#6 External Leak Video (Diagnosis)

[harrydunn]

I believe I've got an external HG leak at #6. Puke tank is losing coolant regularly but no milk in the radiator so I believe it's external only. Runs like a top. I've noticed coolant drops on the floor coming off of the passenger side of the sway bar and I can follow that up over the bell housing. Rear heater has been bypassed for quite awhile so I know that's not it. I've checked every hose in that area and they are all dry. I believe I'm looking at a HG replacement. 226K miles. I knew this day was coming sooner or later. Photo is at the #6 exhaust manifold. You can see green, dried, burnt coolant weeping. The video also shows a burnt spot of green coolant at the back of the head. (Xerox Original blend). Thoughts? Confirmations? I think I've narrowed it down. Block test on Monday. Cheers.

 

[inkpot]

Lotsa heater hose fittings in that area of firewall. I have helped troubleshoot two rigs recently that were loosing small amounts of coolant. We used a good pressure tester and lots of light to find itty bitty leaks on fitting closest to firewall. Tightened it up and all better. Also found corrosion on heater valve control arm so ordered new valve, cause it won't heal on its own. Run finger on bottom of each hose fitting in that area to check for dampness.

 

[harrydunn]

Yep. I've looked them over multiple times. Everything is dry as a bone. Heater hoses are only a few years old and I replaced the PHH in 08' with silicone. It's dry. I wish I could get a better look back there. Need a snake camera.

 

[crawlin40]

I had similar issue and it was the coolant bypass hose. Leaking on the bottom fitting. You have to reach up from under the truck and go by feel. Helps to have a long arm.

 

[harrydunn]

I'm 6'-5" so I've got the long arm requirement covered. Which hose specifically now? I've been under it for an hour or so with it running this evening poking around.

 

[harrydunn]

Ah, are you referring to the hose that terminates at the throttle body?

 

[Maleficio]

I keep K Seal in all my engines at all times. $16 at Walmart now.

K-Seal: Permanent Repair for Coolant, Head Gasket & Radiator Leaks

 

[crawlin40]

Yes, I believe a search for coolant bypass hose#1 will get an image. Bottom can be reached from below. Top needs the throttle body to be removed to make it manageable.

 

[harrydunn]

Yep. It's dry top to bottom. Just crawled under. Up and to the left of the PHH.

 

[scrowley]

@harrydunn I had the exact same external leak. Same spot. Used little coolant. more on very long drives. It was not any of the heater hoses. I drove it like that for 30k miles until the HG blew on different cylinder. You could see where it was externally leaking on the old HG.

@Maleficio . All the time even on a good HG!!!! That's crazy. That stuff gunks everything up in the cooling system. Usually you put something in after the HG goes to save time but on a good HG. I don't know about that.

 

[Maleficio]

@harrydunn I had the exact same external leak. Same spot. Used little coolant. more on very long drives. It was not any of the heater hoses. I drove it like that for 30k miles until the HG blew on different cylinder. You could see where it was externally leaking on the old HG.

@Maleficio . All the time even on a good HG!!!! That's crazy. That stuff gunks everything up in the cooling system. Usually you put something in after the HG goes to save time but on a good HG. I don't know about that.

I hear you. But K-Seal is different. Seriously, it's been in my Volvo's coolant for six years now. It won't hurt to try it (in my opinion).

 

[harrydunn]

@harrydunn I had the exact same external leak. Same spot. Used little coolant. more on very long drives. It was not any of the heater hoses. I drove it like that for 30k miles until the HG blew on different cylinder. You could see where it was externally leaking on the old HG.

Yep. Almost certain it's the HG. Oh well. She's been good to me so now it's time to return the favor. Bought it for $5800 and have been driving it for 8 years. Lockers and cloth.

 

[Maleficio]

Yep. Almost certain it's the HG. Oh well. She's been good to me so now it's time to return the favor. Bought it for $5800 and have been driving it for 8 years. Lockers and cloth.

Why not try K-Seal and see what happens? $16 at Walmart.

 

[harrydunn]

I do appreciate your input. I do. But, I tow in the summer and need it fixed correctly, running cool with A/C at max. Ha. Missouri summers get hot and humid around mid-June. I just think I'd be prolonging the inevitable.

 

[Maleficio]

I do appreciate your input. I do. But, I tow in the summer and need it fixed correctly, running cool with A/C at max. Ha. Missouri summers get hot and humid around mid-June. I just think I'd be prolonging the inevitable.

Understood. But why not try it for $16? It may buy you some time.

 

[harrydunn]

If I needed to buy some time, I might. I'd just as soon go ahead and fix 'er up. No need to wait. We'll see what my shop surmises. Friends with the owner and GM. They do great work so I know it'll be fixed correctly. They've seen quite a few 80s. If I had the time, I'd tackle it myself.

 

[Maleficio]

If I needed to buy some time, I might. I'd just as soon go ahead and fix 'er up. No need to wait. We'll see what my shop surmises. Friends with the owner and GM. They do great work so I know it'll be fixed correctly. They've seen quite a few 80s. If I had the time, I'd tackle it myself.

Sounds good.

 

[scrowley]

Yep. Almost certain it's the HG. Oh well. She's been good to me so now it's time to return the favor. Bought it for $5800 and have been driving it for 8 years. Lockers and cloth.

Well I bet you can go for a long time with it like that. I went 30k miles with that same leak. It didn't even blow on that cylinder when it did finally let go. I put in a new motor...long story but the truck runs exactly the same as it did even with that leak and blown gasket.

 

[Maleficio]

Yeah, why not plug the leak with K-Seal and move forward?

 

[harrydunn]

Maleficio, I'm starting to think you're a K-Seal salesman.

I also see that you just joined the site and are posting on a ton of threads. Welcome. Maybe throttle it back a notch.