Coolant leak - Head gasket?

[ChrisN]

I found out that I'm leaking coolant just below the #1 (front) intake plenum. Only place I can estimate its source is the head gasket. Coolant runs from this spot down the block and pools just above dipstick tunnel. Car runs great though with no noticable lack of power. There's a fair bit of white smoke on start-up but disappears when warm.

Any thoughts on the source of this leak or causes? If its the head gasket, how can I tell for sure?

Thanks in advance,

Chris

[Guest Anonymous]

Take a closer look at the leak, the gaset where the inlet joints the head is a comon failure. This gasket can be replaced without pulling the intake off. you just remove the water inlet and cut the gasket. Then match the cut gasket, take some ultra gray RTV to reseal and bolt it back up. IF it is the head gasket you can try and retorque the bolts, but as I said I bet its the intake seal.

Sam Schultz

LaValle's IMport Restorations

[ChrisN]

Take a closer look at the leak, the gaset where the inlet joints the head is a comon failure.

I'll be damned....A closer look revealed coolant in the channel that the top inlet bolt passes thru. Don't doubt now that that gasket is the culprit. Is there a replacement gasket or should I just "make" one?

Thank you VERY much Sam.

Chris

[Guest Anonymous]

Its a specal gasket but you cut the original one so you dont have to do all three intake gaskets. Basicly just order the number 1 intake gasket, and cut to fit.

Sam

[2002Targa]

If it's in the bolt channel, see if you can't get a turn in on the temp sender probe, I hade the same leak a few weeks ago and turns out the temp sender was only finger tight.

TK