I seem to have a coolant leak and it's not from a hose( I think). There are two puddles.
Soo what is the most likely culprit?
Coolant temp sender?
intake manifold gasket.
Water pump?
I removed and bypassed the Plenum heater long ago. Do the nipples leak? It won't leak with the hood up., so I'm stumped.

Sorry for the newbie question.
http://pics.montypics.com/Old_Scout/2002-08-26/coolant.jpg

OS,
Did you:

Pressure test the system? One easy way to check for physical leaks is to blow off/dry the suspected areas, then pressure test the system to look for obvious leaks. You can also purchase a uv dye to put in the system. To use it, clean and dry the areas that are suspect, and then run/drive the vehicle to operating speed. Don your uv glasses and using a uv light check for leaks. I have seen alot of intake manifolds go on these vehicles. There are also leaks that will ONLY leak at certain pressures, this is why you probably can't see it at idle. I had a hose that leaked only under load at about 3500 rpm. That was a pisser. Pun intended. Hope this helps.

j

Maybe a Ramjet 350 would help things out:flipoff2:

Originally posted by Way
Maybe a Ramjet 350 would help things out:flipoff2: :eek: I find Chebby motors repulsive!:mad:

o.k. then maybe a 351 would help things out :) :flipoff2: However I do not know of anyone that makes adapters....LOL...

I've been brainstorming on how you can find the leak. Here is my idea on the coolent leak since it only seems to leak when driving. You could have your wife carefully drive aroud the neiborhood at 25MPH for a few hours to get things warmed up with the hood open and you could safely hold on to your bull bar for stability while you look for the leak. :D Just to be on the safe side, you could wear a head lamp instead of holding a flashlight. (you know... Just in case she takes the corners to fast.)

I had a few more ideas, but this one seemed to be the best and the most fun.

Way

Small problem. NO WIFE!

looks like the inlet manifold gasket is leaking. they all seem to at some stage.
you gotta pull all the plenum stuff off to get at it, not too hard really.

when you install the new gasket, it pays to smear a little grease on the underside of it, as when you tighten the inlet manifold down, the gasket can stretch and tear (in know it's metal, but it has happened).

Jamie

OS,

I have been talking to someone about the intake manifolds recently.

Seems the Buick 215 intake manifold is notorious for loosening bolts on it causing leaks.

Rover fixed most of the problem, but the rearward two bolts (one on each side) still seem to come loose and cause leaks. That leak allows coolant to run down the bellhousing and onto the catalytic converters however, so you probably won't see any drips on the driveway, but you might smell evaporating coolant if you're in tune (so to speak).

This doesn't explain the coolant in the valley though, just thought I'd pass it on for future reference.

Good luck!

Are you running red coolant or is the power steering the culprit here. :flipoff2: (can't tell if you colored using photoshop or not..)

Does it spray onto the underside of the hood ? Dry it up there and tape some newpaper and tool around while it warms up and looks for squirts to maybe better isolate the leak..

Water pump could be leaking from the bottom with the fan forcing it upand it just pools there.

I'm running Dexcool(orange). I just ordered a intake manifold gasket and upper/lower rad hose. I hope that's it:(

Make sure to get the end seals and preferably new end clamps as well.

Also could be a warped throttle body thingy or the associated hoses (my guess).

Ron

Originally posted by evilfij


Also could be a warped throttle body thingy or the associated hoses (my guess).

Ron
Nope I remove the intake plenum heater (see 1st post)

Ok so I am wrong.

Ron

PS must be nice to live in someplace warm

I spent a ton of time in Tahoe this winter. I fought a few snow storms going up I-80. I drove around town in 20F weather for over a week and never had a problem with icing.