coolant leak

cllowe

cllowe

Test Drive
Location
pleasant view TN
So I have been looking for a leak off and on for a couple of months and have possibly narrowed it down to two things. I think its either a intake gasket or a head gasket. I was looking the other day when it was really clear and sunny and just at the right angle I could see where it has ran down the side of the block. So I checked it out more and it was wet around the head gasket. Is it possible that it could be the intake and following the crack around and dripping down the side of the block? It even ran around the freeze out plug. I honestly dont want to do either or and do not feel comfortable doing either I just dont want to go drop it off at the dealership and say here you go, fix it.

A little background: the leak is not bad just a drop or two. I appears to runn down the block to the bell housing and then drips off right where the transmission bolts up. Every now and then I can smell coolant when I start it. Any suggestions?
 
UofA_Xterra

UofA_Xterra

Bought an X
Location
NV
Maybe the O-ring on the thermo element is leaking and coolant is dripping down the block from there. Here is some info from another post on Clubx:


"If you are handy it is not hard. The hardest part was getting the thermo elememt out of the throttle body.

Mine was a little hard to get out because of the corrosion. I tried to get it out with the throttle body on the engine but it was too hard to do and I was afraid I might damage something. Take the throttle body off and remove the screw & clamp. On mine the spring loaded arm that rests against the thermo element would not rotate on the shaft. So I took that off. If yours rotates by spring tension you can leave the spring assembly as is. BUT I do not know if you can get the thermo element out or not. If not carefully take the nut off that holds the plate that the spring connects to. Draw yourself a picture or take a close up photo so you will know how to put it back together. I used steel wool to clean the shaft and put a dab of silicone grease on the shaft when I put it back together so the spring assembly would rotate freely.

To remove the thermo element I took a small screwdriver and a small hammer. I used the screw driver to come in at an angle and try to drive the thermo element out. I nicked the brass on the thermo element in several places but that does not hurt it. Finally it started to move out so I kept working around the perimiter and it finally came out far enough to get a small screwdriver blade in the gap between the thermo element and the aluminun body. Then I worked around the perimiter and pried it out.

The 0-ring was hard and broke when I took it out of the grove with a dental pick. I cleaned the corrosion from the element and from the inside of the housing with steel wool. If you nicked the brass or the aluminum that wil prevent the element from going all the way down clean it up with a small file.

I got an o-ring that fit the groove and was a pretty snug fit when pressed into the hole. When I put it together I put a thin coat of silicone grease on the o-ring before I put it in the groove and it pushed nicely into the hole.

The auto store did not have a new throttle body gasket but mine stuck to the plenum and only tore slightly at 2 small places at the outer edge. They did not effect the seal so I put a thin coat of grease on the gasket and put it back together. I use grease on gaskets like this anyway as it helps the seal and it keeps them from sticking if yu take it apart again.

I hope this helps. All it cost me was an hour and 87 cents."


 
cllowe

cllowe

Test Drive
Location
pleasant view TN
It was not mixing with the oil. It was leaking on the outside of the gasket. I took it to my
Mechanic and he said I could replace it for around 2k or fix it with black pepper for free.
So I tried the pepper and not a drop after a couple of weeks. After some research I found
That pepper is better than slot of newer sealers.
 
cllowe

cllowe

Test Drive
Location
pleasant view TN
Yeah regular black pepper. He told me to put half of a plastic shaker in the
Radiator then start it and let it get warm and I would be good to go. He said
That when the pepper gets hot it gets very soft and when it finds a hole it will
go to it. Then when it hits cold air it turns extremely hard and seals the hole
He said I would be good for at least 3 to 4 years. He also said that unlike alot
of sealers that it will not clog anything.
 
Cameron23

Cameron23

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
Kansas
cllowe said:
Yeah regular black pepper. He told me to put half of a plastic shaker in the
Radiator then start it and let it get warm and I would be good to go. He said
That when the pepper gets hot it gets very soft and when it finds a hole it will
go to it. Then when it hits cold air it turns extremely hard and seals the hole
He said I would be good for at least 3 to 4 years. He also said that unlike alot
of sealers that it will not clog anything.
Click to expand...

Ill let you try it first


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