Where is my coolant leak?! - Help Please.

[TM21fourT3]

So today I heard a gurgling sound when my car came to a red light....I continued to drive home....

Once home it gurgled more, and seemed to be pouring out liquid.

There is a definite coolant leak on the driver side...

Approx here :

I can see the leak, it looks like a little mini hose squirting out.....it's not from a hose, that I'm sure. what is it? Looks like (to me) there is a circle spot on the piece of metal that is indented that the leak comes from....

What is it?

Thanks.

 

[TM21fourT3]

coolant leak....where is it / how to fix?

So today I heard a gurgling sound when my car came to a red light....I continued to drive home....

Once home it gurgled more, and seemed to be pouring out liquid.

There is a definite coolant leak on the driver side...

Approx here :

I can see the leak, it looks like a little mini hose squirting out.....it's not from a hose, that I'm sure. what is it? Looks like (to me) there is a circle spot on the piece of metal that is indented that the leak comes from....

What is it?

Thanks.

 

[Xeek]

are they recessed circles in the block under the exhaust? that would be freeze plugs

 

[TM21fourT3]

Definetly recessed circles in the block....under the exhaust I'm not 100% sure (not a super engine junky)....

Would a freeze plug open up like this and squirt out fluid like it was pissing? How do I stop it?

 

[Xeek]

better view

thats what it should be. the circles under the exhaust. if thats what it is, most likely youd have to take the wheel well off to get to them.
i think you take a punch and hit the top and try to make it turn sideways then you can yank it out. just dont knock it inside the engine.
theres gotta be a thread on replacing those somewhere. just search for one. but thats the jist of it.

 

[Roadrunner777]

The only dependable fix is to remove the bad freeze plug and install a new one. There are a few threads on it. If it looks like it failed from corrosion, you should be looking at the other ones, they may be near failure as well, and it would be better, though more costly up front to fix them all at once.

 

[94Sport5Sp]

Hi:

As others have said you probably have a frost plug leaking. According to your picture I would expect the frost plug located in the the front of the head. In the picture posted by Xeek you can see the frost plug. Same height as the spark plugs but on the front of the head. To get to it you will need to remove the AC unit and the power steering pump. If your AC works then you will need to evacuate the coolant first.

Trust that helps
PaMnd

 

[TM21fourT3]

So i got the old one out.....through the wheelwell.....how the hell does the new 1.5" one go in? I've already spent too many hours trying. Is 1.5" too big?

 

[wood1]

Is it the same size as your old one? If so smear a bit of silicone on it, find a socket that will sit inside of the plug and tap it into the hole. Be careful to not knock it in there too deep.

 

[Roadrunner777]

1.56" on the side that goes in. Some people start by knocking them in sideways and then turning them. Just, like someone said, just don't push it all the way through, that's a bad bad day.

 

[rocco123]

May just be an intake gasket. U need to get a mirror & get a good look.

 

[TM21fourT3]

Yeah I have no idea how you guys are knocking it at all with the given angels and tight space. I'm taking it to the shop monday morning and seeing what they say. Million dollar quote, I'll find a way myself I guess.

 

[Roadrunner777]

They are not my favorite job. I lived in the San Francisco bay area years ago during a very rare deep cold snap and had to do many freeze plugs for friends. I have had them take full days. And, even with an engine out, it will seem like it is too big, but it will go in with one straight and mighty blow. The brass ones go in easier and last longer. Anyway, sorry it didn't work out for you.

 

[Anime]

Gurgling is usually pressure building up in the coolant system from a blockage, most often caused by a thermostat that is either partially closed or getting close to being stuck shut. The gurgling might be inside the engine at first, but will go to the radiator and eventually the coolant overflow tank. When the thermostat is completly blocked off, the coolant will overheat, bubbling over in the plastic reservoir from the pressure.

From my experience on the OHV, the coolant leaks are most often caused by this increase in pressure, even the slight increase from a thermostat that's starting to go and not opening as much as the engine needs. Obviously, this shows up on the temp gauge as the needle going to the right of the center...usually the farther to the right, the worse it is. When it goes past the "L" in NORMAL...it's time to shut the engine down and let it cool, and replace the thermostat ASAP.


Could also be from air trapped in the system, you should check your coolant level, and if it needs a lot of coolant, you might need to "burp" the system by running it for a few minutes with the cap on the "loose" position, then adding coolant, then running it with the cap on loose again until the thermostat opens normally, topping off with coolant after the engine is cold again.

 

[Turdle]

Looks like (to me) there is a circle spot on the piece of metal that is indented that the leak comes from....

What is it?

Thanks.

From your description I am guessing a freeze plug --see if you can get in there for a better picture please.

 

[Roadrunner777]

Hmm... time warp? There are about 5 posts missing. He had a hard time with replacing the freeze plug and decided to take it to the shop, as I recall.

 

[Anime]

The freeze plugs can be pretty hard to remove and replace with the engine in the vehicle. That looks to be one of the easier locations to get to though.

 

[Turdle]

Hmm... time warp? There are about 5 posts missing. He had a hard time with replacing the freeze plug and decided to take it to the shop, as I recall.

ah
he made 2 threads.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=311423