On my 2003 Impala w/ 3.8 L I have a coolant leak that looks like it is from the engine block somewhere near the harmonic balancer. I thought it was the water pump & changed it but it wasn't the problem. Would anyone out there recommend Barh's Head Gasket & Engine Coolant leak sealer? I see that they have a product that costs $30.00 at Auto Zone. Is it worth a try?
Coolant leak
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There are some plastic water tubes behind the alternator that crack and leak. Intake manifold gasket is also a possibility.
The plastic pipes look like this.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-02-3-8...=item5ae0042c83
The plastic pipes look like this.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-02-3-8...=item5ae0042c83
intake gaskets always leak on these, if you ever replace the intake gaskets use the felpro ones, NOT THE GM ONES!!! the felpro gaskets will be the last you will ever have to install.
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Agreed with the above. Also if it is the elbows, only replace them with genuine GM parts. The aftermarket elbows will leak or break much sooner than you want them to. Also replace the elbows if you're doing the intake, even if they're not leaking.
Quote:
NOT THE GM ONES!!!
Why not?
OP +1 on the plastic elbow from the tensioner to the LIM.
LIM leaks on these are usually close to the intake ports where the heads coolant passages are, not front or rear.
Also look at the heater hose inlet and outlet o rings.
+1 on using only GM OEM elbow, the ones from HELP are not very stable and leak proof.
NOT THE GM ONES!!!
Why not?
OP +1 on the plastic elbow from the tensioner to the LIM.
LIM leaks on these are usually close to the intake ports where the heads coolant passages are, not front or rear.
Also look at the heater hose inlet and outlet o rings.
+1 on using only GM OEM elbow, the ones from HELP are not very stable and leak proof.
Chris142 was right, thank you very much. I found the leak. It's coming out of the elbow which was located under the Altinator & from the heater hose to the engine. From the picture that Chris enclosed it looks like worn O-rings on the elbow. Do I have to take off the valve cover to get those off? I can't figure out how much of a project to replace them.
I'm trying to visualize what you have. Do you have one going from the side of the tensioner to the LIM and 2 heater hose stubs up on top to the rear?
I only have a 2000 GTP and a GT here so they maybe slightly different.
In any case the elbows usually have crack, if its coming from the O-Ring its normally not a worn O-Ring but corrosion pitting of the aluminum housing.
In either case a new elbow with rings is needed or in the case of the stub outs which are metal just new rings.
Sand the inside of the housing with 600 wet and dry and put a film of RTV around the O-Rings, it will fill any minor corrosion pitting and seal well, this is fairly common.
I only have a 2000 GTP and a GT here so they maybe slightly different.
In any case the elbows usually have crack, if its coming from the O-Ring its normally not a worn O-Ring but corrosion pitting of the aluminum housing.
In either case a new elbow with rings is needed or in the case of the stub outs which are metal just new rings.
Sand the inside of the housing with 600 wet and dry and put a film of RTV around the O-Rings, it will fill any minor corrosion pitting and seal well, this is fairly common.
Im don't know what the LIM is but you described it perfectly. I was able to get new elbows. Can you give me an idea how much I have to remove to replace them? Do I have to remove the water pump etc. Thanks for your help!
Originally Posted By: Trav
Quote:
NOT THE GM ONES!!!
Why not?
OP +1 on the plastic elbow from the tensioner to the LIM.
LIM leaks on these are usually close to the intake ports where the heads coolant passages are, not front or rear.
Also look at the heater hose inlet and outlet o rings.
+1 on using only GM OEM elbow, the ones from HELP are not very stable and leak proof.
the felpro intake gaskets were designed to fix the common problem of the intake gaskets failing, they are much thicker then the factory ones and have several ribs on the mating surface to provide more sealing surface, gm never redesigned these gaskets to prevent this problem so you would just be putting the same failure prone gaskets back on it. i would be very surprised if yours are not leaking if they are original.
Quote:
NOT THE GM ONES!!!
Why not?
OP +1 on the plastic elbow from the tensioner to the LIM.
LIM leaks on these are usually close to the intake ports where the heads coolant passages are, not front or rear.
Also look at the heater hose inlet and outlet o rings.
+1 on using only GM OEM elbow, the ones from HELP are not very stable and leak proof.
the felpro intake gaskets were designed to fix the common problem of the intake gaskets failing, they are much thicker then the factory ones and have several ribs on the mating surface to provide more sealing surface, gm never redesigned these gaskets to prevent this problem so you would just be putting the same failure prone gaskets back on it. i would be very surprised if yours are not leaking if they are original.
I wish to thank all that replied. It turned out to be the 2 plastic elbows from the heater hose manfold to the engine . The elbows were disenegrated just past the O-ring on both ends & both elbows. I followed the advise & put RTV on the O-ring. I'll let it cure over night & see what happens tomorrow. The job was easier than I thought. I didn't have to take off the water pump which is new.
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