Coolant leak on my new engine!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: West Sacramento CA
Coolant leak on my new engine! Help!
I have recently rebuilt my 88 and I put approximately 30 miles on the engine. All of a sudden I have a coolant leak coming from the left head gasket. I am not sure whether I am suppose to retorque the heads because the Chilton's manual does not state it but that does not mean that it should not be done. If I am suppose to, won't that disturb the seal since I sealed the head bolt threads with liquid teflon sealant? If I retorque the bolts will that stop the leak? Does this happen sometimes after a rebuild on these cars. I have not had this happen on other engines I have rebuilt. I can't see this being a head gasket issue or a warped head. This has me really bummed out because the last thing I want to do is tear the top half of the engine apart for a head gasket especially after rebuilding the engine and having the car down for a year and a half.
All input is very appreciated.
Thanks guys.
[Modified by ciscokid, 11:47 PM 4/20/2003]
All input is very appreciated.
Thanks guys.
[Modified by ciscokid, 11:47 PM 4/20/2003]
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Suburb Illinois
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (ciscokid)
Are you sure your leaking from the head gasket and not a hose and leaking down? Try pressure testing the system first before you start taking it apart.
Mabey you'll luck out and be something simple...... :cheers:
Mabey you'll luck out and be something simple...... :cheers:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: West Sacramento CA
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (Mike's 86)
Man, I hope your right. By the way, what exactly is involved in pressure testing? I have looked for a hose or a sending unit leaking but I can't see anything that shows a leak. I may try the die and black light option but tell me what you mean by the pressure test and what that will tell me.
Thanks so much for your help. You know when a guy is bummed out words of hope are like gold.
Thanks so much for your help. You know when a guy is bummed out words of hope are like gold.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Suburb Illinois
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (ciscokid)
Well a pressure tester is like a hand pump that you connect to the radiator fill neck. You normally pump it up to the rating of your cap which is about 14 psi.
When you pump it up it should hold pressure if you have no leaks. If you have a leak being under pressure, it's easier to locate it. I don't know if you can rent a tester but their not that expensive to buy. You can pick one up at any tool center, ask for a radiator pressure tester kit. Ask around mabey you can borrow one. let us know what happens............ :cheers:
When you pump it up it should hold pressure if you have no leaks. If you have a leak being under pressure, it's easier to locate it. I don't know if you can rent a tester but their not that expensive to buy. You can pick one up at any tool center, ask for a radiator pressure tester kit. Ask around mabey you can borrow one. let us know what happens............ :cheers:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: West Sacramento CA
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (Mike's 86)
So your saying by using this pressure tester it simulates the water pump if you will and I will be able to see where the water is coming from without the engine running. Is this right?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 163
From: Davis CA
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (ciscokid)
On Two Guys Garage I saw them use a bicycle tire, cut to length and attached to the radiator and thermostat housing as if it were a radiator hose with clamps at the ends. It is easy to inflate if you have the usual sort of hand pump and you can check pressure with a standard tire gauge. Of course, you should probably buy the specialized tool if you like tools as much as I do.
Steve
Steve
Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
From: Joppa Md
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (ciscokid)
So your saying by using this pressure tester it simulates the water pump if you will and I will be able to see where the water is coming from without the engine running. Is this right?
Is yours leaking at the front or rear. Upper near the intake or lower at the block?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: West Sacramento CA
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (sumoboy)
It is leaking on the side of the block. I can see water at the seam between the head and the block. I painted the block red and I can see where the water has run down the side of the block. All along the seam where the head gasket runs is where the water appears. I can't see any hose or sensor that would cause this problem.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,426
Likes: 4
From: Heidelberg PA
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (ciscokid)
Ciscokid,
Do the pressure test!!!! :yesnod:
I had a similar problem with my new engine - Before completion I started to add anti-freeze, next thing I knoe - floor under car is coverred with the antifreeze. When I looked at it under the car I thought for sure it was the heads. :cry . Called a friend who brought over a pressure tester and discovered that tne lowerbolt of runner - rear on driver side was the culprit.
Prior to the build up I never had a problem. - but new AFR heads must have slightly different water channel setup. Some good old plummers tape solved the problem. :cheers:
Hope it is not major - Good Luck
Do the pressure test!!!! :yesnod:
I had a similar problem with my new engine - Before completion I started to add anti-freeze, next thing I knoe - floor under car is coverred with the antifreeze. When I looked at it under the car I thought for sure it was the heads. :cry . Called a friend who brought over a pressure tester and discovered that tne lowerbolt of runner - rear on driver side was the culprit.
Prior to the build up I never had a problem. - but new AFR heads must have slightly different water channel setup. Some good old plummers tape solved the problem. :cheers:
Hope it is not major - Good Luck
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: West Sacramento CA
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (85vet)
Man your words are encouraging. I want so bad for that to be my situation. I will run the pressure test as you guys are suggesting. Your input is valuable. Thanks so much 85Vette.
Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh NC
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (ciscokid)
You may be able to borrow the pressure tester from one of the parts stores that loans tools out. If not you can find them on Ebay all day long used for usually under $50. Get the one that goes to 30 PSI that way you can test both old/newer systems. Realize that different radiators take diferent adapters. The standard setup does the more common 'regular' sized radiator openings like on the vette. Here is an example: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=35625
Do a search on pressure tester if the link doesn't work.
