coolant leak from exhaust manifold/ head area

[ahaidet]

This morning noticed a pretty bad coolant leak. Car has been running great lately. Pulled it into the garage to take a look and intially thought it might have been a coolant hose. It is not. Its coming from a stud for the exhaust manifold the lower right hand side one by the power steering pump. Is this normal? I checked the #4 cyl. No signs of coolant in the combustion chamber, spark plug looks normal. Engine was rebuilt 6000 miles ago, everything machined and checked out. New pistons, rings etc. Valve job and decking of head, pressure checked. New HG. I just put some RTV on the threads about 20 minutes ago has to set up over night and I hopefully it will seal. Any ideas?

 

[oldman]

This morning noticed a pretty bad coolant leak. Car has been running great lately. Pulled it into the garage to take a look and intially thought it might have been a coolant hose. It is not. Its coming from a stud for the exhaust manifold the lower right hand side one by the power steering pump. Is this normal? I checked the #4 cyl. No signs of coolant in the combustion chamber, spark plug looks normal. Engine was rebuilt 6000 miles ago, everything machined and checked out. New pistons, rings etc. Valve job and decking of head, pressure checked. New HG. I just put some RTV on the threads about 20 minutes ago has to set up over night and I hopefully it will seal. Any ideas?

Possibly a cracked head due to over tightening of the stud.

 

[ahaidet]

It was tightened with a torque wrench. So I hope I didn't over tighten. Seems to hold pretty well. Not normal then I take it? No coolant jacket behind that one? Damn.

 

[oldman]

It was tightened with a torque wrench. So I hope I didn't over tighten. Seems to hold pretty well. Not normal then I take it? No coolant jacket behind that one? Damn.

I said possibly, not definitely. My next step would be to remove the manifold to see if the #1 runner has signs of coolant then remove that stud and do the same. Good luck.

 

[rowlex]

Possibly a cracked head due to over tightening of the stud.

You actually have to torque them to spec? Shit, I always just tighten them up. . You know 3/4 grunt style. Lug nuts get 2-3 grunts. My dad hates it.

 

[hereitcomes]

exhaust manifold bolts usualy break off if you overtighten them. they are really fragile. You may have a small hairline crack under the manifold. You can use patch material to try and make-do with the crack. Or get a new block. good luck man.

 

[dalatinromeo]

Yeha goodluck. I'm hoping for you its not what oldman said it POSSIBLY could be. Keep us posted

 

[rowlex]

exhaust manifold bolts usualy break off if you overtighten them. they are really fragile. You may have a small hairline crack under the manifold. You can use patch material to try and make-do with the crack. Or get a new block. good luck man.

Exhaust manifold bolts to the head not the block, so it would be a new head he would need if all else faills.

 

[Spyderman7]

Exhaust manifold bolts to the head not the block, so it would be a new head he would need if all else faills.

I'm glad someone noticed.Now to the question,are you sure the water isn't coming from the exhaust port ,and why did you check the #4 plug.

 

[ahaidet]

I wasn't thinking. I meant the #1 plug.

 

[ahaidet]

Seems to have sealed up nicely.. When I took a closer look at the leak and pulled the manifold off I noticed it was in fact coming out of the that lower threaded hole in the picture above and not the exhaust port. It does not appear to be cracked. Appears that someone before me re-tapped the hole and used either a starter tap (has a point, as opposed to a bottom tap which is flat) or drilled too far. Not sure why it never leaked before maybe the stud was holding it and after 6000 miles it decided to wiggle loose. But no more leaking coolant at least for now.