A little coolant leaking
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Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,556
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From: Auburn Washington
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06
A little coolant leaking
I have noticed that I'm leaking alittle coolant from around the back of the motor, at least that's where it is dripping from. Don't know for sure and I'm keeping my eye on it. What could it be? Any ideas? Is there some kind of radiator additive that I should try first? Freeze plug? You guys out there have spent more time under your Vettes than I have so I need some input. Thanks 
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,672
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From: Lake Wylie SC
Just try this, open your hood and see if there is an area right above your serp belt on the hood that looks like coolant could have sprayed up there. If so, it might be the dreaded water pump. Just check all your hoses and clamps, especially the heater hoses as they go back towards the fire wall. If you can get you hands on a pump to pressurize your cooling system, you might find the leak faster. But look for the easy stuff first.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2004
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My daughter's 89 leaked a little coolant from the pass. side rear. A pressure check looked like the intake manifold was leaking. I paid to have that repaired and 10 days later the head gasket started pouring coolant. I think it was originally misdiagnosed, so I did the heads myself (avoiding a $1500 bill), and that cured it. Do a pressure check, but be sure it's done right. I've heard aluminum heads on iron blocks can have head gasket problems at ~100,000 miles. We did a valve job and resurfacing while it was apart. Good luck.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: charlotte nc
I found my leak on my 86 to be the intake gasket. I know this is gonna draw fire , but I used a can of "Bars Leak" and stopped it . My plan is to change out that gasket when I change the heads and intake. But for now, it aint leaking and hasn't for a year. Make sure you know that the leak is a gasket and not the water pump .
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Originally Posted by dwestsr
I found my leak on my 86 to be the intake gasket. I know this is gonna draw fire , but I used a can of "Bars Leak" and stopped it . My plan is to change out that gasket when I change the heads and intake. But for now, it aint leaking and hasn't for a year. Make sure you know that the leak is a gasket and not the water pump .
Intake manifold leaks at the rear of the block are notorius and can be expected to happen!
I had to replace mine at about 90,000 miles/13 years
I have also experienced "a freeze plug" leak at the rear of the block on the driver side.
For this I used the Barr pellets, not their muddy stop leak in a bottle.
It solved the problem and now I add Barr pellets everytime (annually), I change the coolant. Haven't had a freeze plug or other leak since. But I would use the pellets, not the mud in a bottle
seeya
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Originally Posted by dwestsr
I found my leak on my 86 to be the intake gasket. I know this is gonna draw fire , but I used a can of "Bars Leak" and stopped it . My plan is to change out that gasket when I change the heads and intake. But for now, it aint leaking and hasn't for a year. Make sure you know that the leak is a gasket and not the water pump .
