Coolant Leak - Front Driver's Side

[specops1526]

Yep, another coolant leak thread...

Truck started leaking coolant way up front on the driver's side today. It drips fairly good when parked and forms a small puddle under the truck. I looked everywhere and can't see any signs of a coolant leak. The throttle body plate has a tiny bit of crusting but no visible puddle under it. Oil looks clean and not milky. Oil fill cap smells like oil and not coolant. Truck isn't overheating according to the idiot gauge and my ScanGauge II (197-209*).

Here are some crappy cellphone photos. It's pretty far up front. Radiator maybe?

http://s42.photobucket.com/user/specops1526/library/front-coolant-leak

I'm watching the overflow tank and refilling as needed.

Thanks for any help.

 

[adriatic04]

check the front cover bolts. there is a coolant passage on the top right (when looking at it from the front of the engine, which would be the driver side). if the front cover gasket has given up the ghost just replace and go from there, when you replace youll find out real fast if it was actually the heads since everything will be removed.

 

[messar]

Mine had a similar leak. I pulled off the fan shroud, and then you could see that the leak was from the radiator (UV dye helped to see this easily).

 

[specops1526]

I'm hoping it's the radiator and not the heads as the dealer replaced my engine because of a slipped sleeve about 15,000 miles ago.

Wondering if I shouldn't even be driving it?

 

[agthird]

top fan shroud cover where the hold down screw goes into the top of the radiator, they crack on the inside and weep out through the screw hole or in your case pours out. I used red gasket maker squirted into the hole and put screw back in. Worked as a temporary fix until I replaced the radiator last weekend....

 

[specops1526]

Thanks for the tip. Maybe I'll take the shroud cover off tonite and see what's going on under it. I'm hoping that's it since I can't visually trace the leak anywhere else yet. From the location of the leaks under the truck, it's pointing to the radiator but who knows...

 

[K-rover]

There are side covers in the wheel wells that can give you a better look at the bottom of the Rad.

 

[specops1526]

I actually have to change the front well cover but I've been too lazy. Have had the new part from RN for a few years sitting in storage. I guess this will finally get me off my ass to do it.

 

[specops1526]

So I think I found the source of the leak. Took the top of the fan shroud off then unscrewed the part of the bottom fan shroud that attaches to the top corner of the radiator. It was definitely wet with coolant, so my guess is that's the source of the leak, unless I'm missing something else. I cleaned up the area and then ran the car for a while to get it up to temp.

Of course no leaking after letting it idle for 20-30 mins...I kept searching for the leak and thought it could be the small upper hose connection. It didn't look like that was leaking though so I kept searching while the car idled. I finally lifted off the bottom fan shroud bracket some more and noticed a bit of coolant. Upon further inspection I noticed a small round circle in the plastic near the top screw hole. I wiped it and low and behold, some coolant started coming out of it. It must have been where they broke the plastic piece from its mold. It must be a weak point that finally decided to split.

So, I put some dum dum/3M strip caulk (basically black bubble gum) on top of it and screwed the bottom fan shroud bracket down tight on top of it. I'm hoping that serves as a temp fix so I can drive the truck tomorrow before I drop it off at the shop on Saturday (getting some other work done).

Here are the pics of the area: http://s42.photobucket.com/user/specops1526/library/front-coolant-leak/possible-source

 

[agthird]

my leak was going down the inside of the radiator and exiting on top of the sway bar mount. It would only leak after a long trip on the highway..

 

[specops1526]

Well I don't think my fix entirely worked. It's not leaking as much after an 8 mile drive. It is however dripping in 2 spots now. I assume I just changed the flow pattern using my dum dum strips so it's probably just running along the top or bottom of the radiator too now. Anyway, I'm at least happy it's not the motor and this is a good opportunity for me to install a 180* thermostat.