If it isn't leaking it should hold the pressure for a long time (hours, not minutes) once you build it up with 10 or 15 pumps.
Do a search on pressure tester if the link doesn't work.
If it isn't leaking it should hold the pressure for a long time (hours, not minutes) once you build it up with 10 or 15 pumps.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 2
From: Latham NY
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (ciscokid)
Another place the leak could be coming from is the outer manifold bolts. I believe they need to be sealed because they screw into the water opening in the heads. If not sealed, the water will wick-up and leak out.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 0
From: Tracy California
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (ciscokid)
Another tell tale sign of head gasket problems is the presence of bubbles/turbulence in the readiator. All of the aftermarket aluminum heads will have you do a re-torque after the first startup! It may not be a bad idea to re-check this and it should be kind of easy.
Me personally, I'll only use studs on my engines because bolts and un-clean threads don''t mix and I've had some bad luck in the past as a result.
A pressure test will get you heading in the right direction atleast. But on the left side of the block The only things I can think of to check would be (temp sensor and oil cooler fittings)
Best of Luck
KM
Me personally, I'll only use studs on my engines because bolts and un-clean threads don''t mix and I've had some bad luck in the past as a result.
A pressure test will get you heading in the right direction atleast. But on the left side of the block The only things I can think of to check would be (temp sensor and oil cooler fittings)
Best of Luck
KM
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (ciscokid)
I had the same problem last year after my engine rebuild. I had to take the head cover off and re-seal the head studs with a lot of sealant. Maybe you did seal the head bolts with enough sealant like I did.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 0
From: Tracy California
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (VQT88Vette)
Vqt88Vette
That's interesting, if it's the bolts that are just seeping coolant. Studs allways seep a little at first, so I just throw a pack of stop leak in my radiator and that allways stops it.
But I usually notice coolant seeping past the nut inside the valve cover itself. I hope he get's off the hook with something easy like that.
KM
That's interesting, if it's the bolts that are just seeping coolant. Studs allways seep a little at first, so I just throw a pack of stop leak in my radiator and that allways stops it.
But I usually notice coolant seeping past the nut inside the valve cover itself. I hope he get's off the hook with something easy like that.
KM
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: West Sacramento CA
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (88-406)
Well guys, I bought me a used coolant pressure kit and it worked great. I was able to establish 100% where the leak is coming from. It is coming from the head gasket. The next thing I did was drop the header, remove the valve cover and rockers and retorqued the head. I then proceeded to pressurize the system again hoping, hoping that the leak was seal by a retorque. Well, luck was not on my side. It started leaking with no difference in the amount of flow. The heads are brand new AFR 190s and Felpro head gaskets. Either the gasket is bad or the head is warped. I never over heated the engine. Could it be the block deck is warped? I will know when I get it all apart.
I will keep you guys posted.
Thanks for all your support.
:cry
I will keep you guys posted.
Thanks for all your support.
:cry
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 0
From: Tracy California
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (ciscokid)
Wow this is horrible! I feel your pain :nonod: and I'd be :mad also. Did you have the block decked/surfaced in any way?
KM
KM
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 138
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From: acton ma
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (ciscokid)
AFR must be having problems! I had a set of afr-190's on my 383 rebuild which had a poor casting did not seal! AFR would not send a new set of heads out for 3 weeks! I returned the heads and put on Brodix track-2 heads- no problems. :chevy
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (88-406)
Vqt88Vette
That's interesting, if it's the bolts that are just seeping coolant. Studs allways seep a little at first, so I just throw a pack of stop leak in my radiator and that allways stops it.
But I usually notice coolant seeping past the nut inside the valve cover itself. I hope he get's off the hook with something easy like that.
KM
That's interesting, if it's the bolts that are just seeping coolant. Studs allways seep a little at first, so I just throw a pack of stop leak in my radiator and that allways stops it.
But I usually notice coolant seeping past the nut inside the valve cover itself. I hope he get's off the hook with something easy like that.
KM
I didn't take the heads off, I only took all the studs out and re-seal, torque all 17 studs to spec. again.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Suburb Illinois
Re: Coolant leak on my new engine! Help! (ciscokid)
Well guys, I bought me a used coolant pressure kit and it worked great. I was able to establish 100% where the leak is coming from. It is coming from the head gasket. The next thing I did was drop the header, remove the valve cover and rockers and retorqued the head. I then proceeded to pressurize the system again hoping, hoping that the leak was seal by a retorque. Well, luck was not on my side. It started leaking with no difference in the amount of flow. The heads are brand new AFR 190s and Felpro head gaskets. Either the gasket is bad or the head is warped. I never over heated the engine. Could it be the block deck is warped? I will know when I get it all apart.
I will keep you guys posted.
Thanks for all your support.
:cry
I will keep you guys posted.
Thanks for all your support.
:cry
Try blowing air where you see it leaking while under pressure, sometimes you can see the trail of fluid to where it leaks. Hope it's not the head or block. good luck.......