Help with coolant river

[2000XploderXLS]

Hello Everyone, long time lurker here and i just joined today. First thing i gotta say is thanks, you guys are the reason i have my truck. I hoping you guys can help me with a problem, i was driving along the interstate and all of a sudden my temp gauge started climbing, pulled over and popped the hood, smoke everywhere. I limped it to autozone and had a look under the hood. No coolant in radiator or overflow, (was topped off after thermostat change a week ago). I start to pour coolant in the radiator and i hear it splashing around somewhere, i look under the truck and as im pouring it in, it is pouring right back out. i cant see where its coming from but with a flash light it looks like it is coming from the middle of the engine somewhere. maybe by the fire wall? i went to buy a lower intake mainfold just incase as i had a CEL already. What do you guys think? just bought new radiator cap and thermo.

 

[MtrJunkie]

U didn't mention which motor but I'll assume a 4.0 sohc. Not getting the hoses back on properly after messing with the thermostat/housing is common. Not getting the upper half of the housing seated well is common. As is breaking the crappy little tabs that hold the housing to the block and losing good seal.

Based on what you said, my guess is you have an issue with the thermostat housing somewhere. It can run down the top of the motor toward the back if you are parked on a slight incline. If you are going to change the manifold gaskets (not sure what code you have but you rarely need to replace the manifold itself), I would recommend going ahead and pulling the upper and lower manifold, and then with it off you can see the thermostat housing clearly. Start to fill the rad, and you will probably see the source of your leak.

 

[2000XploderXLS]

It is not a sohc, its the OHV if that makes a difference. Also when looking at the thermostat and housing its all bone dry, but whatever its leaking from its running all over the exhaust mainfold toward the rear driver side i think. Ill have a look in the morning. Thanks for the reply

 

[bill06447]

Coolant pouring out that fast is typically a hose. Take a deep breath and start with the simple, obvious causes first, i.e., hose came off

Bill

 

[rb142]

Or a freeze plug rotted through.

 

[2000XploderXLS]

Hey so im under the truck and traced the leak somewhere to the middle of the engine. Driver side Its like hidden behind the exhaust mainfold or something . I got pics that i will post. Is there a gasket or something that runs through there? Above the mainfold its dry but below all wet. A freeze plug? Let me search the fourms to try and track that thing down.

 

[Varsity]

Just got done replacing a couple of mine. If the bottom of your motor looks rusty, there's a good chance one or more of your freeze plugs are leaking. It sounds like that's what is going on, at least from what you say. Mine had a pin hole leak/dribble and as soon as I barely touched it with a screwdriver, it broke open even more.

I hope that is not it though. If your truck does not have a body lift, it can be a rough job from what I hear... Fingers crossed it's something simpler.

 

[2000XploderXLS]

I can feel the plug but it seems solid. Now that makes me think it could possibly be a gasket im not sure. I remover radiator cap coolant leaks. Tighten back up flow stops. Weird.

 

[lobo411]

Redo the thermostat housing job. Takes 15 mins and will eliminate one likely source of the leak. The steel housing has a tendency to get pitted, so you need to make sure you do a good job with the RTV and you torque it properly.

 

[bill06447]

I can feel the plug but it seems solid. Now that makes me think it could possibly be a gasket im not sure. I remover radiator cap coolant leaks. Tighten back up flow stops. Weird.

It's like holding your finger over the end of a straw when you remove it from the cup. Release your finger (cap) allows air to enter, displacing the liquid

Bill

 

[ranger7ltr]

Look at the rear intake drivers side ...

I would be willing to bet the leak is from the rear of the engine where the intake manifold seals to the heads...The gasket is only thin neoprene and it will blow out under pressure then leak like crazy...

The fix is to remove the valve covers and the intake and replace the gasket...
Check in the back of each head with either a mirror or your hand for moisture...

 

[2000XploderXLS]

In process of removing intakes now...first time really diving into this engine. Its a great step up from working with 4cyl nissan interference engines. Hate those things...