98 Monte ls 3100 Antifreeze leak
#1
98 Monte ls 3100 Antifreeze leak
Car started overheating, noticed that my antifreeze was running low I had filled it just a week before. I fill it up again to find the leak, it is coming from the left side of the engine by the pulleys but not the waterpump farther back towards the top but cannot see it only see it leaking pretty heavy out of there. Hoses are good, radiator is good, waterpump is good, thermostat is good and housing. The oil is not mixed with coolant. I just cannot figure it out. Any Ideas?
#2
Got a pic or anything where the coolant is pooling? Not to combat your assertiveness or anything, but if it truly isn't all the things you said it isn't, you've not left yourself many options. Lower intake manifold gasket possibly? You'd hardly be the first Chevy to have this issue.
#6
My wife's 3400 LIM was always leaking internally then about three days before we got married it finally started leaking externally. I gave it to her dad when we left for Hawaii and he took care of it while we were gone; worked out great.
Anyway, point of that statement, when it finally started leaking externally I couldn't figure out where it was coming from so I dried up all the coolant then stood there and watched it run for 10 minutes and sure enough I was able to see the coolant come out between the intake/block interface. You may just need to stand there and watch it.
Anyway, point of that statement, when it finally started leaking externally I couldn't figure out where it was coming from so I dried up all the coolant then stood there and watched it run for 10 minutes and sure enough I was able to see the coolant come out between the intake/block interface. You may just need to stand there and watch it.
#8
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mentor, Ohio
Posts: 12,156
3100 does not have coolant elbows.
Usually a water pump failure leaves a nice WET line right above the serpentine belt on the hood insulation. If you're not seeing anything there, probably NOT the pump.
Best thing to do, with the car cold and a radiator pressure tester (hit up the parts store for a loan-a-tool), pump it up and LISTEN for hissing. To be honest, based on the description provided, my thoughts are lower intake gasket (the coolant ports on on the far outsides of the intake, it's NOT uncommon to have it blow in a manner that most or all coolant exits the engine and never enters the oil). If you use a radiator pressure tester, look where the LIM and heads meet, you'll probably see coolant escaping.
Usually a water pump failure leaves a nice WET line right above the serpentine belt on the hood insulation. If you're not seeing anything there, probably NOT the pump.
Best thing to do, with the car cold and a radiator pressure tester (hit up the parts store for a loan-a-tool), pump it up and LISTEN for hissing. To be honest, based on the description provided, my thoughts are lower intake gasket (the coolant ports on on the far outsides of the intake, it's NOT uncommon to have it blow in a manner that most or all coolant exits the engine and never enters the oil). If you use a radiator pressure tester, look where the LIM and heads meet, you'll probably see coolant escaping.
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