new radiator now new problem

[smr-77]

bought a 94 edi bauer and put new radiator in it. now it seems like there is a leak or something making it steam and it smells like antifreeze. it is coming from the right side of the motor between the water pump and the top of the motor some where in there any ideas of what it could be coming from.or causing the issue.it ran fine when i put the new rad in and when i got back the house all hell breaks loose. well thanks for the help, seth

 

[boggs1227]

could be that your lower intake gasket has let go,mine started about 2 weeks ago , it's on the right hand side of the motor and up top above the water pump .it's not a bad leak but it does do i tiny drippy stream of sorts dwon the front side of the motor.

mines a 94 too so i guessing it about time they start to give out on all of them.just the other day i was talking to leefhead about his heater control valve and that day i went out side to do some engine treatment to my motor and mine went out ! nice pool of coolant all over the driveway.

so needless to say that all of them appear to show signs of failure together for the same year models.

hope this helps.

 

[Tony H]

Sounds like the typical Intake Manifold Gasket problem.

It's hard to see with all the Plumbing in the way but if it's leaking just in front of the Temperature Sendor...It's the gasket, that's where they go bad

Maybe the old Radiator did not hold Pressure so Coolant wasn't forced through this gasket. The new Radiator holds pressure and now you are seeing a weakspot on the engine.

Did you over heat the engine before swapping radiators?
Did you leave the Cap loose on the old one to keep it from leaking too fast when it started leaking?

 

[yellowcat]

raditor

time to put the old radiator back in

 

[Willard]

Don't put the old radiator back in, it's not your problem. I'm with the others, it sounds like the lower intake gasket. Mine just recently went, and so have a few others.

I'd make sure it still has enough coolant, and then go take it for a drive to get it hot, just don't overheat it. Once you are home open the hood immediately and look down around where the thermostat is, and if you see coolant spraying out next to the thermostat area, it's almost certain that the lower intake gasket is the problem.

 

[Tony H]

This is not a fix for the Intake Gasket but you might try replacing the 15 lb Radiator cap with a 7lb cap. the less pressure might help you leaking issue temporarily.

I put 7lb Caps on all my cars.. unless you live in the desert, there's no reason to run that much pressure.

 

[boggs1227]

hey let me ask a question , when i got my truck i did the injectors ...at that point i noticed that my bolt that hold the lower intake on were all loose
i tightened them up the best i could (did not have a torque wrench at the time) does anyone think that instead of replaceing the gasket that i could just retighten them properlly to spec? or do you think that it's the rtv thats let go (rtv sealant is put on the back and front of the engine when the intake goes on) ?i think maybe if i do all that then i could stop the leak or am i just going to have to take it all back apart to replace both the rtv and intake gasket ?

thanks

 

[Tony H]

The Intake to Block bolts/nuts should be only 18 ftlbs. Honestly if you just tightened them..you probably exceeded that torque.

When I had my leak, that is the first thing I tried. I went and torqued everything to 20ftlbs. It lasted a month.

Yes, there is a section between the Head and Block that needs RTV.. that's not usually where the leak occurs. If you look at the Temp sensor there is a Nut instead of the Bolts...Just Forward of that nut is where these gaskets break. There is not that much surface area there so they fail.

Also keep in mind. You do not have to take the Injector Rail apart. it can come off as one assembly with the injectors nicely squished in between the upper Plenum and injector rail. Take that whole deal with Accelerator cables and all and roll it upside down as you move it and lay it close to the Drivers side fender.

 

[boggs1227]

cool thanks ...thats good to know i don't have to dis-assemble every thing just do it in one lump sum.but hey...dont the valve covers have to come off as well to get the lower intake off ? i might as well have to buy those too because i'm sure there the orig ones ...they will most likelly break apart into little tiny pieces once the cover is off !?


cheers

 

[Tony H]

Well I never said it wasn't a pain in the ass job, I just said you didn't have to take every damn subassembly apart. :

Yes the Valve covers have to come off, Buy replacement gaskets for sure.

The RTV goes in the slight gap between the Head and the Block Weird the way FORD did this Head Block interface. Part of the Intake gasket acts like some of the Valve cover gasket.
At least you had the hardware off before so it should let lose easy this time.
Plan on 4-6 hours. And mark all the harnesses that have to come off. scary

 

[boggs1227]

well thank god i can bypass the nanker valve and only loosen the flux
capacitor finger loose to get to them all lol....i kid of course..thanks for the info man and i like the jeep by the way .


cheers

 

[Tony H]

well thank god i can bypass the nanker valve and only loosen the flux
capacitor finger loose to get to them all lol....i kid of course..thanks for the info man and i like the jeep by the way .


cheers

Thanks...the jeep is my toy, the 'x' is the daily driver/beater.

I bought the jeep around 1980.
Of course I've made changes over time. The way you see it in the PICs fiberglass body and chevy SB was done 13 years ago...it's still looks the same.

The Black pickup ( if you saw that one too) is my wifes. We bought it new in 1985.

Good luck with the Intake manifold. Or as they call it Lower Plenum