Loosing Coolant Suprise.

[man7sell]

I have been loosing coolant rapidly. I know the heater core was bad but it had been bypassed. So got a new heater core and connected it up. Checked all my hoses and replaced a couple. All the rest are good.
Stilling loosing.
No leaks under the truck (Put a piece of white cardboard box under and ran the truck then let it sit over night...... couple of oil drips only.)

To drive the truck any distance (Like to a radiator shop to check the system) I had to replace the rotten, broken exhaust. Fitting a nice system on there, started the truck to see how it sounded, very nice but wait what's this???? Coolant coming out both tail pipes!!!!

What's the common denominator as both exhausts are separate, coming from separate heads.

The intake manifold. Darn, now I have to change that for an Edlebrock

[geezer#99]

I hope that's not the new exhaust!
Water out of both pipes is just condensation.
What's all that red stuff you're using for gaskets on the intake?

[Jake Wade]

Wow! No lack of RTV there for sure, Waaaaay too much.

[man7sell]

Just the right amount the gaskets were photo'd before smoothing the RTV out. As for the back and front, instead of those leaky cork or rubber gaskets they give you, use a 1/4 bead along there, let it set up for a while but not fully, then sit the intake manifold down and torque it up, no more oil leaks front or back. Works great. Got it from this guy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wVL0cjGmdI

[cleansquare]

Weve always done the rtv thing front and back. Always works the forst time

[Jake Wade]

Yes, A bead of RTV front and back is the way to go, been doing it that way over 25 years.

[man7sell]

Even says so on the Edelbrock installation instructions

[man7sell]

Well no coolant out the tailpipes now, how ever I still loosing some, nowhere near as much but it's still going down. So no drips, no steam out the tail pipes, where is it going too?

[LONGHAIR]

I am fine with the RTV on the front and back rails, been doing it for years......but having it smeared all over the gaskets? Not only is that waaay harder to remove, you have the potential for that getting into the engine when you do scrape it off.

[man7sell]

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

I am fine with the RTV on the front and back rails, been doing it for years......but having it smeared all over the gaskets? Not only is that waaay harder to remove, you have the potential for that getting into the engine when you do scrape it off.

You mean It won't last forever?

[mrolds88]

They look like Felpro intake gaskets. I've never had to use gasket sealer on them. Just dab in the corners then lay on the gaskets and then build the bead front and back. And when I do use gasket sealer on a gasket (water pump/ tstat/ valve covers) you can read through it. Just enough to seal the surface.

[man7sell]

so I found another source of coolant leakage. The heater return to the radiator has a crack on the fitting. It sprayed coolant up into the hood and then the fan sent it everywhere. So I removed the radiator and re-soldered the joint. Refilled the system and ran it. No leaking from the repair that's great...... so why is my leg getting wet standing at the front of the truck? Great, a rock has hit and punctured the radiator core. Now I have a new one on order.