Infamous Coolant leak...Help

1 Bad Burb · December 8, 2003

i have a leak. it is one of those leaks that are very common in our trucks. not at the manifold, but somewhere else on top of the engine. im not sure where it is, but a mecanic told me its b/c the factory over torqued a bolt or nut or soemthing which causes the gasket to crack. Something of that nature. can anyone tell me what this is exactly? they said it would cost 600 ish... Also, i will be takin this truck on a 700 mile drive? is it ok to do so??? so long as i keep fillin with coolant? the leak is not that bad at all, but noticeable... please give me advice..

Aj

bfrd22 · December 8, 2003

Depends on how bad the leak is i guess.

If it's running out in a stream fix it now.

I had the same issue with my 94 5.7 $600 to repair 2 yrs ago.

I still havn't fixed it. minor leak. I'll loose about 3 gallons over a year.

Towed my trailer all over, did some wheelin, not a moments trouble out of the leak.

I Carry a jug of anti freeze mix in the tool box just incase I need a top up out in the bush or on the road.

k1500chevy97 · December 8, 2003

My 4.3 blew the intake gasket about 3 years ago (2-1-01)now it is very common on the 350 and 4.3s .

When it was leaking it was around the top of the engine in the rear .

The mechanic who did the job for me also replaced the water pump at the same time.

If its only leaking a small amount right now like drop here and there i wouldnt worry too much about it .

600 dollars sounds a bit high just for the intake gasket .

when i got mine done the replaced the water pump (187.79) , valve cover gaskets , intake gasket, and plenium gasket and it only came out to 552.09 with labor .

Wingnut · December 8, 2003

If it's on top of the engine, and it's coolant....I almost has to be the manifold.

Or at least the place on the manifold that the heater plugs into. It does leak on quite a few of these rigs. Did it on my 92, and my neighbors 97 Tahoe.

If it's the heater connection...On your truck, I believe it's towards the back of the manifold on the passenger side... It is a lot easier to take off the manifold to get at it. It's really fairly easy to get to, but as soon as you put a wrench on it, it will snap off, and need to be tapped out. This is waaaay easier with the manifold off....Which is probably why they want 600 bones to do it.

Just my .02

Ben · December 8, 2003

In-famous lower intake gasket leak. Wacky bolting scheme...non 90* bolting angle has sliding action. Improper tightening crushes and over time self crushs the gasket.

About 4 hours work times local labor rates. Plus materials. About $100 bucks for FelPro gasket (get the thicker one), non-silicone RTV (silicone will poison the O2 sensors & CAT) and flush both coolant and engine oil new filter.

Suggest go to green.

Might as well do the water pump too, as the 5yr/100K mile warranty on DeathCool worthless. My water pump went out driving home from the shop after they fixed the intake manifold gasket...

$500 bucks in my area. $70/hour labor rates.

AZ-Z71 · December 8, 2003

When you start talking heads and intake the price is not cheap. Finding that out the hard way, paying $500 to have the head removed and replaced on one side. The gaskets are not cheap like you would think. I think the head gasket has a list of $280. I'll probably get all my gaskets, head, exhaust and intake for around $200 total and I know some one is still making money on that. On the early 70's and 80's the gaskets are a lot cheaper. Now a days these gaskets are metal with some rubber inset to seal around the ports, at least that is my experience with the ones I saw. Two gaskets for the water pump cost me $7 total. Maybe the metal prevents crushing, maybe it is to add rigid support. Expensive if you ask me.