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I'd start with the thermostat housing, and that giant glob of RTV, before jumping to the head gasket. Next, I'd look at all of the coolant hoses running around up there. After that I'd look into the intake gasket. Finally I'd completely ignore the head gaskets. They don't leak onto the engine block in that area.
The previous posts nailed it, but a quick explanation. You have a water leak and the fan is blowing the water onto your engine, which is why the symptom (coolant) is not by the source (leak) and on your distributor (which was, in fact, your initial question). Best case thermostat [gasket] or hose. Worst case, water pump or radiator.
The previous posts nailed it, but a quick explanation. You have a water leak and the fan is blowing the water onto your engine, which is why the symptom (coolant) is not by the source (leak) and on your distributor (which was, in fact, your initial question). Best case thermostat [gasket] or hose. Worst case, water pump or radiator.
Haven't driven it in a week. Noticed it 2 days ago. Cleaned up. Coolant showed back up in same spots yesterday with no driving.
That said, I'm pretty sure I'm missing something that you guys caught. I'll be doing a pressure test today or tomorrow and go from there.
I've had a leak at that little water hose behind the water pump. It is not heater hose. It is a part with a part number.
The cover behind the water pump can leak. Timing cover? Look for a ring of bolts behind the water pump bolts or accessory mount bolts. My memory is really fuzzy here. Get a bright flashlight and look real good.
Mopped up the little bit of coolant that had showed back up, and it didn't come back within 6 hours. I finished up installing my evaporator and condenser today. After i vacuumed, i obviously had to fill with freon qhich required running idle for 15 minutes or so. No leak. Went about 5 miles to pick up my girl. Still dry.
Here's the one thing i left out: A week ago i opened the radiator cap when it was cold, but pressure was built up and a bit of coolant squirted out. I didn't think it could get that far, but it surprised me how much pressure there had been. So a little bit of that + what ONE_BOLT_SHORT said about the fan moving stuff around.
Still doesn't explain what looks like a leak spot around the thermostat housing. I'll be throwing a Robertshaw thermostat in there anyway.
PO put what i'm pretty sure is concentrated coolant in the system. There's a slime on sides of radiator neck. I hope i'm not looking at a complete cooling system failure. Next for me is tackling that, including a block drain. A/C and then cooling system. Pretty much par for any used 4x4 here in AZ.
Mopped up the little bit of coolant that had showed back up, and it didn't come back within 6 hours. I finished up installing my evaporator and condenser today. After i vacuumed, i obviously had to fill with freon qhich required running idle for 15 minutes or so. No leak. Went about 5 miles to pick up my girl. Still dry.
Here's the one thing i left out: A week ago i opened the radiator cap when it was cold, but pressure was built up and a bit of coolant squirted out. I didn't think it could get that far, but it surprised me how much pressure there had been. So a little bit of that + what ONE_BOLT_SHORT said about the fan moving stuff around.
Still doesn't explain what looks like a leak spot around the thermostat housing. I'll be throwing a Robertshaw thermostat in there anyway.
PO put what i'm pretty sure is concentrated coolant in the system. There's a slime on sides of radiator neck. I hope i'm not looking at a complete cooling system failure. Next for me is tackling that, including a block drain. A/C and then cooling system. Pretty much par for any used 4x4 here in AZ.
I'll update with anything further.
@Laggy did you ever get to the bottom of this? I seem to have the exact same issue with my 93 7.5L and I’m puzzled. Cheers
@Laggy did you ever get to the bottom of this? I seem to have the exact same issue with my 93 7.5L and I’m puzzled. Cheers
It was a pinhole leak in radiator. Very top, topmost fins, near radiator neck side. The hole was in a specific orientation to squirt back towards the front-middle of the engine, this pooling up where it did.
It was a pinhole leak in radiator. Very top, topmost fins, near radiator neck side. The hole was in a specific orientation to squirt back towards the front-middle of the engine, this pooling up where it did.
Truck is sold now btw.
Wow, interesting - thanks for the quick reply. I was just about convinced that mine was the intake manifold gasket in that spot, but now I'm thinking I better inspect further. Thanks again
05-23-2017, 05:24 AM
