Head gasket? I'm leaking! (many pics and a vid)

The Rev

The Rev

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Ok so I've noticed I'm leaking a little coolant over the last few weeks. I tried the radiator stop leak by bars and it helped a little, but now its bad. It looks like its coming from the drivers side of the engine, maybe a leaky head gasket? I'm gonna go pick up some head gasket repair stuff as well as antifreeze, what do you guys use, I've heard that bars makes a head gasket repair fluid that people say works? Oh yeah, and I've been getting an annoying sound from my belt but it looks like the leaking antifreeze might have something to do with it. I don't like how the middle pulley looks a little wobbly. I'd like to get that annoying noise to stop, it looks like its coming from the alternator though. And now for the pics...

the last pic is a bit of the leaking I'm getting after being parked 10 mins with the car running. Oh and the red stuff on the overflow is the radiator stop leaking that I spilled and am too lazy to clean up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=681eFnu5jH0

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There are coolant hoses under the intake, for the heater core to be exact. Possible leak at those? How does your exhaust smell? And did you ever over-heat?
 
Since you used the radiator Stop Leak, I wouldn't try the head gasket fix in the bottle, 'till you throughly flush the system.

Bar's has two head gasket products: Head Gasket Repair, and Head Gasket Fix.

Head Gasket Fix is the one that works. It's also the more expensive product.

I you are going to try it, use it at the crossover tube, not the overflow container.

That leak looks pretty excessive. I don't know if a bottled product is what you need.

I've never heard that sound before. Water pump perhaps? Just guessing.
 
The funny thing is I've never overheated, my engine temp needle never changed, the only reason I noticed was looking at the small puddle under the car. I let the car sit for my entire shift yesterday, about 12 hrs and it had a spot the size of a half dollar under it, but after taking it home this morning and filling it to the top it leaks a little faster while running. My exhaust smells fine, I mean I don't have mufflers and it smells no different than it ever has. I've flushed it out as best I could today. I'll check for hoses as well. Until then unfortunately its my daily driver so I have to baby it I guess. Should I even ask if a head gasket is something I can do myself?
 
If I were in your shoes I would not drive the car in case its a head gasket leak. But I am not sure it is. Since you have to take the intake manifold off to work on the heads, I would maybe considering doing just that. Remove the intake and inspect the coolant lines that lay in the valley. They are metal but have o-rings where they connect.

Also check the bell-housing of the trans or around it. See if coolant is leaking down along it.

I guess all you can do it prepare for the worst and hope for something minor.
 
that is probably that hose that runs from the back of the water pump, under the upper intakee and up to the heater core.

Changing that hose can be a severe PITA...bummer.
 
and that stuff going into your alternator almost guarantee's it's going to fail...
 
Well XLR you're probably right about the hose. I went out and took a better look at it just now, its not leaking from the top of the engine (that I can see) it does drip pretty fast though from the middle of engine up front (see pics) and another video...

right now its cooling off and I plan on taking all of the hoses off and re connecting them, (replacing if needed) flushing the entire system and doing the head gasket fix, I'll update here once I finish something, or more likely run into another problem. Good thing I'm on a mini vacation and have the time.
 
Here's my dog enjoying watching me sweat, and to see the video I guess I'm waiting for youtube to put it up, but yeah its going to be the latest video on my youtube page www.youtube.com/bgeezy813 or you can use the link up top to get to my channel and then just select the newest

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I am perplexed. I get the car today, run it w/o the bumper cover on so I can see better under there and identify this leak I obviously have. Nothing. So I start flushing the coolant, flushed it out really really well, and still cant find anything dripping, except for the spills I was making myself. I took out the battery because I thought the tube at the bottom of the overflow was leaking, but I'm not so sure. Regardless, I flushed the system and did the head gasket fix, I just ran the engine for the 30 mins and now I have to let it cool and drain it. Now I have to let it sit over night before I flush it again and refill with antifreeze. I have however noticed that that god forsaken screech under accel is my alternator, is there any way to quiet the screeching down? Something to put on the belt maybe?
 
the belt is squeeling because anti-freeze got on it. it will wear off, but it will take forever. some belt dressing might help some too.
 
ok, first where is your bottom alt bolt in your first pic? second its not the head gaskets, they wouldnt leak on the front of the timing cover and alt unless it was spraying everywhere under the hood and that leak would be quite obvious! as for the vids, holy hell it sounds like your water pump is eating itself, try taking the belt off and see if that noise stops, if so replace the water pump and i bet the leak will be gone it looks like its getting slung from the water pump pulley.
 
The Rev said:
Well XLR you're probably right about the hose. I went out and took a better look at it just now, its not leaking from the top of the engine (that I can see) it does drip pretty fast though from the middle of engine up front (see pics) and another video...

right now its cooling off and I plan on taking all of the hoses off and re connecting them, (replacing if needed) flushing the entire system and doing the head gasket fix, I'll update here once I finish something, or more likely run into another problem. Good thing I'm on a mini vacation and have the time.
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If it is your headgasket, while you have the heads off, put the C heads on there :-) theres plenty of contis in the junkyard! lemons lemonade!
 
Rick that's what my girlfriend said exactly, theres a 98 cobra for sale at the dealership at the end of my street.

No there isn't coolant in the oil so that turned me off to the head gasket.

Chicken: I actually just noticed I don't have that bolt yesterday, what size is it? I'll have to go pick one up. I was starting to lean toward the waterpump myself because it wont leak very much if at all when it's off, but as you can see in the videos while its on it leaks pretty fast. What did you mean by taking the belt off? I'm going to do some research on the prices for waterpumps & what not, is this something I can do in my driveway with handtools and jackstands?

How much should I expect to pay if I were to bring it somewhere?

Thanks for the help so far
 
The water pump is easy. No jacks needed. I think 4 bolts, maybe 13mm, hold it on. Then you pop it off and put the new one in. Make sure the new pump has a new o-ring seal, if not get one. Pumps are not expensive. I think I paid $40 for my Cobra one.
 
The Rev said:
What did you mean by taking the belt off? I'm going to do some research on the prices for waterpumps & what not, is this something I can do in my driveway with handtools and jackstands?
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Just pull the belt completely off, start the car, if the sound stops, it could be a faulty water pump. You should be able to spin it fairly easy, if it feels rough, replace it. It could be done in the driveway with the tools you listed. I don't have any idea what a shop would charge you, it never hurts to call and ask.
 
Got the pump and it looks like I'll be able to do this with no problem, JUST TO MAKE SURE....the water pump is behind the pulley right under the alt. right? because its spewing antifreeze from there
 
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