I know that this has been talked about a thousand times, but I cannot find the solution, I took off the intake mani and was hoping that there was a leak in the sensors on the back, nope, dry. there is a constant leak, and it will leak for like 8 hours, 2 big drops every other second. Could it be the headgasket leaking out instead of towards the engine and oil? Freeze plugs? they seem okay, or is there something that could be leaking covered by the tranny?
it comes down the driver's side.
I appreciate all the help.

 

What engine?

 

3.0
88
5 speed

 

3.0 so......you did check the infamous u-shaped water hose at the back of the block?
I've had success using a telescoping mirror and a good light to peer into the nook and crannies back there and around the side

 

yeah, i took the whole plenum off and the hoses on the back all look good.

 

There is a hose that runs into & through the throttle body. I'm guessing it's that hose on the back side of the throttle body.

 

Check the bottom of the heater valve on the firewall. Mine started leaking there and would leak off and on. Sometimes just enough you could smell it when you got out of the pickup and finally started leaking enough that I found the leak...

 

the plenum, hoses, and sensors and u shaped hoses on the back are well and dry, flexible, no cracks.

with the top off of the engine I add water to the rad and it leaks out of the back, no need to turn over the engine or get pressure in there.

 

Odd. It can only be so many things from heater lines to the u shaped hose and one going to the TB. The one going to the TB is a pita! It is almost impossible work with but could be it. I seriously think its heater lines related honestly concidering how much weird BS goes on with it next the the brake master there lol. Just check evey damn hose you can see for cracks or loose clamps.

 

its 45* outside, she has not been started in 3 days, she is cold as can be. I added water to the rad and she leaks, shouldn't the thermostat block cold water from going to a cold engine? my theory is that she shouldn't leak until warmed up and pressurized, right?

 

Sounds like a crack in the water bypass pipe, probably under the intake manifold. (http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...ne/69cylin.pdf no.8 page EG-2 96) There is a approx 15mm line from the front of the block to the back, where it splits off a approx 6mm line to the passenger side where it comes out of a shield at the very back of the engine. If water is coming out "the back" of the engine with no pressure on the system (other than filling the radiator), that's a likely place.

Unfortunately, you'll have to remove the intake manifold. But the truck is definitely not drivable if that is leaking.

 

So that is where I am at, and the bypass pipe/hose are not leaking, dry. Last thing that it could be is a blown head gasket that only leaks to the outside, not to the cylinders. Has that ever happened to you guys?