Need help with a truck repair!

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » March 16, 2005 1:20 am

I know this will be difficult without seeing the truck, but I am leaking anti-freeze. I have a 1998 Chevy S-10 2.2L 5 speed pick up. I have not driven this vehichle for about two years (no license, which I will be getting back in about a week!) I have started to do some maintenance on it to get it "sea worthy". I have changed the battery, had the ball bearings packed in fresh grease, oil change, new filters and everything else looked at this past Saturday. I went to leave the next day and found a puddle of antifreeze on the driveway. My cousin, who is a GM mechanic can not work on it for two more weeks so I thought I would ask yall what you think might be the reason why it is leaking. This is what I know so far:

1) I drove it to the DMV (about 20 miles round trip) to take my drivers test and when I came home, the radiator was almost empty.

2) I put new antifreeze in and let the truck sit for a week with no new antifreeze dripping on the cardboard box that I laid under it.

3) I have gone out and checked the levels of the antifreeze everyday since then and it has not gone down.

4) I drove the truck today for about 12 miles (around the block about 7 times) and when I parked it, I checked underneath about an hour later and found a spot of antifreeze on a new sheet of cardboard that I placed under it when I got home.

5) I checked the levels again about 5 minutes ago, after the truck has sat for about 6 hours and no new drippings of antifreeze.

6) I am almost 99% positive that there is no oil in the radiator (it might be a tad dirty from sitting parked for so long) and am 100% positive that there is no antifreeze in the oil.

I know almost nothing when it comes to a car's engine, so I am lost with this. I have had the truck now for almost five years and this is the first problem I have had with it and it still runs like a champ. I guess I am wondering if it could be:

A) the water pump
B) the head gasket
C) the intake manifold
D) a leaky hose (I hope - I just got the truck paid off about a year ago and don't want another car payment)

Any help or suggestion would be most appreciated!

pirate@43 · Post by **pirate@43** » March 16, 2005 1:50 am

A) the water pump
B) the head gasket
C) the intake manifold
D) a leaky hose
It could be any of those, or a radiator. It sounds like it only leaks while it's under pressure. you should look for leaks after runnig it long enought to get it hot. You didn't say where the leak was near, the front, back, or sides of the engine compartment.

Lastplaneout · Post by **Lastplaneout** » March 16, 2005 1:54 am

pirate@43 wrote:A) the water pump
B) the head gasket
C) the intake manifold
D) a leaky hose
It could be any of those, or a radiator. It sounds like it only leaks while it's under pressure. you should look for leaks after runnig it long enought to get it hot. You didn't say where the leak was near, the front, back, or sides of the engine compartment.

Pressure leak is correct...start the motor and get under it...also if you so desire you can add a UV additive to it and check it at night...or just do it the cheap way and crack a glowstick in your radiator and look to see where it's flowing from

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » March 16, 2005 1:55 am

pirate@43 wrote:A) the water pump
B) the head gasket
C) the intake manifold
D) a leaky hose
It could be any of those, or a radiator. It sounds like it only leaks while it's under pressure. you should look for leaks after runnig it long enought to get it hot,

The engine got hot (not overheating hot) today when I was driving it. That brings up another point. The truck is not overheating and the temp guage is normal. The best that I can tell is that the leak is coming from the back of the engine block, towards the firewall.

Also, I only have 68966 miles on it. Not sure if that means anything though!

Ilph · Post by **Ilph** » March 16, 2005 7:41 am

Drive by Truckers might be able to help. Aren't they one of those car repair show on cable?

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

HawaiianGator · Post by **HawaiianGator** » March 16, 2005 8:00 am

try the simple first .. hoses... and their connection points. doesnt take much to leak when under pressure, and the rubber hoses will self seal when not under pressure.

the guage may not be reading properly if there is no water ... so be careful.

land_shark3 · Post by **land_shark3** » March 16, 2005 8:07 am

Sounds like the problem I had when I blew my head gasket in my Mustang. The coolant was leaking into the oil. Therefore there were no drips or signs of leakage, it was just going where it wasn't supposed to. The repair on my car was about $1000. Luckily, Ford had a recall on that particular engine so they picked up the tab.