happy holidays everyone,

I noticed a new drip tonight just before dark, dripping off the bottom of the torque converter cover on the trans. It's green fluid. Its coming from the rear of the engine on the passenger side. Before it got too dark I saw it on some bolts behind the exhaust downpipe.

So what are the common problems coming from this area? Heat exchanger?

I'll do my homework tonight and be ready to get schooled tomorrow.

 

Transmission cooler gizmo located low on the right-side of the engine; coolant runs through it.

It hopefully is just one of it's hoses.

 

hopefully heat exchanger and not head gasket.

 

The other charming possibility is the freeze plug on the back of the block.

 

Curious to know how hard it would be to get to that plug, Dave.

 

probibly have to pull the motor to get to that one.

 

If it were that freeze-plug, I would try some stick-type two-part epoxy before I would pull the engine.

That stuff works miracles if you can get it where it needs be.

 

Well,

None of those sound like any fun. I'm never gonna get to gauges and fun stuff.

I wiped the bottom of the TC cover that night and there was no fresh coolant in the morning.

But looking this morning, there was oil pooled up in the holes on top of the head... just below the valve covers on the passenger side.

I don't know if these are related?


Car Wash then drove it for 45 minutes and no oil or coolant in that area.


Before that I ran a rag around the rubber going in and out of the heat exchanger. Both are very clean.

Oil pressure and water temp have been perfect.

My vent tube underneath has a drip that never drops on the driveway and a light film of crusty old stuff going up as far as I can see.

I have a couple 500 mile trips coming up, so I appreciate any suggestions.

 

Well, you can always keep on driving until the drip gets bigger so you can find it.

I have a leak up near the heater valve that only leaks when its cold, once it warms up it stops. Leaves a 3" or so puddle of coolant each time.

 

Its kind of a PITA even with the transmission out. It is a stout steel plug with not much room to work with. I couldn't imagine trying to get it out with tranny/engine still in place.

Aaron

 

That just sounds like leaky valve cover gaskets.

 

After the car wash, I retorqued all the valve covers. I have 6 month old grey cummins gaskets. So I am suprised they leaked.


Drove about 45 minutes up some good hills on the freeway here. Only leak so far is oil.


This is head gasket, right? (Heat exchanger is at the bottom of pic, manifold on top.)

I've got low miles(relative) and not much in the way of fuel or boost. So, what would be the cause of this? And do you think it's worth tightening the head down or leave it alone til it gets worse?

Thanks.

 

that looks like a bad leak, I doubt tightening will do anything for that. Your going to have to replace the HG. If you have the tools and do it yourself your loking at less then $150 for new gasket kit and misc. stuff. If you put it in a shop your looking at just over $1,000 for parts and labor.

 

That's the head gasket, no doubt about it. At least you don't have to do it while dodging snowflakes...