1997 Jimmy Coolant Leak

[mjtr21]

I have a 1997 GMC Jimmy 4.3 and I noticed a leak last week with the truck. At first I would notice the temperature guage moving to normal temperature then it would climb a little over 210 then back down to normal. I also heard a gurgling noise when I revved the engine to around 1500 rmps. So I had air in the system. I removed quite a few bubbles and i topped off the radiator and the recovery tank. Now I am hearing the gurgling noise again and there is no coolant in the recovery tank but it also went down in the radiator. Then I noticed a couple of days ago there was a small puddle underneath the truck. So I guess I will have to find my leak but are there any common areas I could be looking at. The radiator was replaced this past summer along with thermostat. So I know it's not those. Is there a way I can find the exact spot of the leak without taking the engine apart? Thanks for any suggestions.

[someguy000001]

Originally Posted by mjtr21

I have a 1997 GMC Jimmy 4.3 and I noticed a leak last week with the truck. At first I would notice the temperature guage moving to normal temperature then it would climb a little over 210 then back down to normal. I also heard a gurgling noise when I revved the engine to around 1500 rmps. So I had air in the system. I removed quite a few bubbles and i topped off the radiator and the recovery tank. Now I am hearing the gurgling noise again and there is no coolant in the recovery tank but it also went down in the radiator. Then I noticed a couple of days ago there was a small puddle underneath the truck. So I guess I will have to find my leak but are there any common areas I could be looking at. The radiator was replaced this past summer along with thermostat. So I know it's not those. Is there a way I can find the exact spot of the leak without taking the engine apart? Thanks for any suggestions.

Blast out the heater core by disconnecting the hoses at the firewall and running a garden hose through it. A common place for a leak is the intake manifold gasket. Take a peek. Cha-ching!
I had a small leak somewhere in the back or the block a while back but I couldn't find it. I took it to a shop so they could pressure test it and the mechanic said it 'took me forever to find it. Only when it was pressurized you could see there was a drip from a hose.' Sadly, I have no idea which hose this is. I thought it was a freeze plug when I brought it in.

[muddog321]

Yep, pressure test it (free loaner at stores) and look at where the lower intake meets the block and also the water pump seal holes (2 of them). Then make suer the lower radiator drain plug is in all the way, the 2 radiator hoses, the bypass WP hose, and the 2 heater hoses. With that noise the heater core may also be the reason but with the heat on you will smell Dex cool like old burned maple syrup - no mistaking that nasty stuff.

[mjtr21]

well my father went and got some kind of sealant and it has been leak free for a couple of days now. but now i gotta take the air out again because its still gurgling. no i dont have any burnt smells and where is the intake gasket? is it down low or can i see it right there when you lok in the hood? is there a common leak spot with the intake gasket? thanks for the suggestions.

[DelCoch]

Here's some posts you can check out on coolant leaks.