Thread: Coolant leak

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  1. #1 Coolant leak 
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    Hey everybody, it seems my '02 3.1L has a coolant leak. I can smell the coolant steaming off. NO visual signs of a leak though…what should I inspect to find and repair this leak? Btw the engine has just over 100k.
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  2. #2 Re: Coolant leak 
    Turbo is the way to go. Fivefingerdeathpunch's Avatar
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    A likely cause is intake gaskets, or maybe the thremostat housing gasket.

    Both should be replaced at 100k anyway. The intake gasket are a very common failure and if not taken care of can destroy an engine.

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  3. #3 Re: Coolant leak 
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    Alright, I'll look into that, I replaced the thermostat last summer—can't feel any moisture around the housing anywhere on it now.
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  4. #4 Re: Coolant leak 
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    Check around the water pump, throttle body hoses, and radiator also. The intake gasket is the most common leak. It is always a good idea to replace the distributor O-ring or oil pump drive O-ring the same time as the intake.
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  5. #5 Re: Coolant leak 
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    I'd also check those notorious coolant elbows by the water pump...
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  6. #6 Re: Coolant leak 
    Moderator dsmuts's Avatar
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    Lower intake manifold gasket is the most likely suspect. luckyg817. There are no coolant elbows on his car.
    98 GTP modded 1.9's, sd headers, 3.4", zzp 1.0 230K miles scrapped.
    04 Comp G zzp stb's, UMI ta's, Speedbuilt sways, bully flo heads, XP, zzp headers, fsic, thrasher shift kit, 60#, 2.6" corsa 2.5", Inferno hood
    01 gt z7 turbo tep trans zzp motor
    08 g8 gt cam exhaust 11.87@118
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  7. #7 Re: Coolant leak 
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    No coolant elbows on the 3.1? That's great news!
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  8. #8 Re: Coolant leak 
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    Oh really? Well then lucky you. Haha. One less thing to worry about.
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  9. #9 Re: Coolant leak 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    lim and heads leak on those engines. either one could be the leak.


    not so lucky really.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  10. #10 Re: Coolant leak 
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    Neither ones of those are any fun. I had to swap both on mine but mine is an 04.
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