Coolant coming out of exhaust pipes... (Page 2/4)
Cliff Pennock MAY 19, 02:28 PM
Oil from the dipstick is dark. I don't think it's the timing cover seal that's been broken since it took no effort whatsoever to remove the water pump.
Raydar MAY 19, 06:33 PM

quote
Originally posted by Cliff Pennock:

Oil from the dipstick is dark. I don't think it's the timing cover seal that's been broken since it took no effort whatsoever to remove the water pump.



That leaves an intake manifold gasket, or more likely, a head gasket.

I found my head gasket leak by pressurizing the cylinders one at a time, with the thermostat cap and thermostat removed. It has to be done in the same order as the firing order, on the engine's compression stroke (i.e. with both valves completely closed.)

I used my air compressor, and the spark plug adapter hose that came with my compression gauge. With the cylinder at top-dead-center (or thereabouts) I applied pressure to the cylinder. When bubbles came out of the thermostat housing, I knew that I had found my leak.

If you don't have access to an air compressor, you might be able to tell by shooting a laser thermometer at the headers, where the pipe comes out of the head. If the cylinder is misfiring, it will be significantly cooler. It might be difficult to tell, if it's one of the "downstream" cylinders (nearer the trans), since the heat from the upstream cylinders will still travel past.
Cliff Pennock MAY 20, 01:51 AM
I don't have a garage so I did the water pump at the side of the road. I'm guessing replacing gaskets isn't something I could do at the side of the road...
Cliff Pennock MAY 20, 04:45 AM

quote
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:

(or maybe unsealed water pump bolts)



Which bolts should be sealed? Only bolt #4, right?
Cliff Pennock MAY 20, 05:58 AM
Pffffff... Been reading a lot of threads about replacing the head gasket here on the forum. I don't think that's a job I can do.

As a matter of fact, I doubt there's a workshop here that can actually do it. So many things to screw up if you don't know these engines. Dammit, I was so looking forward driving it again...
Cliff Pennock MAY 20, 07:48 AM
Ok, I just started the car and let it idle for a few minutes. Not a drop. Not a single drop leaked from anywhere. No white smoke from the exhaust either. And the engine purred like a kitten. Ok, it idled a bit high (around 1500 RPM) but that could be because the ECM has obviously resetted itself, a cold engine, and because a few of the vaccuum lines have broken off.

I'm utterly confused now. Could it have been simply moist collected during the past 9 months it had been sitting still?

Any theories?
Cliff Pennock MAY 20, 07:51 AM
Also checked the oil, it wasn't muddy or anything. And coolant level hadn't dropped since yesterday.
Will MAY 20, 08:45 AM
If you find water leaks, you have to touch the fluid. Can't tell the difference between condensate and coolant in small amounts until you touch it.
wftb MAY 20, 12:23 PM
Is it warmer out today over there? Outside temperature makes a difference. If the oil looks good and you are not losing coolant I do not see a problem. I do not have a 2.8 but if you saw the amount of water and condensation that comes out of mine before it warms up you would be amazed.

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86 GT built 2.2 ecotec turbo
rear SLA suspension
QA1 coilovers on tube arms

[This message has been edited by wftb (edited 05-20-2020).]

fierofool MAY 20, 12:47 PM
Cliff, I had a little 88 Duke. For a long time, it would pour little streams of water out of the muffler weep holes after starting. I could find no leaks in the system where water could get into the exhaust. It was especially heavy after a rain. Eventually, it stopped.