Coolant leaking from intake manifold
i have replace leaking intake gaskets..both upper and lower using the proper torque specs. now there is a slight coolant leak that appears to be from the lower intake at the front of the engine. i wonder what the heck i could have done wrong??
My car has 125000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. Intake gaskets will seal, however, it is recommended to add some RTV (room temperature vulcanization) silicone to the gasket to seal it on the heads. I recommend using the blue water resistant RTV sealant to help seal up the gaskets. If you need further assistance having this addressed, a qualified professional from YourMechanic can pinpoint the coolant leak and diagnose the underlying causes so that you can have this resolved.
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When intake manifold gaskets become damaged, coolant may begin escaping from its system. Eventually even a relatively small leak will eventually cause coolant levels to drop to dangerous levels. Be sure to take note of any signs that your car may be experiencing a coolant leak.
The upper intake manifold may develop an internal coolant leak causing one or more cylinders to fill with coolant. This can cause the engine to “hydro-lock” and not turn over. Removing the spark plugs will allow the engine to turn over pushing the coolant out of the spark plug holes.
A leaky intake manifold sucks outside air in, rather than dispersing air out. This can cause performance issues including poor fuel economy, decreased acceleration, and engine misfires. Coolant leaks can cause the engine to overheat, although they may not always be visible.
A cracked plastic intake manifold can be fixed a couple of ways. You can replace the manifold (or the section that is leaking), you can seal the leak with epoxy or RTV silicone sealer, or you can repair the leak by welding the plastic with a high-temperature heat gun and a compatible rod of plastic filler material.
Bar`s Leaks Liquid Copper Block Seal Intake & Radiator Stop Leak is designed to chemically repair leaks in the intake manifold and intake manifold gasket, as well as other major cooling system leaks. It will not harm the cooling system when properly installed, nor will it clog the heater core, the company said.
If you have a crack in the intake manifold and it is leaking coolant then when the engine is running and cooling system gets hot and pressurized it will leak coolant at a faster rate causing the engine to overheat and possibility of engine damage may occur.
A cracked engine block can cause a range of problems. Ultimately, since the circulation system that cools the engine is comparatively fragile, a cracked engine block will lead to coolant leaking out of the area it is needed and leaving the engine to overheat.
Sealing Intake Manifold Gaskets. There are a couple of different sealers we like to use when doing this kind of work. To hold the intake gaskets in place on the head, we like Edelbrock`s Gasgacinch, which is a simple contact adhesive. For RTV, we like the Permatex Ultra Gray or Optimum Gray.
Generally a really bad intake manifold gasket will make a car run rough at idle and/or cause a service engine light to illuminate. … As far as driving the car, as long as you don`t have a fluid leak or the car is not stalling or running rough, it should be fine to drive for a few months.
RTV, other sealants or adhesives should not be used around the coolant or intake ports on carrier-style gaskets. The only place RTV silicone may be required is to seal the area where the ends of the intake manifold gaskets mate with the end strip seals on the block under the intake manifold or valley cover.
In addition to a possibly rough, uneven idle speed, you may also hear whistling, sucking, gulping or hissing noises. Your check engine light comes on: Abnormal operating conditions and loss of performance can result from a bad intake manifold.
The intake manifold gasket may develop and external engine oil or coolant leak. In some cases, an internal coolant leak may occur causing coolant to mix with the engine oil. Running the engine with a coolant/oil mix may result in engine damage. Replacing the intake manifold gasket should correct this issue.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Roland, does the 2007 4.7 liter with the plastic intake manifold have coolant passing through to cool the manifold?
ANSWER : Hello. It does not appear that the intake manifold on that model has coolant passages, so it is unlikely that that is the cause of the issue.
I would still carefully examine the intake manifold for any signs of warping, however, as plastic manifolds are more susceptible to warping than aluminum ones.
If the compression test was performed on a cold engine, it may be possible that a cold engine helped seal the pressure. If it feels safe to do so, I would start the engine, warm it up to operating temperature, and then retest the cylinder compression. There are certain cases where the head gasket is blown or the cylinder heads are warped, however, only once the engine is warmed up and the metal expands. If you’d like a second opinion on the car, a certified expert from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the overheating problem and diagnose the issue properly.
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No coolant in the reservoir. Seen low coolant message. I added 2 quarts of 50/50 coolant. Still getting the message. How much coolant doe it need?
ANSWER : Hi there. For the coolant light to go out, you would need to have the coolant between the low line and the full line for the light to go out. If the coolant is low and keeps on being low, then look for any signs of coolant leaks. You may have to use a coolant pressure tester to pressurize the reservoir to allow the leak to be found.
If you need further assistance with the coolant being low and the warning light being on, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
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Oil is geting into intake manifold and into all intake vavles.
ANSWER : Hi there. That type of oil volume inside the intake manifold is typically a sure fire indication of a blown head gasket. It’s also quite possible that this has occurred for an extended period of time. There are a few things that you can do to verify that this is the head gasket. First, check the oil itself. If it is milky or foamy then it means the head gasket is damaged and coolant is leaking into the oil galleys. If the head gasket is not damaged, excessive oil inside the spark plug well could also be a damaged O-ring but can also be the result of a failing piston or worn valve guides. Either way, the only way to correctly inspect and diagnose this would be to tear down the motor, so you might want to consider whether you are wanting to complete repairs or purchase a newer vehicle.
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Coolant leak from behind the intake manifold. 2000 Saturn SL
ANSWER : Hello – yes, this is one of the heater hoses, and a leak at that hose connection is the most likely source. I would recommend a heater hose replacement (for both heater and radiator hoses if they haven’t been changed) by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
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I have coolant in my lower intake manifold after replacing the gasket in my upper manifold in my 1996 Chevrolet Suburban.
ANSWER : Hi there. If you have coolant in your lower manifold also then at the very minimum you need to blow it out with compressed air. I would recommend removing the lower manifold also to make sure that you get it completely clean. If you do not then you can cause some serious internal engine damage.
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How much to replace intake manifold gasket on 1999 chevy astro van 4.3 engine?
ANSWER : On your model, it probably takes around 4 hours to replace both the upper and lower intake manifold gaskets but if you have rear A/C it is somewhat longer. A gasket kit is necessary because other gasketed parts are removed (and cannot be re-used) to get to the intake. To get an exact quote, if you would please click on "Get a Quote" at YourMechanic’s intake manifold gasket replacement service page and input your year, make and model, you will get an exact price for your vehicle. The repair can be scheduled at any location you desire and at your convenience. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
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Car is leaking coolant, and overheating, is it the intake manifold gasket?
ANSWER : This may be related to a few different things such as a bad thermostat, a failing coolant fan relay, or a blown head gasket.
As you may know the thermostat regulates the flow of coolant in and out of the engine from the radiator. When this is stuck closed, this will not allow coolant to be recirculated and cooled down through the radiator. When the coolant fan relay is not working properly, this may cause the fans to not come on at the correct temperatures, again causing overheating problems.
I would suggest having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to take a look at your car and diagnose your cooling system.
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My car has a coolant leak
ANSWER : Hello. The most common cause of a random coolant loss on this vehicle is a leaking intake manifold gasket. It commonly starts leaking coolant into the engine, which will be burnt off or will leak externally. I typically do a pressure test and a dye test on the system first to see if I can locate an external leak. If nothing is found, then I do a block test to make sure that there is not a head gasket issue. If nothing shows up there, then I replace the intake gaskets. If you need to have this done, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose the coolant leak and replace the intake gaskets if necessary.
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