Coolant drip, drip

biv343 · #1 01-07-2006, 09:58 AM

When I was crawling under the vehicle last weekend replacing the converter, I noticed a small coolant drip coming off the back of the motor (running down by the starter). It isn't much, maybe a quarter sized puddle overnight. Since it's kind of hard to see back there, I was wondering if anybody had any opinions as to what this could be. It doesn't appear to be coming from the heater core or hoses that connect to the core. I'm thinking it could be the intake gasket judging by the location. I figured one of the masters out in Blazer land has probably seen this before.

Any ideas, or has anyone run into this? It's a 99, going to turn over 100,000 miles in the next week.

792frank · #2 01-07-2006, 10:06 AM

It can be your intake or head. Pressure test it and you may find your leak.

Rick Norwood · #3 01-07-2006, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biv343

When I was crawling under the vehicle last weekend replacing the converter, I noticed a small coolant drip coming off the back of the motor (running down by the starter). It isn't much, maybe a quarter sized puddle overnight. Since it's kind of hard to see back there, I was wondering if anybody had any opinions as to what this could be. It doesn't appear to be coming from the heater core or hoses that connect to the core. I'm thinking it could be the intake gasket judging by the location. I figured one of the masters out in Blazer land has probably seen this before.

Any ideas, or has anyone run into this? It's a 99, going to turn over 100,000 miles in the next week.

This is an except from the thread titled Basic Cooling System Advice found in the HOW TO section at the top of this Forum.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=456944

Leaks in General. Go to AutoZone or your local auto parts store and rent/borrow the Radiator Pressure tester. It is basically a small hand held tire pump with a radiator cap on it. With your engine turned OFF and COOL, attach the pressure tester to the radiator and pump it up until you reach the pressure rating of the cap. Then have a flash light handy to start looking for leaks under and around the engine.

wolfox · #4 01-09-2006, 11:28 AM

Pray that it is only your heater core lines. Tightening them up/replacing them will stop the leak. I had the recent experience of loosing a lower intake gasket a few months back. It started off with a few drips, then graduated to full-on dribbling out when the engine was hot and running. Turned out my heater hoses & the intake were both coming apart. My point being, just get a look at those hoses where they go into the firewall after you rent/buy your pressure tool. Hopefully it will be seeping/dripping from the firewall, and not from the back of your engine itself.

biv343 · #5 01-09-2006, 01:45 PM

I'll give that a shot - thanks for the advice. I took a quick look at the heater core lines, and they looked OK, but it was pretty darn cold in the garage that day and I didn't feel like spending much more time out there. It doesn't leak anymore when the engine is hot than when it is cold, so that could very well be it. I'll let you know what I come up with.

samjaynes · #6 01-09-2006, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biv343

I'll give that a shot - thanks for the advice. I took a quick look at the heater core lines, and they looked OK, but it was pretty darn cold in the garage that day and I didn't feel like spending much more time out there. It doesn't leak anymore when the engine is hot than when it is cold, so that could very well be it. I'll let you know what I come up with.

Same thing happened to be... it was the lower intake gasket. From what I have read, the DexCool coolant eats away at these gaskets over time. Lower is common in the Vortec V6's and Upper in V8's

biv343 · #7 01-09-2006, 08:33 PM

Well, it isn't the heater hoses. Those look fine. It looks like it's coming from the right rear intake gasket (at least that's where it looks wet - hard to tell with some of the motor gunk back there).

It's off to find a pressure tester and confirm. Don't know that I want to tackle a lower intake gasket if that's what it ends up being. Might have to break down and pay someone...

Skeeter6755 · #8 01-10-2006, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biv343

Well, it isn't the heater hoses. Those look fine. It looks like it's coming from the right rear intake gasket (at least that's where it looks wet - hard to tell with some of the motor gunk back there).

It's off to find a pressure tester and confirm. Don't know that I want to tackle a lower intake gasket if that's what it ends up being. Might have to break down and pay someone...

What year is your vehicle? And if it is your lower intake gasket, does anyone know how much work that is to do yourself?

thanks

biv343 · #9 01-10-2006, 10:57 AM

Mine's a 99 - 99,905 miles.

I got a socket on the back two intake manifold bolts and gave them about 1/8 of a turn - they seemed pretty loose. We'll see if that makes a difference. If nothing else, hopefully it'll hold me over until I get it fixed.

biv343 · #10 01-10-2006, 01:15 PM

Pressure test confirmed lower intake manifold gasket failure. It's going under the knife Monday morning. This is the first time I've paid for a repair on a vehicle since 1996. Too cold outside, and not enough guts inside for me to tackle this.

samjaynes · #11 01-11-2006, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeeter6755

What year is your vehicle? And if it is your lower intake gasket, does anyone know how much work that is to do yourself?

thanks

1996 LS... and I echo the comment of the previous, too cold, and I ended up paying for it

Every place was around 520 in my area (oil change and Coolant flush included)

biv343 · #12 01-12-2006, 08:49 AM

I called around, and the cheapest place to get this done (to my surprise) was the local Chevy dealer. $350 for the gasket/labor, plus oil change and coolant flush. Should be right around $425 when all is said and done. More than I want to spend, but still cheaper than an engine.

Jeremy Fitch · #13 01-12-2006, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biv343

I called around, and the cheapest place to get this done (to my surprise) was the local Chevy dealer. $350 for the gasket/labor, plus oil change and coolant flush. Should be right around $425 when all is said and done. More than I want to spend, but still cheaper than an engine.

Thats pretty good price, plus that should be with a 12 month 12,000 mile warrenty.

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