it IS still leaking

[surferfletch]

Seems I still have fresh coolant spilling onto the top of the block. I'm suspecting the o-rings at the ends of the coolant pipes again. I used the simple, flimsy looking o-rings mailed to me by St. Charles, but no RTV. Can you recommend a heavier o-ring? I will try RTV this time. Thanks! It should go quicker the second time around...

[rodeo02]

Oh man... after all that!! I hate O-ring sealed metal/solid coolant lines. Went thru a similar situation with a ford car years ago. If either ends of those pipes is out of round, they wont seal. You might find thicker O-rings in the hardware department (home cheapo, slowes, etc..) but it *may* cause fitment issues. A good RTV slathering might be just what the doctor ordered.

G/luck
Joel

[surferfletch]

Thanks. The o-ring I took out from the end of the large pipe originally looked like it may not have been a simple ring shape, but it may have just been deformed from being in there so long. I'm thinking the RTV will be the way to go, as suggested by 2eye and you...

[surferfletch]

I got it all apart in about an hour. Pretty quick the second time around. Although the large pipe came out way easier than the first time, it looks like that o-ring wasn't leaking at all. Figures I'd have to tear the smaller bottom one out, too. It looks like that o-ring was already leaking after a couple of weeks, so I put 2 of them in and RTV'd it. I sealed the larger one, too. I'm letting it sit overnight before slapping it back together. I drained the coolant from the block only this time.

The wife still wants me to trade it. I'm losing leverage!

[rodeo02]

Fletch- I'm wondering if you could try to *pressure test* the system before you throw the common chamber back on?!?! Maybe blow some compressed air in thru the radiator fill. Use a rubber tipped blow gun & your hand to cup over the fill neck? That's a lot of work to yank all that off!

G/luck
Joel

[surferfletch]

Good suggestion, but I just started her up again. It overheated. Coolant leaked again. I'm checking the thermostat. There must have been no flow. The top hose was hot and the bottom hose was cold.

[surferfletch]

Thermostat is fine. I'm lost now...

[surferfletch]

I shouldn't say overheated, because I have no idea what temp the coolant got to. I put the thermostat back in, filled it with coolant again, and took it for a ride. Top hose and heat inside the cabin get HOT, and the bottom hose warmed a little. Coolant began dripping again from the back of the engine. Don't know if I should take it to a shop, sell it as is, or take it to the junkyard. I'm very disappointed because it had been good to me for nearly 150K. Any advice on what to check??? Thanks!

[surferfletch]

I took it for a couple of more trips around the neighborhood. Seems to be cooling as it should. No leaking. I can't believe it was just a matter of air being burped out. I don't trust those pipes.

[surferfletch]

It's at the shop. I'll know tomorrow. I'm wondering if I've been running it hot for awhile before I changed the radiator since I don't have a temp guage and maybe I have something major ($$) on my hands.

[rodeo02]

Hard to say what's causing the leak, but the bottom radiator hose should always feel cool to warm. If the bottom hose is HOT, your radiator is shot, or the T-stat is not throttling coolant flow enough to give it time to cool in the radiator. You definately gave it your best shot!
G/luck
Joel

[surferfletch]

The shop put the system under pressure and determined the leak to be from a couple of freeze plugs between the engine and the tranny housing. Makes sense since this is where I initially saw the coolant running down from. Good news: my repairs up top are leak free and the current leaks should be repaired by tomorrow. Bad news: after a 9 hour repair I'll be a little lighter in the pocket.

Moral: consider the drain plugs at the rear of the engine if you have a coolant leak. Hope it helps someone, and I hope I have a good engine for awhile now that I have a bunch of new parts!