I just haven't gotten to the engine at the right point in time. Noticed this recently after a bad cold snap (<20 deg is bad for SE) plenty of coolant in mix; now it is showing up frequently. Also noticed gasket for t'stat is deteriorating outside of the intake /housing joint - will probably start with that but I don't want to do a bunch of drain/refill cycles to find cause.
Any thoughts, known vulnerabilities, and ideas would be appreciated.
Any thoughts, known vulnerabilities, and ideas would be appreciated.
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From: 11worth Kansas
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I had a small leak that I couldn't find for the longest time. The coolant in the overflow bottle would always disappear but I couldn't find a leak anywhere. On top of that my overflow bottle was so coated in rust that it was hard to see the coolant level. So I decided to clean everything up. I didn't get any Prestone flushing chemicals. All I did was empty the old coolant and fill it with water and run it. I did this about 3-4 times until the water came out clean. Then I took off the overflow bottle and scrubbed it out so it looked normal and semi-clear again. I filled up the engine with coolant and the next morning there's a huge puddle under my truck and there was a real obvious leak coming from the water pump weep hole. I replaced the water pump and the coolant level has remained the same since. I think that the water pump was shot but there was enough of a rust build up to keep it from flowing out real fast and there was probably enough air flow from the fan over the engine to dry out what was leaking so I couldn't see it.
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From: SC lowcountry
Thanks -- This is external leakage actually visible on block at front cover - I guess I'm trying to keep from starting a major repair without being sure exactly where it's coming from. It is visible after sitting overnight - don't see anything after running. It's still possible that leakage is as it cools off from run and then quits. I have only gotten a small spot on drive and wet area on block/seams only slight drop on overflow.
Mostly concerned about intake/headgasket/etc problems. Thanks again.
Mostly concerned about intake/headgasket/etc problems. Thanks again.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Alaska
If you can get your hands on a presure tester, I would recomend trying it out. Coolant leaks are hard to locate because coolant flows all over and can be spread by the fan. With a pressure tester it makes it easier to locate the leak. Just my 2 cents.
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