95 chevy 3/4 with 350 drinks coolant

S

SDE

Well-known Member

• Mar 10, 2013

• #1

I have had this truck about two years. I put a few hundred miles on it a year. Is there a way to determine whether it is leaking at just the intake manifold gasket?
I had bought a GM car ($100) and the previous owners son had overheated it and blown the head gasket. So would I be foolish to do just the intake gasket? It does not use a lot of coolant and it isn't overheating either.
Thank you
Steve

 

H

Hay_Man

Member

• Mar 10, 2013

• #1

The one I had did that, I didn't catch it in time and the lifters and cam wore out because of the coolant mixed with the oil. The oil didn't look milky like it had water in it, but the engine had to be replaced. I put a crate engine it it for $1500.00 from the Dealer.

 

T

The Red

Well-known Member

• Mar 10, 2013

• #1

I had a 1994 GMC Sierra 1500, with the 350, that developed that problem around 50,000 miles. Manifold gasket had to be replaced.

 

Goose

Well-known Member

• Mar 10, 2013

• #1

Run the engine with the radiator cap off and see if there are bubbles in the coolant. Bubbles would indicate a head gasket problem.

Not too scientific, but it's one indicator.

 

H

Hay_Man

Member

• Mar 10, 2013

• #1

You should see vapor and smell coolant burning at the exhaust pipe also if it has head gasket blown. Probably just the common intake gasket failure.

 

OP

OP

S

SDE

Well-known Member

• Mar 10, 2013

• #1

That is so simply and I had heard about doing that before, but I am a CRS sufferer and need people like you keep me from being a total screw up.
Thank you
Steve

 

B

bobs old iron

Well-known Member

• Mar 10, 2013

• #1

if you have/borrow a rad pressure tester, that can tell if a leak is happening,,, also, check around the heater core/hoses, make sure that's not leaking under pressure..

 

OP

OP

S

SDE

Well-known Member

• Mar 10, 2013

• #1

This truck does not have a stock exhaust system. The tail pipe is missing and I will need to crawl under it to check out the mufflers outlet. I know I have used my finger to wipe out the inside of tailpipes to smell them for coolant. A sweet smell is coolant.
Thank you
SDE

 

F

farmer boy

Well-known Member

• Mar 10, 2013

• #1

Check the oil first for contamination. Another option is that it's leaking into a cylinder. Pull the plugs and look for any that are clean. Also check the rear of the engine where the intake manifold sits for any leaking. These engine, though not nearly to the extent of the early Vortecs, were(are) known to have the occasional bad lower intake gasket.

 

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Mar 10, 2013

• #1

Blazer did that - was weepeing slow slightly from the water pump that it did n't show until pressure test.

 

H

Hay_Man

Member

• Mar 10, 2013

• #1

Ya, mine was a '98. Replaced engine at 135,000 miles because of the intake gasket leak problem.

 

D

Determined

Well-known Member

• Mar 10, 2013

• #1

-Start it up cold and see how long it takes for the upper rad hose to feel firm, if it does in just a few minutes it is the head gasket.
-Let it sit overnight then remove the oil drain plug and see if any coolant is at the bottom of the pan, intake or head gasket.
-Moisture below the glove box in flooring or windows fogging up inside with heater on =heater core
-Set a large piece of cardboard under the engine overnight to help locate source of small leaks.
-Crawl under it with a light and check for weeping at block heater and frost plugs, look for weeping from hole at bottom of water pump leaving a stain down the casting.
-While you are there take along a screwdriver and snug up hose clamps.
Dave

 

H

Hay_Man

Member

• Mar 10, 2013

• #1

I do remember moisture on the oil dipstick at the time...........up high on the stick like it condensed in the upper tube. I was so used to the trouble free and dependable chevy engines, I never suspected a coolant leak into the oil at the time........

 

B

Bob

Well-known Member

• Mar 10, 2013

• #1

Borrow, rent or buy an "engine block tester", which uses a chemical that changes color if there are combustion products in the coolant. Below is a link to ONE brand.

But, the odds are in favor of leaky water crossover areas in the intake gaskets.
Engine block tester

 

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Mar 10, 2013

• #1

SDE This may not help any, but I had a Ford Ranger that I had to add coolant all along. I needed to have my fuel pressure tested, and the mechanic noticed a white substance on the exhaust manifold. He said it was anti freeze that ran out on the exhaust and evaporated. That was why I never saw any leaks. Had a crack in the head next to the exhaust manifold.

 

A

ASEguy

Well-known Member

Location

Festus MO

• Mar 11, 2013

• #1

I would do as Bob suggested. If you don't want to but the kit, Take it to a shop that has one and have it tested. Gerard

 

R

Revredneck

Member

• Mar 11, 2013

• #1

I would bet it's the intake manifold gaskets. Still, you need to do a pressure test to pinpoint the problem. Head gasket is possible, but not likely, in my experience.
Good Luck and God Bless

 

OP

OP

S

SDE

Well-known Member

• Mar 11, 2013

• #1

I ran the engine tonight and there were not any signs of air bubbles in the radiator. I will take a better look at it again tomorrow. Thank you everyone.
SDE

 

I

IndianaRed

Member

• Mar 12, 2013

• #1

Had that same common problem with mine. Old-timer at the parts store told me to try those little six packs of brown tablets. Cheapest fix-it stuff. Stopped mine from using for over 400,000 miles after that. And I switched to green coolant.