mjtjnj Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 I've had this antifreeze smell since I got the engine (2.5) rebuilt last summer. I've tightened up hose clamps, replaced hoses, etc. I had a couple of badly installed valve stem seals, so I had the head off this summer, and put it back without incident - new head and intake gaskets. I was messing around with the MJ today and noticed a poof of smoke coming off the header down low, as antifreeze was dripping off the driver's back corner of the block. I can't get a really good look at where it's coming from, but just above where the coolant is pooling, there looks like a plug is screwed into the block, and has an allen head. It's not a freeze plug, bc they're hammered into the block, right? I'm HOPING that it's not head gasket, but I would think I'd have other problems (vacuum leak, etc) other than some dripping antifreeze. Ideas? Reassurance? I'll kill myself if I have to take the head off again. Thanks Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 IIRC, renix 2.5's have a coolant passage through the intake manifold. probably just leaking from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjtjnj Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 Yeah, they do have a coolant passage, but I think it's up front?? Where do you suppose it would be leaking from, the gasket? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Yeah, they do have a coolant passage, but I think it's up front?? Where do you suppose it would be leaking from, the gasket? mmm...not too sure truth be told. I gave away my last 4 cyl intake/exhaust setup so I can't go out and look :-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 yeah, coolant enters the manifold at the back, there's an angled fitting that a hose slips over. It then exits the front of the manifold, and goes back to the thermostat housing area IIRC. But, there is a block drain plug toward the rear of the block, a bit above and behind the motor mount on the driverside. It's just a regular pipe plug (3/8 coarse thread, I think). Betcha that's where your leak is. Try to skinny a 3/8" ratchet up in there and see if you can snug that plug up. It's just like the drain plug on a D35, the ratchet head slips into the plug. Lemme see if I can find a side pic of my 4.0 block when I rebuilt it....it has the same plug in the same spot. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjtjnj Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 Yeah, that's what it looks like, Jeff. Since it was a balmy 43 degrees today and supposed to be tomorrow (warmest in weeks), I'm gonna give that a try tomorrow. I'll be happy as a pig in you-know-what if it's that easy. Rebuilder maybe didn't snug it up enough. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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