Antifreeze leak from left front... intake gasket?

[budwich]

I climbed under my 96 to change the oil for the spring and noticed a dripping of antifreeze from the left front (4.0 ohv) under the AC compressor and near or in front of the first plug on that side. I can't really make out where it is coming from but I assume its the intake gasket since I don't see any piping and its too far from the thermostat or the water pump..... uggggg... :-(

From the oil change, it appears that the problem hasn't found its way into the engine oil unlike the problem in the fall which saw antifreeze make its wonderful way into the transmission... that was fun... :-(

A couple questions: how many hours effort is this type of "change / replacement" for a well equipped DIY'er with most skills and air tools?
Do I have to take off the air compressor to do the replacement?

Thanks for any guidance... I will have to go thru the numerous posts on gaskets to see if anything "jumps" out on the do / don't do side of things.

 

[budwich]

I wasn't certain as to where the leak is coming from so I got some dye and a light to help things a bit. It appears that the leak is somewhere on the right side of the water pump housing (looking at the block) and not as far over as originally suggested by the forward plug on the drivers side. In my past GM experience, the water pump was "open housed" and had a weeping hole. Ford doesn't seem to have this "capability" and is "enclosed". My question is... is there a weeping hole in the water pump house along one side somewhere???? I don't see it specifically but am not sure what I am looking for. The pump doesn't appear to be making any noise (bearing noise).

 

[Tbars4]

most fords, the weep hole is at the direct bottom of the pump...just a shot in the dark here, is there a chance you might have a leaking pump gasket on one side that is getting blown back by the fan, or a leaking heater hose blown the same way??? i'm sure you already looked at your freeze plugs?

 

[Tbars4]

wait a minute, i re-read your two posts...you have anti-freeze in your oil and you had anti-freeze previously in your tranny??? now your water pump bearing is not making noise and you are looking for a weep hole for the water pump? if you got anti freeze in your oil, this sounds more major than looking at your water pump or exterior leak...i would be looking for a mechanic or a moderator of under the hood on here...

 

[budwich]

sorry for the "bad typing" ... my bad... I have no oil in the freeze and visa versa (I changed that post now along with "DOESN'T make noise".... sorry. Yes I had a BAD problem with antifreeze in my transmission in the fall. I replaced the rad and "flushed" the trans. I have been monitoring levels and fluids since. Things were good although recently I started noticing the overflow tanks levels dropping and had to add some freeze this past week. Then with the oil change, I noticed the dripping of the front driver's side of the engine area (on my head while I was under the truck). This started the investigation.

Again I am sorry for the typos. I guess the pump gasket is a likely candidate. Question: can I silcon the gasket with out taking the pump off.... by that I mean can I "break the seal" (removing the bolts around the housing) enough to squeeze a "run" of silicon around the opening and then retighten?

 

[Tbars4]

i wouldn't...you will have debris from an old gasket or sealant...you may pull it all the way off and see exactly what the problem is...a job half done is still half done..are you sure you don't have any leaks around the hose clamps? any of the little hoses?

 

[budwich]

I checked every where and have been watching connections since I replaced the rad (from aforemention problem).... all connections are good and no dye is showing up any where excepted along the side of the pump housing. I will give it a couple of days of running with dye and checking to see if it shows up higher in the top / front and maybe leaking down along the side of the pump housing. Thanks for the "heads up " on not doing a "partial job" on the gasket.

 

[budwich]

Well the rain and snow finally stopped so that I can get under my truck without drowning. The dye that I put in the rad is basically showing up on the side of the water pump / front cover of the block, right side (looking at the engine from the front). This doesn't look good as it appears to be leaking out from the front cover and not the pump assembly. My question is how is the cover held on.... as a "sandwich" with the bolts going thru the water pump housing, thru the front cover and into the block????? I suspect not.... :-( Comments? suggestions?

 

[Tbars4]

just pull the pump and get it over with, lmao...you will find the answers as soon as you enter the mechanic zone grasshopper....

 

[wslusser]

Leak

I just had the same problem but a little worst. My intake gasket starting leaking above the water pump and it appeared to be coming from the water pump itself. The gasket is really thin in the front. I ended up changing the intake gasket to correct. When I pulled it apart it was pretty obivious where the hole was. Also the replacement gaskets are designed differently (I read that in the installation instructions) because of high failure. It takes about 4-5 hours to change. You have to remove upper/lower intakes, accessories and valve covers. It cost about $100 in parts.

 

[budwich]

thanks for the info especially the time estimate. Question on your leak... how much fluid were you losing / seeing. The dye "highlights" don't seem to be anywhere near the lower front intake but certainly along the side of the front engine cover... although some areas are not really visible. That's some of my concern going after the wrong area.... taking off the water pump / front cover versus the intakes.... almost two different areas each with their own possible problems in terms of rusted / "tired" fittings and potential further damage from attempting maintenance work which I have limited funds for. I can feel a "coin toss" coming on both in terms of guessing and money outlay... :-( ....

 

[wslusser]

Leak

At first it wasn't coming out fast. After driving it about 8 miles the gasket completely gave at and the anti-freeze/water would drip/run right out. Mine was coming out fast enough to see exactly where it was coming from when looked at closely. Sounds like yours might be the same area. It was coming out right at the bottom of the intake going down the block for about 3/4" then going onto the waterpump housing. I thought that my pump was bad or the housing cracked. Look where the intake contacts the block and see if you see the gasket sticking out a little. The cost for replacing this was about $100 altogether. On the 96 (last year X motor), you have to remove the valve covers to get the intakes off. The compressor will have to be unbolted and laid to the side. The hardest part is remembering where all the wires/lines go back on.

 

[budwich]

thanks again for great insight.... I suspect your experience is a copy of mine. I will certainly start getting things together to start accomplish the changeout. A complete set of gaskets (non-ford, upper, lower, and cover) is running with quotes >$150 up in canada eh... :-(.... I haven't asked ford yet as they got to be 50% more.

 

[wslusser]

I got my kit and valve cover gaskets (not included in kit)from Advance Auto....not sure if you have one of those there. You might want to look into fuel injector o-rings also. I tore one when I put it back together and didn't find out until I started it. Fuel shot everywhere. You can keep the upper and lower intake together and not worry about changing them but it bugged me to have new gaskets come with the kit and not change them. My fault.....the O-rings were available at NAPA for about $2 for all.