Where has all the water/AF gone????

PAC730 · #1 09-07-2005, 07:13 PM

Hello All, 6 days ago I stopped to get gas, I smelt a lot of antifreez, I checked the overflow tank, empty, I took off the Rad. Cap, all I saw was a black hole, so I bought some 50/50 pre mixed Prestone filled it up, and added a bottle of BARS stop leak. All was well, today I looked and the overflow tank, it was empty, added another 1 1/2 gal. I looked and looked nothing is wet no green arount the heads or manifold, got under the truck with the heat on high running for about an hour, nothing is wet.??? I figured if I put 3 gals or so of water inside the engine it would have been noticed by now. I don't know where it's going, any ideas would be greatly appreciated, Thanks.

thecackster · #2 09-07-2005, 07:23 PM

Your water pump may be leaking. Mine was leaking from the port hole. Check that, and check for a puddle when your parked for a period of time.

SpitAndDirt · #3 09-08-2005, 01:46 AM

If it's NOT leaking from the weep hole of the water pump, and it's NOT leaking from the upper radiator hose connection on the radiator, or the radiator plastic side tank, it's time to check the engine oil dipstick for "mayonnaise" (oil+water=mayo). If no mayo, then your looking at the intake manifold gasket needing replacement. It tends to make coolant disapear because the engine burns it and expells it out the tail pipe without you really knowing about it.--Chris

markqc · #4 09-08-2005, 01:48 PM

I agree with Chris. I had both problems. Slow leak on the water pump (weep hole) and intake gasket leak. I could smell the antifreeze, but never had and puddles of coolant to show for it. It leaked to the outside of the gasket and evaporated on the back of the engine and luckily didn't seem like it got into the engine. Good luck.

Mark

broughy84 · #5 09-08-2005, 10:06 PM

NO!!! YOU PUT GREEN STUFF IN WITH THE RED!?!?!?!?!?

If it's a 97, I bet it is the manifold gaskets!

PAC730 · #6 09-09-2005, 10:01 AM

Thanks for the info, The truck already was running on reg.(green) AF when I bought it. I was hoping it was not the manifold gasket. How much is that going to cost me???---Paul

SpitAndDirt · #7 09-11-2005, 12:12 PM

Like $40 for parts. Labor is between 5 and 8 hrs depending on your skill level. I would estimate $500 to have someone do it for you. Dealer---about $750. It's not really hard, you just have to mark the distributor EXACTLY. You don't time this motor like in the old days with a timing light. The computer does the calculation for you. If you mess it up, the truck will have to have it's Cam Retard/Offset reset by the dealer or someone with a scan tool that will read that measurement. -Chris

Tall · #8 09-11-2005, 02:24 PM

Check ur heater core first... Turn the heater on and see if that smell gets a lot worse...

MyTOY · #9 09-12-2005, 12:02 PM

I would check the heater hose connection on
the manifold first. Mine would leak very sneaky
at certain times and would totally drain the
system if I wasn't on top of it.

PAC730 · #10 09-14-2005, 07:50 AM

Thanks for the help, I think I found the leak, right under the air filter box I saw some wet green, it looks as though my leak is in the heater hoses, before they go into the firewall. There are 2 hoses that go into a plasctic vacum looking thing, 2 hoses into this vacum thing then out to the firewall. Anyone know the correct name for that plastic thing in line with the hoses, it has a small vacum line coming out of it. I think it's whats leaking, either way It looks like it has seen better days. Thanks--Paul

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