Help-Leaking gas and coolant

[Joe2345]

Hi all,
I have a '92 Explorer xlt, yesterday i tried to crank the car and it wouldnt start.
I had power but i wouldnt light. i couldnt get it goin so i got out and notices gas leaking from the front part of the engine. I checked the fuel lines ..all seem ok.
As of this morning i tried once again to crank and this time it leaked green coolant and gas. The gas is coming from an outlet on the back of the throttle body, im not sure if the coolant is fron the same spot.
My father thinks its the head gasket, but brfore i go taking the top of the engine off, I thought i'd post here and see if any of you good folks can point me in the right direction and help me get this thing fixed.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[410Fortune]

if green coolant is coming from the front of the engine, it is likey a hose, thermostat, or the water pump. Fuel should not be coming out of the engine, especially near the trhottle body as it does not go anywhere near the TB.

If there is raw fuel in the intake then you have other problems.

Youneed o do a good visual inspection to see where the leaks are coming from.

 

[Joe2345]

The raw fuel was leaking from rear of the throtle body where the vacumum hoses and sensors attached to a fitting on the drivers rear of that part. The fuel leaked out after attempts to fire the engine. The motor seemed to be firing on a single cylinder , ran for just a moment and died,, It was at that point that coolant was evident under the truck as well. I'm not certain where it was comimg from. All the leaking stopped when attempts to crank the motor stopped. My thoughts are that the timimg my be off, maybe a head gasket or possibly something I'm not aware of. The truck has been running very well and was driven whithout a problem to the place it failed.

 

[410Fortune]

NO FUEL FLOWS THROUGH THE THROTTLE BODY.

However if it is coming out of the throttle body hose I suspect it is in the canister purge line = I also bet you have 0 fuel getting through the injectors becuase there is something really wrong with the fuel delivery system

 

[Joe2345]

btw Thanks for the replies.

Let be be a little bit more clear on exactly where the fuel is leaking from. I may be refering to the parts incorrectly. The cast part containing the carb centered on the engine is leaking what appears to be unused fuel from the drivers side rear of that part near the fire wall. The truck was slightly nose up in a parking spot causing this fuel to leak out from this spot I suppose. My first attempts to fire this bad boy showed these sysmptoms:

Barely starting, maybe one or two cyliders lighting, then stalling.
Gas only leaking. It was dark. I wasn't sure from where.

This morning in the light of day:

Same fuel leaking from the point described above in addition to coolant ( bright green and not mixed with any other fluids) leaking with the fuel under the truck.

I wasn't able to look any closer than that as I was in a newly oiled parking lot that was being screwed by my sick truck. I.ve got it towed back to the house and before I go much farther I'm looking for a clue where to start with the problem as there is no leakage when I'm not attempting to crank the truck.

I'm reluctant to continue with cranking it up in case that may cause more damage. Do I need to do that to see exactly what's up? Has the timing belt slipped?

 

[410Fortune]

this is called the upper intake manifold. the throttle body is the butterfly valve on the end of the upper intake plenum, or manifold.

I dont suspect timing chain.

I suspect your fuel line and or pressure regulator is leaking raw gas.
AND/or your fuel rail.

Your dad may also be on to something with the head gasket

the head gasket seals the combustion chamber where the fuel/air is mixed.
Coolant also flows through the gasket from head to block.

If for some reason you have raw fuel in the cylinder it is possible it would leak out from the head gasket, however that would be alot of gas in there.

You might have to tear into the top of the engine to find the source(s)

remove the air intake, disco the battery, take the throttle body off, etc take the upper intake off and you should have a MUCH clearer picture of where the leaks are coming from.

 

[Bills98Explorer]

Sounds like a fuel regulator.Check your oil,it'll probably smell like gas,or read over full.In which case you will need to do an oil change,change the plugs cause they will be fuel fouled.Oh and don't forget to change the regulator.

 

[Joe2345]

Thanks for the input.

I'll do the disassembly and get back with you.

 

[Joe2345]

Monifold is off. Nothing visual to indicate a problem. Manifold did have gas in it. Time to start replacing parts? If so, which ones?

 

[Joe2345]

Bill 98 missed your reply a few moments ago. I'll check the oil out.

 

[Joe2345]

drained the oil just oil as far as i can tell.

 

[410Fortune]

Before you throw $$$ at it, check the fuel rail pressure, I suspect the fuel is coming from the injectors/ pressure regulator is at fault. If th eregulator fails you can get 80+ PSI going through the injectors = raw fuel inside the combustion chambers, flooding etc. Also if the diaphram inside the regualtor goes, fuel will go through it and up intot he vacuum line, thus into the intake manifold vacuum

Check the fuel pressure regualtor vacuum line for raw fuel.

If it's there, you need a new regulator, about $80 if I remember right. Easy to install, 1 or 2 bolts hold it down. Put vasoline on the O ring when you seat the new one.
Relieve fuel pressure at the schrader valve BEFORE you unbolt it.

 

[Joe2345]

Thanks for your help. We identified the regulator, pulled it and there was alot of fuel dripping out of the vacum hose port on the reg when we shook it a little. It makes sense that this is the source of the problem in light of the fact nothing else has any indicators of failure. we' ll get a replacement and let you all know how we make out.

 

[410Fortune]

yup new regulator time I suggest a good one, no autozone or checker. Dealer or Car quest/napa far better.

 

[Joe2345]

Success , We replaced the fuel regulator, new intake manifold gasket since since it broke apart when we took it off. The plugs were all gunked up so those got replaced too. New oil and filter also.
It started on the first try. I drove it up the street and back, turned it off and on a few times, it idles peffectly.
I passed emissions test not a day before this all happeded too.

Thank you both VERY much for your help today. Wouldnt have been able to do it wothout the advise.