88whitemanche Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 What's up fellas.... I have an idea of what it can be but with expert eyes I can determine it faster.... It's an 88 2.5 5 speed 4x4 I haven't started the truck in over a week and I went to start it up this morning and it's gushing coolant all over the floor... But it's coming from the back of the engine...I looked at all the hoses and no hoses are leaking. So I get under the truck to see that it's coming either from the top or bottom of the head. So I'm thinking either head gasket but it's not over heating. So I look closer and took some pics but I couldn't get an exact on what the problem is but did notice I'm missing an exhaust manifold bolt. I look closer and one of the other lower intake bolts were loose...I tightened it up thinking I can get by and no it's still gushing fluid. Could it be a head gasket? Or since the intake manifold runs coolant through it and since its loose it's leaking food through there...? Let me know what you guys think? In this pic you can see the washer not completely seating on the manifold and if you look closely there some coolant running down from it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheDog Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 Pull your manifold off and clean the mating surfaces well and reassemble with a new gasket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted April 17, 2016 Author Share Posted April 17, 2016 Pull your manifold off and clean the mating surfaces well and reassemble with a new gasket. So the intake manifold bolt could be the culprit of the leak? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComancheKid45 Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 My guess is a frost plug has rusted through. There is no coolant relevant to either of the manifolds. Also check the sensor in the back drivers side corner of the head. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted April 17, 2016 Author Share Posted April 17, 2016 My guess is a frost plug has rusted through. There is no coolant relevant to either of the manifolds. Also check the sensor in the back drivers side corner of the head. Good luck That's the first place I looked (freeze plugs) after I checked the hoses but on the last pic you can see the water residue over the freeze plug....had a buddy with similar problems...I checked the temp sensor on the back of the head and no leaks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 Did you have a freak cold front pass through Miami one night that you didn't know about? :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted April 17, 2016 Author Share Posted April 17, 2016 Coldest it's been here lately(about a few months ago) is low 60s.... Couple of weeks have only been 70s-80s with 100% humidity.... Nothing crazy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marine1Texas Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 looks like a head gasket to me from your pictures. I can see that line where the head and the block meet, looks like it coming from their. That missing bolt can cause some vibration on the head and not a even flow of temp on gasket from small exhaust leak making the gasket expand and restrict in that small area. You can always pull spark plug number 4 and see if you got any coolant or residue from it in number 4 cylinder. If non, then it might just be a small bubble on the out side of the head. That area it looks like coming from is very near of the rear water jacket on the exhaust port of the head. I was just doing a quick look at your pictures to a upside down look of the 2.5L head online and about lines up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted April 17, 2016 Author Share Posted April 17, 2016 Will do...looks like I'll be pulling the Intake and exhaust manifold This week to see what the true problem is... Thanks fellas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComancheKid45 Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 Let us know ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted April 18, 2016 Author Share Posted April 18, 2016 Well it's a mini-freeze plug that's on the head... I wiped it down and shook the truck and just started coming out of the water jet hole? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marine1Texas Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 Well that is better then a head gasket at least. What method you going to try to fix the plug? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted April 18, 2016 Author Share Posted April 18, 2016 I don't even know...I'm thinking of pulling the head and taking it to a machine shop for them to do it... I don't even know if they sell those parts... Does anyone have a method of tackling the freeze plug? Or where to even get them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 P/n J3105394 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mopar-J3105394-Engine-Expansion-Plug-Expansion-Plug-/261521311326?hash=item3ce3e2865e:g:6uoAAOSwT6pVpSkG&vxp=mtr The problem will be getting to it. Pulling the head would be best.................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Iroc Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 P/n J3105394 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mopar-J3105394-Engine-Expansion-Plug-Expansion-Plug-/261521311326?hash=item3ce3e2865e:g:6uoAAOSwT6pVpSkG&vxp=mtr The problem will be getting to it. Pulling the head would be best.................... You sure this is the right part for him? Description says it's 2.297" wide. The mini freeze plug on the head is much smaller than that, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 Yes, I was wrong - missed the 2.5 engine part. :doh: I'll let the OP pick out which part he needs. From his pics it looks like #2, but #3 sounds like the plug he needs in the parts list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted April 19, 2016 Author Share Posted April 19, 2016 Hornbrod- I need plug number 2...which is near the back of the head... But the parts list shows the measurements for #3... Which sounds like the right size...the .875" plug... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted April 19, 2016 Author Share Posted April 19, 2016 Just plugged in the j3172319 part# into the rockauto website and it gave me a dorman 555014... I'm going to give that a try when I get in the mail... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91Pioneer Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 There is likely no need to go to RockAuto. Stop by a local auto parts store or engine rebuilder with the measurement. These things are cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 Yup. And if the drone behind the counter tells you it doesn't exist, tell them to bug the commercial guys. There will be tens if not hundreds in stock at every parts store, as they buy them in bulk for like 10¢/each if that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 Glad you found the culprit! There is no coolant relevant to either of the manifolds. This is false for the 2.5 TBI power plant. Coolant does flow through the intake manifold by way of the upper heater hose. Granted the loose intake manifold bolt wouldn't cause a leak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 Hornbrod- I need plug number 2...which is near the back of the head... But the parts list shows the measurements for #3... Which sounds like the right size...the .875" plug... Yet another faux pas in the Factory Parts Manual............. Well, at least you know what you need to get now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted April 19, 2016 Author Share Posted April 19, 2016 Called the local auto parts store they're selling them $.31 each... Going to pick up a few and see if I can get it installed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 Get them in brass if possible so they don't rot out again. Usually when one goes the others follow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted April 19, 2016 Author Share Posted April 19, 2016 Get them in brass if possible so they don't rot out again. Usually when one goes the others follow. Should I get the later model plugs? They come in copper...but not sure if they are the correct size Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now