Coolant Leak

[gfholl]

I appear to have coolant seeping out between the head and block on 1275. I don’t visibly see it seeping out but just have dried splatter in the area after a drive. Compression is very good (170's) across all cylinders and just a slight loss of coolant from the system.
Any thoughts before I do a head gasket change on a good running engine?




Thanks
Gary

 

[Boink]

Oh oh. So how much is a little? Though you indicated the compression is good (better than mine!), any oil in the rad? Could be a very tiny head-gasket leak to the outside. If very tiny, I'm not sure I'd do much.

 

[LarryK]

You caught it, might as well pull and make sure block is smooth and regasket. Remember to retorque head after first warm up and 500 miles. Might try retorque now, and check before tearing down.

 

[SD Bugeye]

Try and get a Payne gasket I’ve had good luck with them not so much from the usual suspects

 

[Boink]

Dang, I am pretty sure that was a re-built engine you got from Pete (though he didn't know the full history on it).

Still, let me get this straight... if you warm up the engine and watch this specific spot, you don't see anything? Odd.

 

[gfholl]

I did try to retorque but still leaking. Just a irritant now but could grow into a worse issue. The engine has been rebuilt but not sure what gasket was used. Looks like Moss has the good Payne gasket on "sale", so I'll put one on my winter shopping list.
Thanks

 

[nomad]

If you don't want to tackle the job immediately, I think I would try a lower pressure radiator cap and maybe a bit of "bars leak". The correct way would be to check the block and head for flatness and true them if necessary. Then fit a good head gasket.

Kurt

 

[SaxMan]

It is possible the splatter is coming from something else and just coincidentally hitting the area between head and the block? Like maybe a loose hose clamp or perhaps the "Y" hose that combines the heater core return with the radiator. Your compression numbers seem to be too good to be a head gasket. When my head gasket went -- and I wasn't even seeing the classic symptoms of white smoke or oil in the coolant, my compression dropped into the 90s.

 

[Boink]

But the leak could be only to the outside (not to the cylinders). Then, no white smoke or brown coolant.

 

[SD Bugeye]

When the mini moke pulled this stunt people said oh you put it on upside down..
nope not the case but I did look closely at the studs and evidence of stretching was evident
if and when you pull it off be careful and inspect your head studs