hello all i need a 2nd hand on this one. im pretty sure i have a lower intake leak but ive never seen them leak here before. under a pressure test i have a small stream of coolant leaking out between the block and the aluminum plate that holds all the pumps. its leaking on the back side of the motor about 1/2" under where the head gasket is, almost right behind the tensioner pull sits. so what could it be? my first thought was a cracked block till i saw it leaking between there, so im at a loss and need and help so i go to the best place i know to go.

its a 1998 monty with a "small" 3.1L thank you again

 

i would bet it's your intake manifold gaskets, very common for these cars once they start getting up there in milage. mine's puking coolant in about the same area on the oppisite end of the engine, actually it's leaked scince i bought it almost 2 years ago. im hoping to replace the gaskets this summer.

 

so thank you for your input, thats what i thought it would be, it always seems to be the biggest problem with these motors along with the 3.4 and 3.8. but i started taking of my pumps and pullys on that side and doing pressure test and i am 99.9% sure that the timing cove gasket blew. it right there by the head gasket also so i have my tail between my legs that its not the head gasket. but **** im this far into in i should finish it of and replace the lower intake cause mine is leaking in the same spot that you said yours is leaking to. its just a job that im not looking forward to do.

thank you for your help and suggestion and i hope you have a easy time with yours, i know they suck to do! thanks again!

 

yhea, i've seen a couple of 3.1 cars throughout various stages of intake gasket jobs and it's kinda involved, but i'll still take the intake gaskets over headgaskets!

hope everything goes smoothly for ya getting your's back togeather.

 

got it, it was the timing cover, that was a close onr i really didnt want to tear in to the intake or heads. sound to much like work! i got lucky thanks everyone!!!!