86 Vette has a leak....can't find it

zog · 10-10-03, 02:44 PM

My 86 L98 has developed a tiny leak...but not always...HELP!!

If I drive the car a while and get it hot and tehn park it, I will sometimes get a small drip of antifreeze on the groud under the left front of the car....but not always..

I have crawled everywhere under the car and cannot find the problem...the leak awlays is about the size of two quarters.

I though it must be leaking someplace and running down the frame or ???? but I cannot locate the source...any ideas???

JT ZR-Won · 10-10-03, 03:11 PM

One way to find it would be to let the car cool down completely, and then clean everything in the leaking area with an engine degreaser. After everything is clean, take the car out till it's up to normal temperatures. Take the car back home and quickly get under there with a florescent light. You should be able to follow it up the block to find the culpret.

Jay

10-10-03, 05:31 PM

Check the auto parts stores. Most have an adapter that replaces the radiator cap that has a pump handle on it allowing you to pressurize the system, pump it to 20 lbs. and then go look...you will find it...

Moonunit 451 · 10-10-03, 06:32 PM

Mine had a leak kike that coming from the rear of the intake manifold gasket. Stayed about the same most of the time till I pulled the motor

. Eagle is right there with the answer. If you've got a good relationship with a repair center they should check it or let you use the pump for nothing. Won't take long.

JonM · 10-10-03, 07:17 PM

AutoZone will let you borrow what Eagle is talking about.

From the location you are talking about, I suggest you take notice of the weephole under the waterpump.

Hrtbeat1 · 10-14-03, 02:45 PM

I have found out the hard way that L98's are notorious for developing leaks around the rear of the intake manifold .... most of the time it is on the passenger side.

I found a leak in my '90 where one of the OEM spring hose clamps had slipped. I had changed a couple of the hoses while changing out the water pump, so I may have just missed it when reassembling. Don't know if the 86's are the same but mine has a "tee" coming from the water pump to the heater core. The "tee" in question is located under the A/C pump.

One suggestion if you do find leakage/seepage at the water pump weep hole go ahead and replace the water pump. Most likely the rear seals in the pump are beginning to go. Don't know how many miles you have but you may want to check your timing chain for excessive lash. If you have to replace the water pump you may want to consider changing the timing chain also. You would already have everything tore down and its right there.

C ya
G

zog · 10-17-03, 03:26 PM

The car is parked for the winter (I guess), and I will begin disassembly this weekend on everything...

While I have it apart, I am going to pull the radiator, water pump, timing chain, etc., etc., and anything else that looks weak or might be in the next year....I am also going to pull the radiator and have it professionally flushed and checked for leaks, and install an auxilliary fan and low-temp switch assembly....

Might as well do it all at one time......then I can DRIVE IT!!!!