Coolant leak

Radiator, thermostat, water pump, antifreeze, etc.

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Cobra
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Coolant leak

Post by Cobra »

I've been slowly losing coolant for over a week now and have no idea where it's going. i don't see a puddle in my driveway, i don't smell anything sweet in my engine bay and my exhaust doesn't seem to have the burning coolant plume. I took the dog house off just now to track down my vent problem and there is a little puddle(not sure of what engine still too hot to touch) on the rear of the engine behind the distributer also there is a bolt that looks like it has a gasket under it which is clearly wet

photo of said bolt
Image
photo of puddle (off topic is that line in middle of picture the vacume one that dries out and cracks it has a green cap on it)
Image
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler

1997 gone
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1Gary
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Re: Coolant leak

Post by 1Gary »

I added coolant dye to the system,cleaned up the specked area and with a blue LED light,I could clearly see where the leak was.You can pick up a kit from your local parts store.From what you are describing,sure sounds like a intake manifold leak.
1979 Malibu drag race only car
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......


Rochester,NY
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dunedog
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Re: Coolant leak

Post by dunedog »

Get to it Pierre!
I'd get a new intake set on as quickly as you can.
How many miles on the engine?
1999 LS AWD 3" Lift,4.10's,Snowplow,9500lb Ramsey winch

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Re: Coolant leak

Post by Cobra »

gary: i was thinking about it today but i figured it was probably the usual problem so didn't buy one. i'm still hopping your wrong lol

Dunedog: i don't wanna (curls up in the corner) i'm going to have to go check out zams post on the job

edit: i forgot to mention the whole passenger side of the engine looks like the area under the bolt in the first picture also my coolant was mostly water all summer
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler

1997 gone
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CaptSquid
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Re: Coolant leak

Post by CaptSquid »

Had the same problem with mine. Took 4 litres of coolant to travel 10 miles! Turned out, there was a thumbnail sized divot missing from the intake manifold! Sent my wallet into cardiac arrest after all was said and done -- $1400! :cry: :cry: :cry:
Mike, Billings, MT, 'MERICA!
92 Safari SLE w/Z Motor (sold to a good home)
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Look for the MISSING Alien in the Right Seat. AL, PHONE HOME!!!

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Re: Coolant leak

Post by Cobra »

i would have a heart attack

I went for a test drive after some work on the van and it looks like the coolant is coming over the valve cover and at WOT it actually spays, some managed to get into the drivers compartment with teh dog house partially open
Last edited by Cobra on Mon Oct 04, 2010 8:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler

1997 gone
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1Gary
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Re: Coolant leak

Post by 1Gary »

I didn't ask and should have.Do you have rear heat in your van........??.Could it be the coolant line going to the rear heater??.
1979 Malibu drag race only car
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......


Rochester,NY

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Re: Coolant leak

Post by Cobra »

nope no rear heat I'm pretty sold on the intake gasket after the test drive going to poke around today after work to pinpoint the leak before i dive in
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler

1997 gone

Topic author
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Re: Coolant leak

Post by Cobra »

so i have my manifold off and it has been off before apparently the EGR tube was hacked up. Anyways i think the first picture is my primary problem the rest looked pretty clean, also make sense that it would only spray at WOT. oh and i managed to snap one of the water outlet bolts i know someone else had a broken one how did you remove it just drill it and put a screw remove in it?
nice little crack i have, now what...... is it repairable?
Image

and out of curiosity this isn't normally is it i think it was cut
Image
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler

1997 gone
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dunedog
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Re: Coolant leak

Post by dunedog »

yes, the crack can be repaired .
You need to go to a good engine shop.
They can weld and "Oven Bake" it...... O:)
or you should find a used one ......
1999 LS AWD 3" Lift,4.10's,Snowplow,9500lb Ramsey winch

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Re: Coolant leak

Post by Cobra »

hmmm i wonder if i should just go get a new one from work today
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler

1997 gone

astrozam
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Re: Coolant leak

Post by astrozam »

Pierre, I broke off one of the t-stat bolts and used several products to try to remove the broken bolt. The product you want to use if you have any decent length of bolt sticking out is the Craftsman Power bolt out mine came in a little red case, this particular devices goes OVER the bolt and digs in as its turned, don't waste your time drilling into a hardened bolt and using the type that are supposed to bite by screwing into the bolt.

Pics compliments of me from our tech gallery :D

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Re: Coolant leak

Post by Cobra »

the bolt is close to flush with manifold maybe 1mm of thread visible not enough to even put a vice grip on it lol
Last edited by Cobra on Sun Oct 10, 2010 8:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler

1997 gone

astrozam
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Re: Coolant leak

Post by astrozam »

Cobra wrote:the bolt is close to flush with manifold maybe 1mm of thread visible not enough to even up a vice grip on it lol
That sucks big time! good luck with the drill and screw method brother, let us know how it turns out ( or doesn't )
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Re: Coolant leak

Post by LaGrasta »

I advise a repair & recondition. It's not needed to replace it. All should be good to go when said and done.

TIP: My dad is a recent retired GM employee. He says all new cars get a few Barr's tablets in each coolant system as an extra measure. Whenever he or I open a system, we always add a few tablets when through, just as te factory does. Cheap and easy insurance.
1998 Astro, 246,000 miles

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