I seem to have an external HG oil leak from between the head and block near the starter. Has anyone ever seen this?
External Head Gasket Oil Leak
- Thread starter The Fourth Amigo
- Start date
Had that opposite side a few years ago on a 99 D2. Will did a HG job and I drove it from VA to TX the same week.
Are you sure it's the HG and not just the valley pan leaking down? The latter would be much more likely.
I've seen these headgaskets leak oil like. I think its cause Buick used to put the oil return really close to the edge of the gasket. One of the V6 engines they built was even worse about it.
Get in there with a mirror and look or you can listen to the people here guessing their asses off. Worst case if you cant determine where it is leaking from you can get some dye from the part store and add it to the oil to see where it is traveling from.
Everyone can sit here and speculate all day long, its great. They sell a pair of mechanics diagnostic dice you can roll and come up with all kinds of answers!
Everyone can sit here and speculate all day long, its great. They sell a pair of mechanics diagnostic dice you can roll and come up with all kinds of answers!
I don't have the dice but I do have one of those magic 8 balls. But Eds right. In the end you gotta look at it and find the leak and dye is a good start.
But you could also try the automotive balloon board. You write components on pieces of paper and put them in balloons then blow up the balloons. Put the balloons on a big board and start throwing darts at the board from about 25 ft away. What ever balloon you pop first is whats wrong with your truck. I think some guys in my shop use them.
Given that he has pointed to a specific area, one might assume he has already looked. An oil leak from the head gasket doesn't make much sense based on where the oil passages are, but I have seen it before.
Last time I looked on eBay, diagnostic dice were a little pricey.
I'm trying to get to the bottom of it. Just getting ready to lift out the lower intake manifold. Can't find my 12pt 8mm socket to get the valve covers off...............
I figured I would replace the valley gasket as I also suspect a coolant leak back there and see what happens. I actually had all the parts to do it on hand. I hope I don't have to do the HG's
I figured I would replace the valley gasket as I also suspect a coolant leak back there and see what happens. I actually had all the parts to do it on hand. I hope I don't have to do the HG's
Once the intake is off it really isn't much more work to do the head gasket. I would think a loose lip seal bolt could be a likely cause for the leak.
I changed the valley gasket and cleaned everything up the best I could. When I pulled up the rubber seals they were wet with oil underneath. I had all of the stuff on hand to do that job, so its worth a try. New rocker gaskets too. I wish I had a new set of wires. If I do have to do HG's at least I have some practice with this part. Its been 6 years since I installed that manifold..........
I'll finish the job completely tomorrow and see what happens.
I'll finish the job completely tomorrow and see what happens.
So it turns out the oil leak was coming from the intake manifold, most likely the rubber seals. But now I have found a very small coolant weep, its hardly a leak. I'd say a few drops after a 20 min drive.The leak is coming from the rear outside corner of the RH head. I had to use a mirror to find it and wouldn't have been able to see it if I hadn't stopped/cleaned the oil. Well I suppose I would have seen it eventually..............
Anyhow, I put in a parts request to Will Tillery. The job should go a lot faster now that I have some practice with the intake etc.most of the cleaning is done.
Anyhow, I put in a parts request to Will Tillery. The job should go a lot faster now that I have some practice with the intake etc.most of the cleaning is done.
Are you sure it is the intake and not the o ring on the heater pipe hose that goes into the intake?
And That coolant leak would be the head gasket! Coolant jacket sits right at the edge of the block there. Very common coolant leak.
Time to pull it back apart and do the heads
BTW jymmiejamz oring leak. Wrong part of the motor. Doh. :banghead::banghead::banghead:
Time to pull it back apart and do the heads
BTW jymmiejamz oring leak. Wrong part of the motor. Doh. :banghead::banghead::banghead:
When that o-ring leaks it usually runs back along the intake and then drips down off of the corner of the passenger side head in the rear.