mysterious water leak in '97 Tahoe

Apr 06, 2004 8 Replies
S

I have been experiencing a mysterious coolant loss in my '97 Tahoe. I don't know where its coming from, but I know where its not!... Its not from the



water pump radiator hoses in front heater lines heater/radiator head gasket freeze plugs



All I can tell most of the time is that I have to add coolant... once every couple of weeks and that sometimes there is a small puddle of coolant under the left rear of the engine... I have attempted to trace it, but during a pressure test of the system the leak is present, but the maze of hoses and wires on the top of the engine makes it very difficult.



A parts guy at the local GMC dealership said that it could be the intake manifold gasket, since they do sell quite a few of those. Is there anything else in that vicinity that can cause such a leak?



thanks


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B

I just had my intake manifold replaced for about $500. Same syptoms. They had to do it over because the sealant didn't stick good. I leaked coolant for 2 years with never a puddle. Never any in the oil. Then I started to get puddles. Took it in for the pressure check and after the second try, the leaks and puddles were gone.

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C

My 99 had similar symptoms and it was the head gasket. These vortek engines are nutorious for that. The Intake is 2 piece and there is a upper and lower gasket I don't know which one causes the problem.

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"

It's not the head gasket, it's the intake manifold gasket. BIG difference.

Doc

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"

It IS the intake manifold gasket. Super common problem with these engines.

Doc

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B

check the intate manifold gasket. the Metal heads and plastic intake manifold combo blows gaskets often.

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K

Please include your original post w/ your response out of courtesy.

Respectfully Posted By; ~KJ~

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P

largely due to the fact that dex-cool SUCKS! ever noticed how many intake/head gaskets fail compared to past years. further evidence is the cheese that is always around the rad cap gaskets. -Pete

Re: mysterious water leak in '97 Tahoe Group: alt.autos.4x4.chevy-trucks Date: Tue, Apr 6, 2004, 9:51pm From: n/ snipped-for-privacy@noplace.com (Brian) check the intate manifold gasket. the Metal heads and plastic intake manifold combo blows gaskets often.

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"

The upper plenum is plastic, the part that actually bolts tothe block and heads (lower plenum) is aluminum.

Doc

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