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COOLANT LEAK

Simtech3

By Simtech3
in Ask A GM Technician

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Simtech3 New Member

Simtech3

Posted
Posted

I noticed a problem with my '93 chevy Silverado, 5.7L V8. I have coolant leaking from the pan that cover the flywheel and torque converter. I was told that possibly one of my freeze plugs may has popped out. I going to remove the cover pan today and see what I can find. I am not the greatest at home mechanic but I can get around the truck, does the transmittion have to be dropped to get the the freeze plugs in the back of the engine or is it possible to replace the plugs without dropping the trans. I have read in the forums on some chevy trucks the trans has to be dropped and other posts state that I should be able to get to them and replace them with the trans in place. Problem is if it has to be dropped, I do not have the proper tools to do the work. Any idea of cost a repair like this may be if I have to send it out for repair? :chevrolet:

GM-Tech Senior Enthusiast

GM-Tech

Posted
Posted

You absolutely have to take the trans and flywheel/flexplate out to get at core plugs in the back of the block.

 

Even plugs that are in somewhat accessible areas can be difficult to get in squarely so they don't leak. Not a lot of room to swing a hammer squarely, no matter where the plug is at. No way you could even touch one of the plugs in the back of the block without removing the trans, let alone replace them.

 

Probably cost you 5-6 hours labor, plus parts, which are pretty minimal.

Simtech3 New Member

Simtech3

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  • Author
Posted
You absolutely have to take the trans and flywheel/flexplate out to get at core plugs in the back of the block.

 

Even plugs that are in somewhat accessible areas can be difficult to get in squarely so they don't leak.  Not a lot of room to swing a hammer squarely, no matter where the plug is at.    No way you could even touch one of the plugs in the back of the block without removing the trans, let alone replace them.

 

Probably cost you 5-6 hours labor, plus parts, which are pretty minimal.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the information, I remove the cover but could not see the plugs. I assume that is due to them being behind the flywheel.

Should I take this to a transmission shop or should my mechanic be able to do this for me. I have a mechanic that has been doing work on my car if I can't. Would he be able to take care of it?

GM-Tech Senior Enthusiast

GM-Tech

Posted
Posted
How would I know if your mechanic is qualified to do this?

 

 

 

Well, he is ASE certified just like you.

 

 

 

 

 

He should have no problem performing this task. Any halfway decent mechanic can pull a trans. Don't have to be ASE certified to do that. I put a clutch in my 64 Malibu SS in the driveway, in the dead of winter, with only jackstands, when I was 19 years old and nowhere near what anyone would call a "mechanic".

Wingnut Senior Enthusiast

Wingnut

Posted
Posted

I dropped my first tranny when I was 16, and had to drop that sucker on my chest and scoot out from under the truck with it.

 

Luckily it was a manual, and on a Toyota. Not sure how that dropping it on the chest thing would have worked out on a fullsize auto transmission.

 

Dad sat in his Lazy boy in a warm living room laughing....Bastard. :chevrolet:

rx7xj Enthusiast

rx7xj

Posted
Posted
I noticed a problem with my '93 chevy Silverado, 5.7L V8. I have coolant leaking from the pan that cover the flywheel and torque converter. I was told that possibly one of my freeze plugs may has popped out. I going to remove the cover pan today and see what I can find. I am not the greatest at home mechanic but I can get around the truck, does the transmittion have to be dropped to get the the freeze plugs in the back of the engine or is it possible to replace the plugs without dropping the trans. I have read in the forums on some chevy trucks the trans has to be dropped and other posts state that I should be able to get to them and replace them with the trans in place. Problem is if it has to be dropped, I do not have the proper tools to do the work. Any idea of cost a repair like this may be if I have to send it out for repair? :chevrolet:

 

 

 

 

I had a coolant leak on my 97 but it turned out to be the intake gasket. You may want to check out the area around the block/intake/head at the rear of the engine for coolant leaks

Wingnut Senior Enthusiast

Wingnut

Posted
Posted

Good point. Make sure that it isn't something else leaking before you drop the tranny.

 

There is a fitting on the intake manifold (heater hose) passenger side, near the rear, that will corrode and leak. When mine was leaking, it ran down and was dripping off the area around the bell housing. I've seen several start leaking there. I'm sure GM-Tech has seen his share as well.

 

I had a heck of time tracking it down at first, then I had a heck of a time fixing it because the second I put a wrench on the fitting, it snapped off. Good times, good times. Probably easier to pull the whole manifold at that point.

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