Coolant leak from driver's side back of engine near firewall. HG?

r4a2m0o · Jan 17, 2023

I am losing coolant externally when the engine is under heavy load (highish boost/rpm). It high up like around the level of the heads. I could see coolant on the firewall by opening the hood. If I keep my foot out of the throttle and baby it around it doesn't lose much if any coolant. I think it may be the water jacket on that last cylinder on the driver's side but not 100% sure. Is there anything else in that area that can leak coolant under load? It's not the coolant hose in the valley on that side it's something else. I think it's head gaskets but I haven't really dived into it yet, would appreciate any suggestions on where to look first.

If it was HG would a cooling system pressure tester show it?

Since there's no coolant getting into the cylinder, just an external leak, I was thinking about trying BG cooling system sealer or something similar. Are there any downsides to this? Would like to avoid doing HG's as long as possible but will bite the bullet if I have to.

Thanks.

ChevyTech77 · Jan 17, 2023

Don’t use a sealer. They create more issues than they fix.

Pressure test the system and look for the leak. Possibility that it is the oil cooler elbow or something simple like that.

roachwe · Jan 17, 2023

The use of sealers should not be used unless broke down beside road and no tow truck available. Or for a temporary patch job. Once that stuff is installed it still may or may not stop the leak and will still need to be repaired once you get back home. Just had a ranger come in leaking/blowing water last week and running hot. I know it is different engine but either way the result is the same. When I removed the heads one head gasket was blown. Then the owner told me he put in some type stop leak a year ago to fix the leak. Every supply and return hole in the head gaskets were full of copper sand. Not even one passage was open for water to pass. The radiator os stopped up as well and will need to be replaced. I still have never seen anything get fix correctly from a bottle.

r4a2m0o · Jan 19, 2023

Wow ok. Understood. I figured it didn't make sense but I have heard some success stories.

I got a coolant pressure test kit hopefully it gives me an answer I will post when I have a chance to do it. Thanks.

Coolant leak from driver's side back of engine near firewall. HG?

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