My 1994 pickup 22re is loosing coolant. I thought it was the short radiator hose on the drivers side leaking but I have changed it and just had the same thing happen again today. I got out of the truck today and smelled coolant. There is coolant on the side of the engine block under the front spark plug but bellow the head. It is either the metal line that runs to heated hose or the head gasket. When I look from under the truck I can see where it looks like it is starting from where the head meets the block. It is very hard to see though. Every time it happens the engine is hot so everything evaporates fast. The thing it do not get is that before I changed the hose there was coolant on the outer part of the exhaust manifold when the engine was cold. I can never get it to leak when I an under the hood. I turn on the heat turn it off wait and nothing. Is there a way I can pressurized the cooling system with the engine off so I can see where it is coming from? Thanks in advance.

 

I know there's a way because my mechanic did it. I think there's a device that you can strap on in place of the radiator cap and manually pump.

 

I just had the same exact situation as you with my '93 4x4. I just replaced the head gasket and got her back on the road. That is about the only way to get it fixed. Not that hard if you have the right tools and a warm garage to it in.

 

You can borrow a pressure tester from Autozone.

 

Ok. I was just there today too. I should probably check my compression too.

 

Mine is leaking from exactly the same spot, but under the #2,3 cylinder area where the head meets the block..but.........I just had my motor rebuilt, just put it in the truck and was filling up the coolant when it started to leak, havn't even tried to crank it over yet!?

I took off the exhaust manifold so i can get a better feel for the leak and its definitely coming from this area..if i put my hand under the head where it over hangs a little over the block its all wet, and again this is just from me filling it up?!

I'm so fckin frustrated! could it be a cracked head, the shop supposedly pressure tested it..i'm lost, please help

 

Hi, i just did thehead gasket job on my truck. The only thing I messed up was where to coolant flows through the back of the head I forgot to tighten up the two top bolts and I blew out the gasket. I have to fix it because it leaks when the pressure goes up. It your engine leaks without pressure than they deffinatly did not preasure test it. Maybe they did a compression test but not a cooling system pressure test. It would be obvious. Keep us posted.

 

I was losing coolant for ages with no visible signs of drips or leaks. I had a cooling system pressure test done that came back fine (they even left it pressurised overnight). 2 weeks later the head gasket blew so I dont think a pressure test can really tell you 100% if its the head gasket or not. Mine was obviously burning the coolant on the inside somewhere.