Coolant leak from engine?

It should cost about $200 to $400 replace an intake manifold gasket. Of curse, without knowing more details, like the year, model and engine in the vehicle, it's really hard to make an estimate.

Is the coolant level going down?

Jeff

The answer to your question depends on the vehicle model, model year, and engine. A transverse-mounted engine is generally more difficult to service than a longitudinally mounted one, and an engine with more than one cylinder head like a V6 or V8 generally costs more to service than one with one cylinder head like an I4 or I6.

The location and configuration of the fuel delivery system will also make a difference in ease of serviceability.

The prevailing labor rates in your area also have an effect on repair costs.

To answer your question without more information, a leaking intake manifold can cost anywhere from $100 to $800 or so.

Jeff, my apologies! The car is a 1995 Corolla, 4 cylinder automatic... 1.4 liter I believe. The coolant level IS going down, I have to keep filling it up. I love the car, it's done very well for me, but I've had a rash of $400 dollar type repairs that's making it expensive.

I did the "replace water pump and timing belt" last summer, but I had a few times it overheated. That might have caused some of the problems. I let it go far too long.

It's a straight 4. It's hard to locate the source of the leak... it looks like there could even be a hose back there leaking. I don't have car stands so I can't look under the car. The entire intake manifold and fuel injector is in the way... but that's from the top. The engine is transversely mounted... as in it goes parallell from the bumper for example.

Don't forget the transmission repairs coming up, the CV joints, tires, the problems that are about to appear with worn body components, the expensive electronics about to go out, etc. You're probably going to have these $400 repairs popping up here and there as long you use the car. It's the nature of having an older car.

According to a couple of guys in Boston who used to own a do-it-yourself repair shop (Tom and Ray Magliozzi - perhaps you heard of their radio show called "Car Talk"), though, it is almost always cheaper to keep an old car going than to pay high insurance payments, not to mention actual car payments, on a new car.

I have to add that you really need to get the engine checked out by a mechanic before repairing the intake manifold. If it has been overheating, it may be time to get a new 2008 vehicle or newer used vehicle and avoid the cost of the rebuild. Only a good mechanic will know for sure.

Jeff

Agreed... it was more the timing of them. But I think it was stuff that was bound to go that I had put off for two long. Lesson learned. I had to replace the oxygen sensor and distributor, for a combined total of $1500 in November. This month I've had a broken axle and a cracked exhaust manifold and new tires. I can't really be upset at the car, the exhaust manifold had been cracked for a while, I noticed it before but thought nothing of it. Hearing that it was a safety issue, I definately wanted it taken care of. The axle was what happened when I let my right CV joint wear out for too long.

Living in Boston myself, I've heard of them. ;) I still enjoy the car and enjoy driving it, and would like to keep it going, but obviously there comes a time when a car becomes more trouble than it's worth. Also, luckily I work very close to home and have a lot of mass transit options. All things being equal though, I'd rather keep the car going. Other than these things that "just go" the car is in pretty good shape.

I hasn't overheated since September (at least according to the temp gauge), i let it overheat in the summer a few times. The engine drives good though, from what I can tell. No overheating at all, just the smoke from the leaking fluid. But I will definately consult a local mechanic to see how the engine looks.

Thanks.

The earlier overheat may have warped the head or caused a head gasket leak. I believe that there is a hose back there as well, so I would have it looked at by a professional. If you let me know where in the Boston area you live, I can recommend some good Toyota dealerships.

I live in the Allston area. One thing I noticed is a hose swelling up like a balloon back there. I wonder if that's the heater core hose is blocked or faulty?

the dealers in Watertown, West Roxbury, Dorchester, and Lexington are all good dealers.

A swelling hose is something that should be attended to because it is a sign that the hose is weakened and could burst. Hopefully, a weak and leaking hose is the only problem.