...because that's where I suspect mine's leaking from.

I'm loosing ~1/4gal of coolant every time I drive the truck. I haven't noticed any on the ground. It seems to be evaporating off the engine before it can drip down enough to start pooling.

I suspected that the system might be leaking out the back of the thermostat gasket, but that doesn't seem to be the case. NathanC was under the truck on Friday, and as the garage was warming up, coolant started dripping on him. From what I/he/we could see, it appears to be leaking out the front of the intake manifold gasket (manifold to head seal). Just wondering if anyone's ever had the same occurance?

Thanks!

-DougB

P.S. I recently had my coolant hoses changed and the problem started occuring shortly after. I believe that the mechanic who pulled the hosese off yanked too hard on the upper hose and that may have caused the damage.

Yes. In my 95' Montero w/ 151,000 miles had a "sweet smell" to it when we turned the motor off. The coolant would somehow disappear from the resivior. The resvivor would be empty every 300 miles. There was no leak on the floor and they pressure tested it and no leaks, upon further inspcetion in was leaking on the Intake manifold gasket. Its fixed now, no leaks bit still an odd stinky smell.

Those are EXACTLY the same symptoms I'm having. Pressure test revealed nothing. Leaking coolant like it's being served in a martini bar!

Thanks! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I am undecided about my engine failure. I would like to believe that it was a head gasket failure and my rebuild really was needed. But there is this nagging voice in my head that says I over reacted and all it needed was a new intake gasket. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Live and learn?

About a year ago I bought a Cheep Cherokee ($100.), the former owner said it had a cracked block (diagnosed by the local Heep dealer) I only bought it for the tires, figured IÆd part the rest out. When I started poking at it though I found one of the hoses was not well seated and had a loose clamp. After replacing the hose and the clamps it no longer had any leaks. Sold it cheep to a neighbors kid at a slight profit. So I guess this is my rambling way of suggesting to check the simple things first.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

ED

Try tightening down the intake manifold bolts first. One of the problems with this kind of leak is that if you lose enough coolant, the leak is above the top of the coolant in the system, and you won't see a water leak when stopped.

But go easy on those IM bolts, don't forget that the studs are threaded into alluminum - not steel! Are you sure it isn't coming from the heater pipe connection & just dripping into the valley between the heads?

Could be... how would I know if it was?

I guess the first step would be to check if there's coolant sitting in the valley to begin with - maybe stick a hand pump vacuum hose down there & see if sucks anything up? That whole thing is so buried! I know when I was putting my top end back together, I tried my best to make sure that that heater pipe o-ring was seated & sealed right 'cause going back at it would mean pulling the plenum.... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I have an 87'Ram 50 and it leaks too. My husband noticed it, he thinks it is from the thermostat housing as well becaus I guess a bolt is stripped. To help stop our leak we put some radiator stop leak stuff and it seems to work fine. Probably not the best, but until we can afford to put it in the shop and get the hole re-tapped it helps not over heating.