OrRunner

iTrader: (1)

Here's the deal, I have rebuilt the motor in my runner, all put together and has been running great for a while. I was chasing a coolant leak very small, not enought to change the coolant level in the truck, and have found out where it's coming from. RIGHT ON THE SIDE OF THE BLOCK. Thats right, i am leaking coolant from the side of my block. So here the specifics, got this block from a local shop, took it to a very reputable machinest and had him bore it out,hot tank, magniflux ect, the whole works. After i found the leak i drove the truck back to his shop and showed him the leak. He says "it's not a crack, looks like a casting flaw of some sort, and when we tanked it, the sealant prob broke loose". He gave me this black clay type crap, that the shop puts in all of the motors they build, just incase of flaws like this. So i put this black crap in, and low and behold the leaks reduces to only a very minscule drop, that appear really only when its cold (assuming the block shrinks when cold and expands when hot). When its hot, it doesnt seem to leak at all and it does not puddle or anything like that. Now I'm at the point of, do i pull the motor and take it back to him and make him try and fix it, do I take his word that it wont get any bigger cause its a casting flaw and just run it or should I tear the whole motor down and go with a new block? Like I said, its an extremely small drip, not even a leak, I have not wiped it for 2 weeks and there really in only 1 little run down the block. I guess my main concern is, when it gets really cold is this crack/casting flaw or whatever the heck it is gonna get bigger and just start shooting coolant? I Know anti-freeze is supposed to keep a block from freezing but what about in an instance like this, will that coolant get in there and just cause major issues? opinions/advice/anything thoughts are welcome

Oh btw, the leak is on the driver side between the 1-2 freeze plugs where the unused bolt hole is (on mine anyway) which i believe is for the turbo set up....closer to the bolt hole than any of the freeze plugs (my machinst says hes never seen a block crack here)

Thank everyone!!!

87 Runner 22re yadayadayada

xxxtreme22r

maybe a photo to help us illiterate guys?

OrRunner

iTrader: (1)

Hey X,

this is the best I have right now as I am at work, you cant see the leak here as at this point it wasnt in the truck but the first circle is right about where the leak is the second red circle is where it use to puddle before I ran that crap through that the machinst gave me, like I have said, it doesnt puddle anymore, just a very minimal drop here and there, thanks for checking this out for me man!

xxxtreme22r

I have to look on mine, kinda dark right now for me to check, but somewhere around there, there might be a coolant drain plug there. that may be leaking.

In the mean time I am gonna troll over on iamsuperbleeder's rebuild thread to get some better photos.

OrRunner

iTrader: (1)

yeah, there is no coolant drain plug there, there is that bolt hole, which is cast out from the block right next to the freeze plug in the middle. The leaks is a little to the left of that bolt hole casting almost where it molds back into the block. It looks to be right at the bottom of the water jacket...but there is no apparent crack or anything of that nature, this is why Im leaning towards a casting air hole or somthing like that. Even the machinst brought out some binocular looking things and looked up bright light and could not see any type of crack, but who knows...if its just going to continue to leak a little, i think I can deal until the weather turns and I have the time to rebuild, but if its gonna get worse as the wether gets colder and is going to crack right open, I may be in for a long couple of weeks!!!!

xxxtreme22r

my redneck self would probably just stick some jbweld in that spot and call it good. lol.

xxxtreme22r

and your sure it's not the left or middle freeze plug leaking right? Fluids have a funny way of scattering under the hood on these things. What did they use to seal the freeze plugs? I used red thread locker. I actually had to go back in about a week later and add some more threadlock around the edges of my freeze plugs on that same side because they were weeping a little.

photo courtesy of iamsuperbleeder

OrRunner

iTrader: (1)

thanks for the pic X, thats where the little drip is, just barely above where that bolt cast is, and a little to the left of the middle freeze plug, I will try to get a pic up tonight of the leak.

Do you think the jb weld would keep it from getting anyworse if in fact is was a very fine hairline crack? or even a casting pin hole as the machinst claims?

Positive its not the freeze plugs, used luquid sealer on these one (I did the rebuild with a good buddy of mine) and when I start it cold, you can watch the spot on the block get a little shine to it, plus I painted the block before it was built and now the paint has been peeled away on this little spot where its leaking from...Also, when the paint went, it wasnt like a long line of paint but almost a perfect circle like a blister would leave, thought that was kind of weird if in fact it was cracked

xxxtreme22r

it certainly wouldn't hurt. Other than that pretty blue paint.

oh snap didn't read the part the paint peeled away from that spot as well. lol.

OrRunner

iTrader: (1)

Why ya gotta kick a guy while he's down X J/K
Not so worried about the paint man, at this point Im not really even concerned about the leak as much as if this is a crack, how long until it just gives on me while im on the trail or out at mount hood ect.....

Thanks for your input on this man, I appreciate it

xxxtreme22r

hahah You don't wanna know what my pretty blue engine paint looks like after about a year. and 3 engine pulls after basically 2 rebuilds.

MudHippy

Says so right on the package, and their website. The stuff is amazing.


http://jbweld.net/products/uses.php