Water Leak

**RUSH2112** · 04-02-2007, 01:27 PM

Well I think I have a serious problem. I have been running through anti-freeze for awhile now and I stopped to put some air in my tires this morning and see 'steam' coming from under the hood. I open the hood and see that there is "liquid" sprayed all over the engine bay near just to the left of the upper intake and A/C evap and smog pump (also to the left of the salt-n-pepper shakers). A little bit of overspray also on the left valve cover

I am thinking 2 things:

1) Worst case - the block is cracked and squirting anti-freeze out.

2) Best case - just a blown head gasket or possibly a warped head??

I know without seeing the problem it is difficult for anyone to make a judgement, but I would appreciate some ideas and what my options are.

**madmaxin22** · 04-02-2007, 01:33 PM

put a pressure tester on the rad and see if it loses pressure/ leaks anywhere first

**RUSH2112** · 04-02-2007, 01:35 PM

There is a leak. There was spray all over the firewall and valve cover.

**madmaxin22** · 04-02-2007, 01:42 PM

it will show you where it is instead of assuming its a HG or head issue

**RUSH2112** · 04-02-2007, 02:25 PM

Can I rent a rad pressure tester or buy one?

**DRRummel** · 04-02-2007, 02:46 PM

If I understand what you are explaining, the leak is on the top passenger side of the engine... If so, could it be as simple as a leaking EGR spacer or the cooling lines moving fluid tough the EGR spacer?

**Stangman701** · 04-02-2007, 02:49 PM

Might just have a small hole in one of the heater hoses. My 85 had a hole around one of the hose clamps once. Just cut a little off the end of the hose and clamped it back up

**RUSH2112** · 04-02-2007, 02:55 PM

Is this what I am looking for?

Bypass Hose

Heater Hose

**Stangman701** · 04-02-2007, 03:04 PM

No, those would be more towards the front of the engine I believe. The "bypass" hose looks like the small one that's on the waterpump and the "heater hose" looks more like a upper or lower radiator hose to me. If the fuel injected cars are the same as mine then the heater hoses would run from the passenger side firewall to the water pump on the front of the engine. I would say they're about a 1" diameter rubber hose.

**RUSH2112** · 04-02-2007, 03:22 PM

Like this?

bypass hose

heater hoses

throttle body hoses

**itow** · 04-02-2007, 03:36 PM

Yeah, the way you are describing it, I'd guess a hose leak

**DRRummel** · 04-02-2007, 03:37 PM

Looks like you have identifed the hoses... They look clean. How about a shot of the spray. It might help if we can see where the antifreeze is showing on the block and where you saw the steam comeing from.

**RUSH2112** · 04-02-2007, 03:40 PM

The pictures of the hoses are not from my car. My friend took those pictures to show which hose is which for reference

**RUSH2112** · 04-02-2007, 03:42 PM

Here is a pic of a typical 5.0 engine compartment. See the red circled area... This is where the steam/wetness was.

**DRRummel** · 04-02-2007, 03:47 PM

Keep it simple. I would look at the two coolant lines going to the Heater core first. Unless you ran it really hot lately, I would assume it is a rubber line. Both of those heater core lines are in that red circle. Good Luck.

**Stangman701** · 04-02-2007, 03:53 PM

Yeah, them

**RUSH2112** · 04-02-2007, 03:56 PM

Thanks everyone. I am just going to replace those 2 lines. Don't know if they have ever been replaced or the original factory hoses.

Are they easy to replace/get to? I assume I can pick up OEM parts at Advance or AutoZone?

**Stangman701** · 04-02-2007, 04:12 PM

Should be able to get them at pretty much any parts store. Getting to the connections on the water pump can be a bit of a PITA, and once you get the clamps loose the hoses don't like to come loose too easily.

**DRRummel** · 04-02-2007, 05:07 PM

IMHO, if the steam is coming from the back, I would leave he water pump hoses alone. That little one is a PITA.

I would suggest replacing the two heater core hoses and see what happens from there. No special tools are needed, but they are a pain to reach. You just need to be patient and take your time.