silverado intake manifold water leak

[scottdombeck]

I have a 1998 k1500 5.7 TBI with 147,000 miles on it and after cleaning out the throttle body with TBI cleaner I noticed a water leak coming from the left side (facing motor)of the top on the motor (intake gasket area) along the valve cover gasket area. Water was running out where the head meets the intake manifold and then towards the back of the motor.After shutting off the truck I squeezed the top radiator hose and could hear a sucking and gurgaling noise from the descibed area,like an air leak in the gasket area.
Could this be just an intake gasket or head gasket problem or something else?Could I have caused this by using TBI cleaner in the TBI ?? Too coincidental that the truck never leaked until I cleaned out the TBI. Also we checked and rechecked all water hoses with no leaks.
Any help would be appreciated.
THanks
scott

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by scottdombeck

I have a 1998 k1500 5.7 TBI with 147,000 miles on it and after cleaning out the throttle body with TBI cleaner I noticed a water leak coming from the left side (facing motor)of the top on the motor (intake gasket area) along the valve cover gasket area. Water was running out where the head meets the intake manifold and then towards the back of the motor.After shutting off the truck I squeezed the top radiator hose and could hear a sucking and gurgaling noise from the descibed area,like an air leak in the gasket area.
Could this be just an intake gasket or head gasket problem or something else?Could I have caused this by using TBI cleaner in the TBI ?? Too coincidental that the truck never leaked until I cleaned out the TBI. Also we checked and rechecked all water hoses with no leaks.
Any help would be appreciated.
THanks
scott

this appears to be the intake gasket ..many have had this occur...

the forums have many a post concerning this...also there is a listing on the proceedure to replace this gasket on the 5.7L engine...


these engines require dexcool and it is best to use only distilled water ...use of other non GM approve coolants will cause severe damage to the coolant system and componets..


your cleaning of the intake throttle body did not cause this failure..


a forum member just reported that this repair was completed for 600.oo..

[wafrederick]

Also put the upgraded intake gaskets from Fel Pro in,part #MS 98000T which are made out of metal instead of plastic.Mark the distribitor before pulling it out,it is set with a scan tool and not with a timing light.

[scottdombeck]

Thanks for the info!! I dont have a problem replaceing out the gasket, the only concern I have is with the distributor. I have a actron 9145 code scan tool but I dont think your talking about that type of scanner? Does any one recomend any scan tool for this procedure ?
I'm going to research for the intake gasket replacment steps in the forum.
Thanks again!
scott

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by scottdombeck

Thanks for the info!! I dont have a problem replaceing out the gasket, the only concern I have is with the distributor. I have a actron 9145 code scan tool but I dont think your talking about that type of scanner? Does any one recomend any scan tool for this procedure ?
I'm going to research for the intake gasket replacment steps in the forum.
Thanks again!
scott

I always mark where the rotor is pointing and put it back same spot without turning engine.

Here is a link to basic setting of the dist.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/ga...hp?photo=51302

If you scan tool will not read engiune data or camshaft retard setting find a good repair shop that can read it and set it for you.

Also research the dex cool class action law suit.


They pay on some of them but it has to be turned in middle of this mo.
Good luck

[Airjer_]

Originally Posted by j cAT

these engines require dexcool and it is best to use only distilled water ...use of other non GM approve coolants will cause severe damage to the coolant system and components..

Enough with the spreading of misinformation already! Where do you get this stuff from. Show me absolute proof that this is the case! Show me what you have found from your years in the business actively under the hoods of these vehicles! Theres already enough misinformation out there without you adding more!!!!!!!!!!

The coolant makes no difference! These are prone to leak and surprisingly you have a few more miles than typical. Make sure you inspect the intake manifold to head mating surfaces for extreme pitting! Don't be surprised if one of the two bolts that secure the front of the manifold to break! I can almost guarantee that within a month you will be replacing the water pump as well.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Airjer_

Enough with the spreading of misinformation already! Where do you get this stuff from. Show me absolute proof that this is the case! Show me what you have found from your years in the business actively under the hoods of these vehicles! Theres already enough misinformation out there without you adding more!!!!!!!!!!

The coolant makes no difference! These are prone to leak and surprisingly you have a few more miles than typical. Make sure you inspect the intake manifold to head mating surfaces for extreme pitting! Don't be surprised if one of the two bolts that secure the front of the manifold to break! I can almost guarantee that within a month you will be replacing the water pump as well.

DEXCOOL IN THESE ENGINES REQUIRE DEXCOOL OF THE PROPER 50% MIN.. THIS IS AS STATED BY GM...NOT ME AND MY OPINONS...



ANYONE WHO THINKS THEY KNOW/OR HAS GREATER KNOWLEDGE THAN THE CAR BUILDER IS AT RISK OF DAMAGING THEIR EQUIPTMENT.



