looking for a little help...

Could antifreeze be leaking through a bolt on my Weiland intake manifold?

The bolt closest to the front left of the engine has a little constant puddling around the bolt after driving the car? Appears o be antifreeze...

I thought the heater hose fitting might be leaking and making it look like it was coming from the bolt, but that does not seem to be the case?

thanks
JL

Take the bolt out. Put a thread sealer on it, and replace.
That could be normal for some of the early engines.
Some of the bolts go into the water jacket.

Or, maybe it is the thermostat housing?
Is the water is runnibg to a low point?


If that doesn't work, could be a hairline crack on the intake.
Can't hurt to try.

Put the thread sealer on the bolt and put it back in as some of the intake bolts do hit the water jacket. Also, one other trick is to put some black pepper in the radiator. The pepper will go to the leak and seal it. Yeah, I know, sounds crazy, but an old mechanic showed me that, when one of my intake bolts was leaking as well. One of them shade tree deals that actually works.

Pepper?
No no - Go to your GM dealer, and buy a pack of their radiator tabs. (Cheap)
They now are required to put them in every car that is serviced - They work.

Intake manifold bolt into the water jacket.. gee, I'm not sure about that..
My guess is that your intake gasket is not sealing where the head and manifold meet and the leaking water's easy way out is the through the bolt hole. Try re-torquing all the intake bolts for better clamping force, but don't exceed 25-30 ft/lbs. If it still leaks try some stop leak or replace your gaskets. Thread sealer on the bolt threads won't do anything if I'm right about it not going into a jacket.
The water may also be leaking into the lifter gallery and making it's way to the pan, so don't be too suprised if you see water in your oil. Crack your sump plug a few turns to drain any water. (It is heavier that the oil and will be at the bottom.)

That threaded hole in the front left is a blind hole so none can come from the hole itself. None of the intake bolts are into the water jacket. I had the same problem a while ago. The upper radiator hose was not quite tight enough and a few drops puddled there after driving exactly at the location you described. At first it was difficult to tell where it originated from. It could just as easily be from a leaky thermostat housing gasket. Run you finger under where the hose attaches to the housing and examine the thermostat gasket carefully. The thermostat housing bolts go into the water jacket and do need sealer.

about 1/2 of my intake bolts go into the water jackets. use thread sealer on them all.

I had the same problem on the first bolt on the drivers side. Puddled around the bolt. After tightening & no help, I finally found out it was comming from the water neck. Just tightened the drivers side water neck bolt & no more leak.

about 1/2 of my intake bolts go into the water jackets. use thread sealer on them all.

I think you will find that your 4 center-most threads extend into an "open" area of the cylinder head that is between your intake ports (and either side of your exhaust heat riser if you have one).. The 4, 2nd-thread-from-each-end (5, 7 ,9 & 11 of the torque sequence), may also be "open", or possibly blind like the 4 corner-most threads and do not extend into the water jacket/s at all as they are a good 1/2" - 3/4" to the side and a good 1 1/2" inboard from the actual jacket.

I think you're wasting your time with the sealant dude! :)

If I'm wrong, please, what are your casting numbers?

now that you mention it i do think it was the hollow space that is open to the lifter valley. my bad. i still put thread sealer on all my intake bolts. one less place to leak something.

Cool.. You really had me scratching my head there.. :beers: