Steady coolant leak from driver rear side of motor

[RockcrawlerEX]

While out looking for anew job the other day, I noticed my temp gauge was at normal (odd for my truck as it never goes even close to the N in normal). As I was walking back to the truck from my interview, I noticed it was dripping coolant. I've been filling it at the reservoir (haven't let it leak enough to go low in the radiator) for the last few days to make sure it wouldn't over heat on my way to work. I found a new job, and of course it's down the street from my house (walking distance), But I don't start for awhile. Coolant leak got worse today, of course. Went from slow drip to steady drip, almost a small stream.

I've been under it and it looks like it's coming from right above the trans at the rear of the motor. It leaks onto the bell housing, down onto the starter, then onto the floor. I've read that it could possibly be the LIM gasket, a head gasket (doesn't look like one, no oil in water and vice versa), or a cracked block. Is there anywhere else I may be leaking from back there that I can check out with out tearing into the manifold? I need it to last til I start my new job and it's my only transport so I can't really have it down for more than a day. Any help's appreciated. Thanks

 

[gmbroy]

There is a freeze plug on the head on the back of the motor . To replace it you can , pull the motor , pull the head or you can use a hole saw to make a hole in your firewall so you can put it in . There is no real easy fix to this problem . I am not a fan of stop leak . I hope this helps you some . just ask & we will do our best to help you !!

 

[WhiteLight]

Hey its likely that its the Lower intake manifold gasket, I just replaced mine, after mine was leaking at the front left of the engine, just under the thermostat next to the vallve cover. on the front and back of the lower intake manifold. it is RTV compoound not an actual gasket. I just replaced mine and the kit comes with everything necesarry including the upper intake manifold gasket and fuel rail gasket, all from felpro when you buy the lower intake manifold gasket. you also have to do your valve cover gaskets as the same time since you must remove them to get to the LIM. It took me 8 total hours. just make sure you mark all vacuum lines and tug on them gently, I snapped mine between the throttle bottly and charcoal cannister, brought my RPM from 3500 to 8500. so they definitly make a difference to how the motor runs, but the engines computer can run perfectly fine without some of them. it just wont get as good of fuel economy. As for your coolant leak. if the engine still runs smooth and no knocking or milky oil its likely this is the problem.

 

[RockcrawlerEX]

There is a freeze plug on the head on the back of the motor . To replace it you can , pull the motor , pull the head or you can use a hole saw to make a hole in your firewall so you can put it in . There is no real easy fix to this problem . I am not a fan of stop leak . I hope this helps you some . just ask & we will do our best to help you !!

I thought the freeze plugs were 3 on each side, and 1 on each of the heads at the front? Really hope it isn't a rear freeze plug. Think I'd be able to see it if I dropped the trans?

 

[RockcrawlerEX]

Hey its likely that its the Lower intake manifold gasket, I just replaced mine, after mine was leaking at the front left of the engine, just under the thermostat next to the vallve cover. on the front and back of the lower intake manifold. it is RTV compoound not an actual gasket. I just replaced mine and the kit comes with everything necesarry including the upper intake manifold gasket and fuel rail gasket, all from felpro when you buy the lower intake manifold gasket. you also have to do your valve cover gaskets as the same time since you must remove them to get to the LIM. It took me 8 total hours. just make sure you mark all vacuum lines and tug on them gently, I snapped mine between the throttle bottly and charcoal cannister, brought my RPM from 3500 to 8500. so they definitly make a difference to how the motor runs, but the engines computer can run perfectly fine without some of them. it just wont get as good of fuel economy. As for your coolant leak. if the engine still runs smooth and no knocking or milky oil its likely this is the problem.

Well come thursday when I get paid, I'm gonna use my busted nissan for a couple days and start taking apart the topend to check it out. Can barely drive my Nissan as it sits, trans is gone. lol

Hoping it's just the mani, I don't have the tools and time to go about replacing any rear freeze plugs on my daily. Thanks for the reply.

 

[gmbroy]

you can see the freeze plug if you use a light & a mirror . I hope it is the lower manifold but take a look at it before you start . I am not sure about seeing it if you drop the tranny . Maybe but I am not sure . you can get your finger on the freeze plug check it out to see it the leak is coming from there . That way you know for sure what your problem is . Like I said if you need help you ask , this forum is one of if not the best forum I have ever seen , these people here really do help you . as I will also . wish you the best of luck & do keep us filled in .

 

[FR-425]

You'd be able to see the back of the head with one of these:

 

[FR-425]

I have replaced rear cylinder head freeze plugs with this combination of gizmo's

Simple freeze plug puller (Snap-On)

Expandable freeze plug. (AKA plumbers test plug)

Doable with out pulling head or motor. ..

 

[gmbroy]

Fr-425 to the rescue again . That freeze plug puller is a first for me . & i had not thought about a rubber plug . Thanks . I was just in los lunas new mexico last week . a merrilatt plant had shut down & the owner of our company bought a bunch of stuff & we had to tear it down & load it on trucks . got a couple nice 60 degree days . then snow on friday . was next door . LOL

 

[RockcrawlerEX]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Will be checking it out, soon. I'll post up what my problem is when I find out.

 

[stshot]

have had to replace several of the freeze pluges on back side of head. best way cut a hole in fire wall.

 

[RockcrawlerEX]

So, even with my trusty light and mirror, I'm atill having a hard time finding the leak. 99% sure it's my manifold gasket, though. It's definitely coming from where the bottom of the manifold is in the back. Now I just need to find the time to actually get in there and change it. Thanks for the help, guys.

 

[WhiteLight]

RTv Gasket

Ya if your certain its coming from the manifold gasket at the back of the engine, it is RTV silicone that has sprung a leak. Felpro sell all gaskets and RTv silicone tube in there lower intake manifold gasket kit. 2 valve covers and a fuel railed gasket and upper intake manifold gasket. It comes as a complete kit to get the job done.

 

[nonhog]

Watching! I just sprung a leak on my Explorer powered 1980 Volvo.
Well good thing is its still on jack stands. At least it didn't leave my wife stranded. A tech at work said I could borrow his pressure tester. It was dripping pretty fast and nothing I could tell topside was wet. Seemed to be
coming from behind TC.
I would start my own thread but it seemed very similar to this one.

Good luck OP.

Yet to check but are there freeze plugs on the back of the block?

Brad

 

[nonhog]

Watching! I just sprung a leak on my Explorer powered 1980 Volvo.


Yet to check but are there freeze plugs on the back of the block?

Brad

Found great info here.... http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=299763&highlight=freeze+plug

Hoping my leak is generated up front. Time will tell.