First success is still a failure!

[grizzlyls]

Well, I changed out the upper heater hose pipe on my gen 1. When I investigated coolant was like a aerosol spray hitting the manifold and cowl cover, so thought it was some pinprick. Turns out I was right, because now all is quiet up there. BUT it must have been a symptom of the main problem!

What happened is Tuesday I was fifteen mile away and saw a small trail of drip drip coolant as I pulled in the restaurant. This was after 70 ish 80 ish highway driving to get there (probably 20 miles). So I head to Autozone loaded up on coolant, and started for home. Since it was a real cool eve here, I decided to shut off the environment controls and open the windows so I could listen to the fan. Probably luck that I did that in the end.

So long story short, after fixing the top end, and starting the bleed process, everything was working great. First stage couple minutes no problems every thing seems fine no more aerosoling! Once I do the 2000 rpm heater step, get out of car and there is steady trickle stream rolling out and a small river has started. Immediately shut down verify no issues up top, end can tell the stream is off the back firewall end area. Originally I thought maybe back flow and spray was causing it to roll out there.

After shutting it all off, topped off coolant again, and decided to check closer though no lift for me. Do best I can. Car ran for 5 minutes normal with environments off, and only saw small drip drip drip. Like at first. Enough for last night. Today I decided to try going to work about 3 miles. Left environments off, and notice only small drops at store to buy more coolant, and after being at work 30 minutes later a donut size puddle below.

SO assuming this is a heater hose issue, but will take any advice so I know which mechanic to approach. The one that did my tensionors / valve cover hack job cleanup mentioned the heater hose had popped off during the time at shop, so that is my prime suspect at this point. But if its something else, will go to a shop closer and faster.

Thanks all

 

[joegr]

If it's coming down on the driver's side, it's almost certainly the degas bottle. I believe that it has been mentioned that all cooling system plastics should be replaced at the same time...

 

[grizzlyls]

If it's coming down on the driver's side, it's almost certainly the degas bottle. I believe that it has been mentioned that all cooling system plastics should be replaced at the same time...

Nope, should have mentioned that. I looked real hard at that area while I was looking up top, fenders and such are bone dry and dusty.

These drips seem to be rolling off the bell housing, drivers side for sure maybe both. Cant say I looked real hard at the trickle, but it was center mass.

After looking at the pipe I replace, I might have to do that a little sooner, it was in real good shape though. but it was really clean and I couldnt even identify a crack or hole. It definitely was in that little button that looks like it has a nut in it. There was coolant in that round circle, and there would be no way coolant could get up in there unless the leak was there. After washing the pipe, I blew on that circle and couldnt get any air through so must have been REAL small pin prick.

First to deal with the 2000 labor dollar quote for replacing the gen 1 bad timing chain design......

 

[joegr]

Leak from the bell-housing is usually from a leak at the top, front of the engine. Maybe the crossover tube or the thermostat. The coolant runs under the intake manifold and comes down at the back of the engine.

 

[grizzlyls]

Hmm, thats what I thought was happening too. I could see the trails from the Aerosol effect, and thought once I had buttoned it up it might be o.k. Now I am wondering if its just collected pools still working the way back. Car is running fine right now heat wise, but the mech that mentioned the popped off hose while he was working wants it overnight tonight (since I cant get there til near close). Hate to drop and wait to see it was nothing. Not sure why I would have been seeing a trickle during that heater step though, or why your experience wouldn't dictate an educated guess (just saying, you are real well versed I know). My mech thought on these cars that with the environments off, it still circulates so if the heater hose was bad it would still trickle. That accurate?

My point is if its the front side, I need to go to Lincoln instead since they did all the Tstat work.

 

[joegr]

My mech thought on these cars that with the environments off, it still circulates so if the heater hose was bad it would still trickle. That accurate?

Yes and no. There is no circulation in the heater loops with the system off (DCCV valves closed), but there is still pressure. Coolant will backfeed from the return line if there are any leaks in either of the loops.

 

[grizzlyls]

OK, so that could then be the drip drip drip version versus the flow. Off to the shop I go then. Thanks joegr, your input is really invaluable to me, and has even made me look at doing some easier DIY!

Proof of that is spending $75 bucks for tools this month! Still less than the 100 an hour I am sure I would have been charged to replace that tube.

 

[grizzlyls]

Post Note:

Just got to thinking, I bet they have to pull all those tubes and hoses when they pull the timing chain cover. Will make sure I have all new parts for them then! Freebie per se!

 

[grizzlyls]

Well, final chapter in this saga. I guess I didn't do that bad after all and it was a total success. After a 40 minute surface street drive from Burbank to Pasadena in heavy traffic, car worked perfect whole way. Mech looked over the whole engine and it was bone dry. Showed me the spot where the heater hoses go into firewall and those are plain as day fine too. Joe your first instincts were right as usual. Thanks.

I guess the major trickle was from collected water/coolant I had spilled or used to clean once I turned the engine over it worked down. Yes I am a rookie