Got a gusher...

95 LX hatchback, 1.9L

I've been leaking rad fluid for the last little while. I usually add 2L of water to the reservior before heading to work in the morning, and by the time I arrive back home in the night, the coolent light is back on. This went on for a week or so until today.

I added the same 2L and headed to town. I made it about 10 mins in, and the light comes on again, not good. I refill it and head home, and the light comes on again. I'm gushing water/coolent from somewhere underneath the engine that I can't see. It isn't the heater core, rad or thermistat for sure, but somewhere directly underneath. Is there any coolent hoses under there? I'll go out and put it up on ramps so I can have a look in a bit, but it would be good to have an idea before I go out there.

Could this be a bad head-gasket?

I would check the upper and lower radiator hoses first, they could be going bad where they connect to (lower) rad and water pump, (upper) thermo and radiator. Next would be the water pump, the bearing wearing out on it would yield a leak from the bottom of it, as well as the gasket, with the engine running, you would not need to be up to normal pressure to see it leaking from that area. If not any of those areas, I would be open to the possibility of a blown head gasket or a cracked block. With the engine and coolant *COLD*, (1995 should still have a cap on the radiator) I would take the cap off the radiator make sure you are full at the cold level and then turn the car on (It will not build up pressure to be dangerous, just hot and steamy). With the car running look into the radiator to see if there are air bubbles if there are, this would indicate there are gasses escaping into coolant system via head gasket or cracked block. With an inline 4 cyl. you would be able to external leakage coming from the bottom of the head fairly easily from top of vehicle. external leakage from elsewhere not being from head, thermo or water pump and hoses connected throughout could be considered to be cracked block, which cannot be repaired only replaced. My hunch would be water pump.

Well, I think I have big issues. Any way to tell if this is a cracked block or a blown gasket? Good chance it is one of the two.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v464/Bobbywolf/Misc/P1010576.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v464/Bobbywolf/Misc/P1010577.jpg
Here is a movie of it: Awwww Crap (http://media.putfile.com/Awwww-hosting)

Looks like water is pouring from the block just under the starter. Head gasket I MAY be able to deal with, and get it fixed. But cracked block, this car is finally on its way to the junkyard. Any hope for me?

Make sure it is not a freeze plug.

Hmm, that is the 3rd person to mention that to me. Is there a diagram somewhere that I can check the location of the plugs?

There are 2 freeze plugs just below the exhaust manifold. Not sure about the other side.

Well, the leak is definatly from the intake manifold side. I've convinced myself that it is the head gasket, therefore the head comes off this weekend. I've done lots of reading, and it really doesn't look like it is going to be too difficult as long as I take my time, and torque everything down 'by-the-book'. I'm open to any tips that will make this go easier, and prevent snags. I'll be doing it word for word out of my Haynes manual, which is surprisingly detailed for this particular procedure. It was crappy in doing other projects, but this looks real good.

Wish me luck! (I'll be sure to snap some pics as well)

Pressurize the cooling system and find out exactly where the leak is coming from. You maybe able to rent a pressure tester from Autozone. It kind of looks like a bicycle pump. Headgaskets usually blow around the combustion chambers and if it is not the headgasket, then you will have done all that work for nothing.
Location of freeze plugs; Go to the dealer when they are not too busy and buy an oil filter, ask the parts person if there are any freeze plugs in the questionable area. The parts person maybe willing to print you out the diagram.
Also on some cars there is a water jacket in the intake manifold, check to see if your motor has one.
Auto parts stores also carry dyes that can be added to the cooling system help track down leaks.

Well... I spent a good chunk of yesterday, and ALL of today replacing the head gasket. Not all that tough, but super time consuming. I did everything slowly and by the book. I turned it over, vrooom! Started right up. Man that sure did wonders for my confidence since I was convinced this car would never run again.

I hop out and take a peek underneath and.... Still leaking just as bad. Well, I eliminated the head gasket from the equation. Still leaking below the intake manifold near the starter, but I can't pinpoint it because of all the crap in the way.

When I had the head off I looked behind the block and seen that there was indeed 1 frost plug, and 2 more in front. All were dry and looked good. I went over the head and the block looking for any kind of crack or anything out of the ordinary but didn't find anything. Also, the gasket that I removed didn't have any water tracks that would indicate a leak.

Thanks for the input KimMG. When I get this up on a lift, I may finally be able to see what is happening.

Well, KimMG called it originally. Frost plug.

The plug where the block heater goes through is rusted out, and looks like I'm losing all my fluid from there. I never use the block heater, so I'll just replace it with a plug. Aparrently the stock frost plugs are easy to install. Just bang em in with a block of wood and a hammer. Here is what was causing all my grief!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v464/Bobbywolf/Misc/Leakyblockheater1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v464/Bobbywolf/Misc/Leakyblockheater2.jpg

Starting from left to right in your posted picture. Did you clean the #4 piston top? If not, that cylinder maybe running a little lean.

All the carbon on the right one just wiped off when I was wiping down the block. The far left one was more or less stuck to the piston, so I didn't bother messing with it.

Well, I have another problem now. A whirring/whining noise coming from the timing/acessory belt side of the engine. What are the chances that I pooched my waterpump at the same time?

On the up side, my coolent leak is cured.