I think I located my coolant leak. It's a slow drip, but getting worse quickly. It seems to be coming from a plate that's up against the block right behind the oil filter. There are about 7 or 8 bolts that hold the plate on. WHAT IS IT? Is this something that has coolant running through it or am I just seeing a drip that originates somewhere else? Help!

 

Oil cooler, Better look above that point around/behind the thermo housing. common failure spot for HG to go.

 

HG? What's that? Housing gasket?

 

Headgasket - HG. Oil cooler is submersed in coolant. Coolant passes by the oil cooler.

 

It looked like mine was leaking from the oil cooler but it actually turned out to be a bad water pump, look at the bottom of the water pump and see if its coming from the samll hole on the water pump


Jeff

 

If it is the water pump, can it still leak even when the truck isn't running?

 

Yup , be known as a cold water leak .

 

ouchman, most definately

Thats when i noticed it the most........


Jeff

 

So, is it possible for it to be leaking from the oil cooler plate?

 

Anything is possible. Wash the engine down at a carwash real good. Confirm exactly where the leak is. If it is coming from the oil cooler. Then remove it and inspect, then replace the gaskets it has. There is a gasket between the block and the cooler, then a gasket between the cooler and cover plate. While its out, you can clean and inspect the oil pressure regulator spring, plunger bore and seat. You do have a service manual right?

 

Not yet - just got the truck a couple of weeks ago. Will do!

 

Get yourself a little inspection mirror to see under and around things. when your driving the coolant is probably blowing around and some of it evaporating before you see it. It took me 20K miles to finally spot where my HG was leaking from. It was a small seeping leak that used about 1 quart in the 20K. The water pump has a weep hole in the bottom for if the seal goes south. You probably can see either rusty traces or green silica residual where it comming from.