I have a water leak at the back of my 3.1L engine, was wondering if anybody had any ideas or has had this happen before? KED35, my question is how many freeze plugs are back there. Everything is covered up by the fly wheel so I can't see much?? I have tryed Prestone STOP LEAK but doesn't seem to be helping, will try others before pulling transmission to fix, WHAT I think is a leaking freeze plug but could be a cracked block. HOPE NOT!!! IS THERE any place on top of the bell housing that coolent could get into it like from the intake manifold????

 

Ryan, all thats back behind the block where the bellhousing resides is a plate thats used to cover the cam. Freezeout plugs are only on the sides of the block. If your leaking fluid from that area I could only guess that you have cracked block, but you have to be really sure that it's coming from there. A crack in that area is very unusal. Are you sure it's driping out from below the bellhousing or from around the BH coming from the top somewhere? You may have a craked head or lower intake manifold.

 

One other thing, if you have a cracked block, you'll see antifreeze in your oil, no doubt. Check your dip stick and see if the oil is foamy or a brownish color.

 

The oil call is 100% correct.
WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE IS A LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IN THE BACK.
WHAT YA CAN DO, is to steam clean teh engine (if it's still running ok), spray powder/leak tester back there to find the trail.
Arrid extra dry spray deoderant powder is pretty good stuff.
Other option is to wash engine, leave the car over night and on top of cardboard to isolate where the leak is from (which side, etc).
Beyond that, cracked block is real difficlut to just "happen".
Give a shout let us help ya.
I think you have a leak on the intake manifold gasket set up, back area.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Well guys the leak is in the bell housing area, my old man pulled off the inspection cover and we looked up in side there and the back of the block is wet and the starter throw out gear had antifreeze covering it. NO I DO NOT HAVE water leaking into the oil, OIL IS PERFECT, first thing I checked by myself and yes I've looked over the rest of the block with a light and everything else is dry, don't know but if the block is cracked which I doubt but could be, then it's 3.4L time.

 

maybe a cracked water jacket in the head???

 

I'd suggest worn intake gaskets!
Do a pressure test after ya wash down the engine.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

It could be running down off or something... my lines that ran into and out of the heater core cracked and leaked, it was so small though you couldn't tell, it ran off the tube, onto some wiring stuff, and down into a different spot. I'm not saying your wrong, just make sure that's not a possibility first.

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1985 Camaro SC - 2.8L, auto.

http://www.xenodrgn.f2s.com/Frontright.jpg

 

Pressure testing would definetly show the rusults of the above post.
As I agree with that theory of the heater hoses at the firewall.
Even after I tightened mine, they still leaked a small trace every once in a while.
AND that would account for the "spraying" forward onto those components mentioned (bellhousing, starter, etc).
BUT, wind whipping around would counter that effect. Until the car is parked and it's heats up, while parked and sprays those areas.
GOOD CALL!!

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Ryan,
I stand corrected regarding the freeze out plugs!!

There are actually 3 behind there; 2 on the drivers side left and one on the right. I found this out today when I picked up my block today. Really sorry if I mislead you or anyone else on this board. I didn't bother to look at my books since I called my machinest to ask. He didn't bother to look either and just assumed that there weren't any. Well it just goes to show ya....

Would be surprising to see these blow out though in warm weather.

 

Not blown out but croded would be my problem with those freeze plugs, NO heater hoses are BRAND new and sealed with brown GOOP stuff and they have been checked and rechecked, I also checked under carpets to see if it was wet from the core having a leak, BUT NOPE. it just has to be one of the D*M freeze plugs, inside the bellhouseing. The leak isn't that much only a teaspoon of coolent on the ground in the morning after sitting over night. So I will live with it for a while, just add water every month till when it's cooler down here in Texas to pull of the transmission and fix that freeze plug.