any ideas - suggestions?
drdd
02-03-2008, 01:44 PM
well I changed my lower intake gasket about a month ago - I had a huge external leak spraying from the passenger back left side of the engine, up into the engine compartment and onto the inside of the hood and plenum.
I got the new intake on and things are much better.
however, I still got what I think is a coolant leak.
From the top, everything looks fine (although it's pretty tough to see much). From underneath, I cleaned the engine to get a good look. I can see it drip from where the head and block meet, all the way down the bellhousing and onto the ground. However, I'm not sure that that is the source of the leak. It's about one drip every ten minutes and only when the engine is stone cold in the morning.
After several checks, there does not appear to be coolant in the oil.
Any ideas ?
1) try to retorque intake while it's on the engine?
2) compression test to see if it's the head gasket?
3) tear it all down and use RTV around the back left coolant port on the intake?
4) tear it all down and do the head gasket while I'm in there ... ? okay, that might be overkill ...
I got the new intake on and things are much better.
however, I still got what I think is a coolant leak.
From the top, everything looks fine (although it's pretty tough to see much). From underneath, I cleaned the engine to get a good look. I can see it drip from where the head and block meet, all the way down the bellhousing and onto the ground. However, I'm not sure that that is the source of the leak. It's about one drip every ten minutes and only when the engine is stone cold in the morning.
After several checks, there does not appear to be coolant in the oil.
Any ideas ?
1) try to retorque intake while it's on the engine?
2) compression test to see if it's the head gasket?
3) tear it all down and use RTV around the back left coolant port on the intake?
4) tear it all down and do the head gasket while I'm in there ... ? okay, that might be overkill ...
old_master
02-03-2008, 02:51 PM
Pressure testing the cooling system will help you locate an external leak, or, if there are no external leaks, a drop in pressure would indicate an internal leak, either an intake gasket or a head gasket. Pressureizing the cylinders with compressed air, one at a time, will show bubbles in the radiator if a head gasket is leaking coolant into a combustion chamber. (It will also show an external head gasket leak if there is one.) If there are no bubbles, the head gasket could be leaking coolant into the oil or externally. RTV should be used across the front and rear of the intake and up about 1/4" onto the heads. The source of the leak needs to be determined before you can repair anything.
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