SO YOU ALL DO AS YOU WISH BECAUSE YOUR GONNA FEEL THE PAIN WHEN YOUR COOLANT SYSTEM IS TOTALLY TRASHED......

[Airjer_]

They aslo say use genuine GM parts! There are an awful lot of aftermarket parts installed and there still on the road. The after market intake manifold gaskets are way better and last longer than the o.e. ones. If we go with your theory than we should be putting o.e. ones back in so they can continue to fail as often as they do!!!!!

If you stick to what the "manufacturer suggests" you'll be spending more money but I guess if thats what you want to do then go for it. It doesn't matter if you stick with the extended life coolant, use regular coolant or if you service it more often than the manufacturer suggests, you'll still have cooling system failures.

Its the end product of years of poor design, inadequate meterials, using the lowest bidders, and a lack of quality that causes the failures not the coolant!!!!!

Just stop spreading missinformation on something that you obviously know nothing about and have no real world experience with!

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by j cAT

this appears to be the intake gasket ..many have had this occur...

the forums have many a post concerning this...also there is a listing on the proceedure to replace this gasket on the 5.7L engine...


these engines require dexcool and it is best to use only distilled water ...use of other non GM approve coolants will cause severe damage to the coolant system and componets..


your cleaning of the intake throttle body did not cause this failure..


a forum member just reported that this repair was completed for 600.oo..

Easy does it there Airjer_

Lets not turn this post into a pissing match.

Here is the quote from J cAT's post.

Reread it.
He only pointed out the proper use of Dex Cool coolant.
Which should be followed out.
Also that the use of other types of coolant can cause damage.
Which a good Tech/mencanic knows.
And that a forum member had just done the job.
He was trying to help the origional poster.

Which we are here for.

[j cAT]

I can read service manuals...perhaps you should try this then post back what you read...

I am a transit vehicle maintence tech that has very very rarely found discrepencies in the OEM service manuals....Obviously you are self taught backyard mechanic...

time for a course in automotive maintenence...

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by MT-2500

Easy does it there Airjer_


Which we are here for.

thank you mt 2500 for your input...on this issue.
I was trying to correctly point out these facts...hopefully he will take my advice and fully check into my stated facts....

this will help him as well as others that come here for these helpful posts..

[Airjer_]

Originally Posted by j cAT

these engines require dexcool and it is best to use only distilled water ...use of other non GM approve coolants will cause severe damage to the coolant system and componets..

This is the part that is false. Helping a member by misleading them into thinking they absolutely must have dexcool in there system or it will ruin it is pure B as in B. S as in S. Using regular coolant will not cause any "severe" damage to the cooling system or components as long as the dexcool is flushed out! I can back this up with 13 years in the automotive business serviceing all makes and models. Theres no "severe damage" on any of the GM's that we have converted over to regular coolant. We have done the second and third intake gaskets on some higher mile ones and there is still no "severe damage". In fact I would even dare say that the cooling systems are cleaner, mud free, and little to no additional pitting of the parts when theyt are torn down for the second time!!

What proof do you have other than "what the service manual" says?

I think the better way to phrase it is that dexcool is not compatible with regular coolant and the two should never be mixed. When a Dexcool system is flushed and the system is converted to regular coolant there is no ill effect on the cooling system! Saying "you must run dexcool" is completely false!!

[silicon212]

Airjer, Dexcool does not contain harmful silicates and the cooling system parts that are designed to run with it will not tolerate silicates.

If you use regular green antifreeze, you are putting silicates into the system and this can and WILL result in water pump bearing and seal failure.

There are some aftermarket antifreeze blends that can be used in place of Dex Cool, but you need to be sure the mixture is compatible with Dex Cool. The green stuff is not it.

I've been running Dex Cool blends solely since 1998 in my car (which predates Dex Cool by about 8 years) and I've never seen any of this gumming up / plugging up of the cooling system or anything else that's attributed to the Dex Cool. It all comes down to maintenance - if you have a good PM plan, then there's no problem with Dex Cool, however if you believe in deferred maintenance, you basically reap what you sow.

[Airjer_]

If thats the case than than I should be making a lot more money with all the water pumps that I am replacing! Funny how the water pumps in all the other GM vehicles are not failing with regular coolant in them. I should be replacing them left and right if you guys are correct and that is not the case! Sorry gentleman it doesn't hold water with me! I see the end results of not using it every day and it far out ways the benefits of using it.

You guys go ahead and and believe another one of the many GM ideas and products that have continuously swindled the hard earned cash of Americans across the country year after year! Then they have the nerve to go crying to the government because there losing money. Here's an idea build a car thats reliable, low maintenance, and has visual appeal and then maybe people will start having faith in the GM brand again. Seriously how many failures can one company have before you guys realize that this hype (have to use Dexcool) is nothing more than a sham?

obviously we have the last three guys here that have not figured it out!