Head Gasket or Valve Cover Gasket?

[sazukasteve]

Hello!

Im still new to my first car, 97 GSX with a 4g63, and I can't tell what needs to be replaced. A while ago I came on here asking if it was normal for my oil temps and oil pressure gauge to be all over the place on hotter days. When I get on the gas, all readings return to normal. Recently I have noticed a sort of steam from under my hood and a burning coolant smell when I get home. I decided to really dive in and investigate, and found coolant all over my block! I can't tell where it's leaking from but it pools on the block next to what looks like my exhaust manifold in the back, under my injector rail. The coolant itself is all over the injector rail and the hoses in that surrounding area. I'm praying for a valve cover gasket, obviously, but I really want to find the real issue.

i have uploaded a few images showing the leak. i was not running my AC and it was hot on this day too. I am pointing at the location that the zoomed pictures are being taken.

 

[donniekak]

The most plausible reason to have coolant in that area is a cracked coolant line to the throttle body.

 

[sazukasteve]

The most plausible reason to have coolant in that area is a cracked coolant line to the throttle body.

Im sorry, I'm really new to this. Which hose is that? Should I drain all the coolant? I'd really like for you to be right...

Thanks,
Steve

 

[donniekak]

There should be 2 coolant hoses connected to the throttle body, check them for leaks. If I were you, I would go to harbor freight and buy a coolant pressure tester, fill the system up the rest of the way, pressurize it, and look for leaks.

http://t.harborfreight.com/radiator...258.html?utm_referrer=https://www.google.com/

 

[sazukasteve]

I'll get to it!

 

[sazukasteve]

So I bought a flashlight for a dollar and started to dive around back there because I'm a bit short on cash; found this. Super happy its not a head gasket! thanks for the direction on where to look!

Steve

 

[mercaholik]

And fyi the valve cover gasket would only leak oil, never coolant. Also you can delete the fiav, which is where those hoses go to. Well that's what it looked like from the pic, either way run the car with the radiator cap off , until it reaches operating temp, top off as necessary. That purges the air from the system.

 

[synthetek]

it pools on the block next to what looks like my exhaust manifold in the back

That is your intake manifold back there , Exhaust manifold is in the front.

I'm praying for a valve cover gasket.

There is no coolant in your valve cover so a bad valve cover gasket could only leak oil.

Super happy its not a head gasket!

Yeah , just change that hose asap so it doesn't overheat and blow a head gasket.

 

[sazukasteve]

Thank you for the extra info! I hadn't thought of taking the cap off while it was running. That'd probably make it a lot easier to fill... Everything is getting fixed today!

Thanks again,
Steve

 

[sazukasteve]

anyone know where i can get those hoses from? No local auto parts store even knows that an eclipse has a throttle body water hose or a throttle body water return hose...

 

[synthetek]

Just go get some regular coolant line and make sure you cut it to the correct length so there are no kinks.

 

[lasershark]

If you can, bring in the fiav (coolant) line with you so when they ask you what size it is you can get it matched up.

 

[yamaripper415]

Make sure you get some new hose clamps too, cheap security.

 

[sazukasteve]

got new hoses and clamps. everything went in just perfect! now i have a new problem... new thread though i think..

 

[mercaholik]

Just make sure you start it cold with the rad cap off, then let it get to o.t. Never open it when it gets hot, it'll shoot out at your face . But seriously don't, and make sure the car is level, preferably front end slightly higher so the air wants to go to the highest point.