northslope

Have had my truck for 3 years it has always had a coolant disappearing trick fix a few elbows along the way new rad cap so on and so forth. Here's the catch usually when one can smell antifreeze when one turns the heater on that would mean that the core is more than likely leaking and one eventually starts to see evidence on the floor board or steam on the windshield which I have neither, but what I do have is the distinct antifreeze smell with the heater on even on low with no evidence of a leak other than using a half gallon every three or so weeks. PLEASE DON'T SAY HEATER CORE IS DEAD! anyone else have the same prob?

P.J

Your heater core is dead.

P.J

No, really. If you are smelling that sweet aroma in the cab I would guess it's dripping (or steaming) in the area of the core/heater box. I hope for your sake I'm wrong because I have read that taking the dash apart is a royal PITA. One thing is fore sure, you don't want a gallon and a half riding on the passenger floor!
Good Luck, hopefully someone else has had a similar experience to share with you.

67HotRod

Inhailing antifreeze will put you in the hospital really fast. Ride with the windows down if you have too, get it blocked off or fixed ASAP!

MKELLY

HOW MUCH COOLANT IS LOST IN THE INFAMOUS 53 BLOCK SEGA

Stamey

The 53 leak starts wil the coolant evaporating before it gets away from the block. It gets progressively worse over time, Mine got to the point of 2 gallons in 15 miles before I got it fixed.

Chris

fschiola

I had a Dakota that I was having a problem with coolant disappearing with no visable signs of leaks. I opened the hood one day right after I shut it off and found a pin hole leak in the heater hose that was squirting on the exhaust manifold. It wouldn't do it while it was running, only right after I shut it off.

heavyboostin

Yeah i replaced the heater core with my dad in the garage last winter and it was no fun...I didnt think it was as bad as everyone says, i mean, yeah it sucked but just be patient and work through it and it takes about 5-6 hours. I loved it when i could drive my truck with out smelling the antifreeze and with out having my windows fog up so i couldnt see

Stamey

I suggest you take ti to a shop and have them pressure test the cooling system without the engine running, and see if it loses pressure.

Chris

killfast1

Ok here is what I had and symptoms are similar. On the back of the head on Passenger side. is a really small freeze plug. It had a pin hole rusted in it. Its high enough that the vents will pull it in (smell ) and I could never see where it was leaking.

The only way I found it was it got bad enough that I shut off the truck and heard it hissing.


If you look on the very back of the head on the passenger side. The head has a 45 degree angle just aft of the exhaust manifold. The freeze plug is in that angle.


Phil