migitymark

I posted on the GS forum, but I'll ask here since its the same engine (VVTI) and you LS guys are more diy'ers; the GS guys seem less mechanically inclined, no offense to 'em.

Ive got a trickling coolant leak where the metal end of the heater hose connects (slips into) rear water bypass just behind the intake manifold on the driver's side. The hose seems pretty tight in there, but I can wiggle it out and see that its just supposed to slip in with no clamp. Does anyone have any knowledge with this piece?

Could I coat the outside with some sort of RTV-like sealant? What kind of sealant would withstand the 200 or so degrees & 20 or so psi?

thanks

B.Diddy

iTrader: (1)

its the cheesy squeeze clamp.

Switch that to a clamp with a screw type clamp. Also the OEM rubber hose gets brittle and hard from the heat over the past decade. I swapped mine with a new piece of 5/8" heater hose and I used two new screw type clamps instead of the pliers squeeze type.

migitymark

no, its the OTHER end...but yea I hate those things.
its a metal pipe about 5 inches long with a clamp on one end. the last 1/2 " shaped like a barrel. its ground so its maybe 0.2 mm thicker in diameter in the middle of the machined section and thinner right at the end & about 1/2" from the end. there's no o ring or anything, and its slightly bent....hence the leak.

B.Diddy

iTrader: (1)

I'll take a look tomorrow. I freshened up a LOT of stuff when I pull my intake manifold and coolant bridges to do my starter last year.

its something simple, for the most part, but hard to reach.

GRAND_LS 4

iTrader: (2)

I remember changing out some gaskets back there when I changed my starter last year. Im not exactly sure if its the same part your reffering too.

If you search for my thread about changing my starter, you willl see pics of the gaskets needed, and thier location.

migitymark

will do. thanks. so far the silicone seems to be holding it ok. it allowed me to get enough pressure in the system to make the radiator hose firm without leaking.

fransattle

Does this leak only occur when the heat is used? I get a few drop off coolant on the floor under center of the engine. It seems like it is more toward the front though. Can the coolant be leaking from the area you have described and then final drip to the floor up front? Thanks.

B.Diddy

iTrader: (1)

man, I hope it isnt your coolant bridge gasket. I reused mine when I did the starter swap, but I cleaned and resprayed mine with Copper gasket spray.

migitymark

i think it only leaks when the heat is used; but the tube & hose point upwards, so the drip goes back towards the transmission. The dealser told me there's an o ring that slips around the tube, but when i went to get it, the moron at the parts counter couldnt find it. poor guy seemed like he'd never seen an engine before.

anyhow, i drove about 150 miles on it so far & so good. the blue rtv seems like its working