Anti Freeze Leak

[Garabe]

Hey All,

New to the forum, thanks for having me. I have a 04 GMC 1500 pickup with a 4.3 engine. Base truck with 34000 miles. I have anti freeze on the intake manifold. I've could smell it after getting out of the truck.

I could not see where its coming from but it seem to be a small leak, but is getting worse. I have not added any anti freeze yet as it only down maybe a cup or two.

Is this a common problem and if so do you know where they leak from ?

Thanks

Gary

[Zembonez]

Hey All,

New to the forum, thanks for having me. I have a 04 GMC 1500 pickup with a 4.3 engine. Base truck with 34000 miles. I have anti freeze on the intake manifold. I've could smell it after getting out of the truck.

I could not see where its coming from but it seem to be a small leak, but is getting worse. I have not added any anti freeze yet as it only down maybe a cup or two.

Is this a common problem and if so do you know where they leak from ?

Thanks

Gary

Sounds like the famous intake manifold leak. Fix it before you have to buy an engine! My 01 Silverado did it, I waited, ended up installing a new engine.

[Westlotorn]

Been there, done that.

 

Fel Pro makes an improved intake manifold gasket for the 4.3L and the GM 5.7L.

 

The 4.3L uses part number MS 98002T, comes with everything you need to fix a leaking manifold gasket.

 

The factory used a plastic carrier for this gasket. This new Fel Pro design uses a steel carrier. Far more robust and a life of the engine product. The factory gaskets all fail but usually between 60 and 100,000 miles or when the antifreeze gets old. Old antifreeze attacks the factory gasket and eats it right out of your engine.

 

You will need an inch pound torque wrench to do this right. The factory says you need new manifold bolts on this job but that is only because the new bolts come with a locking compound on the new bolts. You can buy Blue Thread locker and use it with your old manifold bolts.

 

Follow torque sequence carefully and do not exceed the factory torque. It is very low, memory says 11 pounds or so and they want you to torque this in 3 stages.

 

Not too bad a job, 3 to 5 hours start to finish. Be sure not to get any of the old manifold debree down into your engine. Keep it all clean.

$ 450 to 850. in a shop for this repair and they do several every month.

 

If I remember right the gasket kit cost 50 to 65.00 compared to the factory type gasket for around 25.00 but I only wanted to fix this problem once and really liked the new Fel Pro design.

 

Most important, if this is your problem the leaks are always at the front or rear corners of the intake manifold where the water ports are.

If your leak is somewhere else this is not your solution. The manifold can also leak internally because of this gasket failure and let antifreeze drip into the engine oil. If your leak is external you are lucky to find it and not need a new engine.

[Garabe]

I thought they fixed that in 04, with new inproved gaskets. Where is a good place to buy the new kit, can I get it at a locale auto store or is it mail order only ? Should I ditch the dexcool and go green ?

 

Thanks for the help.

[markw8]

this wasn't caused by the Dex-cool. Mark.

[Garabe]

this wasn't caused by the Dex-cool. Mark.

 

 

If not the dexcool then what would be the problem with a 04 truck with 34000 miles.

Just like to prevent it from happening again.

Thanks

Gary

[Zembonez]

this wasn't caused by the Dex-cool. Mark.

 

 

If not the dexcool then what would be the problem with a 04 truck with 34000 miles.

Just like to prevent it from happening again.

Thanks

Gary

 

Problem was a crappy designed part. Dexcool had nothing to do with it. The new redesigned parts are made for the long haul.

[Garabe]

With only 34000 miles will GM pick up the tab ? It is a 04 truck but This is bull.

Thanks again,

Gary

[Zembonez]

With only 34000 miles will GM pick up the tab ? It is a 04 truck but This is bull.

Thanks again,

Gary

Not gonna get that answer here. Go talk nicely to your dealer. Never know. If you go in guns blazing and pissed all you will do is give them the great pleasure of telling you NO.

 

Nice and firm will go a long way.

[Draenor]

With only 34000 miles will GM pick up the tab ? It is a 04 truck but This is bull.

Thanks again,

Gary

Not gonna get that answer here. Go talk nicely to your dealer. Never know. If you go in guns blazing and pissed all you will do is give them the great pleasure of telling you NO.

 

Nice and firm will go a long way.

 

+1 I have an '04 with about 28K on the clock and my dealer still takees me in on warranty work. You just have to be nice.

[Garabe]

They told me water pump and thermostat gasket to the tune of $535.00 and change. They did a pressure test. ($40.00) Not sure I buy that.

I'll go get my truck and deal with it myself, Ill look it over a little better. wather pump weep hole is on top and looks dry, have to pull the skid plate to see the bottom of the pump.

Water pump life time $54.00. Thremostat gasket $2.00.

The thing is I put a socket on one of the intake bolts the other day and it was a little loose.....we'll see.

Thanks

Gary

[markw8]

Gary, are you sure that bolt was loose? With the composite manifold, and the type gasket used, compared to the older iron manifolds, all the bolts are loose. Mark.

['94 9c1 novice]

Just had this problem with my 2002. Sucks finding out it's the water pump gasket instead of a intake gasket. A lot of work for intake gasket replacement on my 5.3L.

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=72905

[Garabe]

Gary, are you sure that bolt was loose? With the composite manifold, and the type gasket used, compared to the older iron manifolds, all the bolts are loose. Mark.

 

 

I wonderd about that, so I didn't really reaf on it, just snuged it up alttle. Anyone know the right tork ?

 

I have not had time to look it over yet, I 'm not driving it so it can wait. I'll get at it soon.

 

'94 9C1 Novice

 

Thats to bad, I'm hoping the dealer was right, I just don't trust them, and their price is nuts-o. I can do the work but was shooting for the dealer to fix it if it was the intake.

 

Thanks Guys

[Westlotorn]

Dexcool came up in this post.

I have heard it is now better than it was 5 years ago.

The original Dexcool made for a lot of good business on the repair side.

Some of this may be because people did not change it when it reached 4 to 5 years age.

Radiator shops will tell you it has helped them by clogging passages.

Engine rebuilders have seen it eat Aluminum on the heads and damage sensors.

Many repair shops and mechanics including some GM Dealerships switched to using the old Green

Glycol mix. It is only good for 2 years but it is predictable. Over 2 years old the Glycol mix starts becoming acidic and eats things also.

Fel-Pro engineers have claimed that the original Dexcool will soften the plastic carrier in your intake gaskets when the Dexcool ages.

Is that 3 years old or more, I have no idea. I think some people read LONG LIFE and think it means forever.

I would not avoid the new Dexcool but I would limit how long it is in the engine.

 

Change your antifreeze every 2 to 3 years and don't worry about it. Money well spent.

 

BTW, the Fel-Pro intake gasket listed is available at almost every parts store. Kragen, Autozone included. Even Napa is switching to Fel-Pro right now.

 

Torque on the 4.3L is included in the Fel-Pro instructions, I think it was either 11 or 14 pounds of torque with very specific instructions on how to torque it in 3 steps. Memory fades fast I should remember. Sorry. Too much torque will distort this plastic intake design. Use an Inch pound torque wrench and blue locktite on the bolts to keep them from coming loose.