Anti freeze seeping out?

[partsman]

So before I bought this 96 GMC with the 7.4 engine, a buddy thought he saw anti freeze leaking out, yet the leak of what ever stopped, and never did it again, had the dealer pressure test it, or so they said they did, they took it for three test drives with three different people never saw anything, I took my snap on pressure tester and found no leak either, yet today I did notice what looks like some anti freeze sitting on the left side of the engine just where the rocker cover is beside a plenum or upper intake housing, not sure what they call it, so is it possible it may be seeping out and slowly building on the little area beside the rocker cover, and are they know for this and will I end up with a major problem?

[leolkfrm]

It may be weeping thru the bolt threads, depending where it is at. You could put some sealer on that bolt, and check the torque on the manifold bolts.

[gmctrucks]

I would let it sit all night long with pressure on the system then check around the intake manifold. Now about placing sealer on the bolts DON'T place to much on them because it might work like hydraulic fluid and bust something you go down on them might use Teflon tape instead. Now why I know about that can happen I did that once with water in the the bolts that screw on the intake to the head I had the valve cover off and when I tightened down on a bolt that I thought had no water in the hole it cracked the head I added a stop leak and it took care of it forever I felt so bad and stupid. YES I know it doesn't take much for me to feel that way or look like that beat you guys to the punch line.

[leolkfrm]

The assembly plant uses a telflon based liquid sealer,
Tape wil increase the diameter of the bolt and could crack the head if it is at a thin point

[partsman]

Well the truck has a leak, does appear to be building on left side of engine, and is building up enough when I pump up the pressure that it starts to run off and drip at the front, was able to tighten a total of three bolts I could get at, but I think I should pop her into a dealer and have them do the manifolds, I know the lower gasket is supposed to be reuesable, but might be better going new, figure it might be better letting the dealer do it rather than tie it up if I pull it apart, I saw where the labour is at least five or so hours.

I have rebuilt a motor before on a 1970 F-250, but was young and single and had more time and no one demanding my time.

Anyone done this job on a 7.4 and was it that difficult or involved?

I don't imagine a leak stop product would work?

[hotrodpc]

I have never done it, but it sounds as it is likley the upper intake manifold gasket. Also check for recalls. I am not sure on your model, but I know 3.8 and the junky 60 degree V6's, ie 2.8, 3.1 and 3.4 had a recall for new upper intake manifold bolts. The differance in the bolts was a bigger shoulder on the bolt where it met the manifold. So after the new bolts were put in, it actually looked like someone took the bolts off and put a flat washer on between the bold and manifold. 7.4 may be differant, and not as common in the 3.8 as in the 3.1 and 3.4 V6's you can count on it that YOU WILL replace the upper intake manifold gaskets. If you can get past 80,000 miles without replacing them on one of those V6's, you are real lucky and better knock on wood. I would not even consider using stop leak. At best you may try alluma seal. I heard Bars Stop Leak works well on radiators, but it also clogs things you don't want clogged. Alumma Seal is pretty much just alluminum shavings.

[gmctrucks]

Originally Posted by partsman

Well the truck has a leak, does appear to be building on left side of engine, and is building up enough when I pump up the pressure that it starts to run off and drip at the front, was able to tighten a total of three bolts I could get at, but I think I should pop her into a dealer and have them do the manifolds, I know the lower gasket is supposed to be reuesable, but might be better going new, figure it might be better letting the dealer do it rather than tie it up if I pull it apart, I saw where the labour is at least five or so hours.

I have rebuilt a motor before on a 1970 F-250, but was young and single and had more time and no one demanding my time.

Anyone done this job on a 7.4 and was it that difficult or involved?

I don't imagine a leak stop product would work?

That's going to be some money if you let the dealership do it can't you get a price from a small shop or do the work slow over the weekend.
Once again hotrodpc has some good info and points my prediction is that he's going to get a lot of rep points fast on this forum. I'm just saying it like it is. Shoot look how much 75K30 among other members have given us.
Good luck! GMC
PS-I'm glad I found this forum I have made a lot of good friends here which is the coolest and it's one clean forum which is all right I thank the ones watching out for bad words and so on. PLUS this site has really helped my depression more than you guys think.

[leolkfrm]

Did the peolpe you bought it from give you any promises, I thought it was some kind of dealer? if so you questioned the coolant, now that they have found it maybe they will help? Just a thought

[partsman]

Well sent an e-mail off to salesman, came back undeliverable, so checked the site, looks like he is gone.

So have passed the e-mail on to another sales guy I talked to while there, will see what comes of it.

[leolkfrm]

I would think since their service checked it you need to talk to a service person