Block water leak
 

I have been foolin with my water system. I flushed it last fall with vinegar and have been chasing some leaks. Some Bar's stopped the radiator leak but I still have a small drip right over the starter. So exactly over the starter that the water drips down both sides of the starter after I park. This is a drip leak, not a stream. Right above the starter is the exhaust manifold. The edge of the head/block line feels dry to the touch. I have not touched the head nuts in years. Do I pull the starter and get a good look; try tightening the head nuts of forgt it?

Re: Block water leak
 

I don't know if trhe "freeze" plugs on the pan rail woild dip on the starter? Try another bottle of Barrs it won't stop anything up. I have some with 4 or 4 bottles in which stopped the leak. G.M.

Re: Block water leak
 

try a mirror and flashlight.

Re: Block water leak
 

You might give water glass a try. Think wally world carries it, Sodium silicate.

Re: Block water leak
 

Clem>>>Do I pull the starter and get a good look;>>>

I vote YES! Easy off, easy on kinda job.

Jack E/NJ

Re: Block water leak
 

you did not say what year the car is. remove starter get one of those rad pressure pumps pump about 4 lbs & see what you got. if it,s an early eng block off the over flow pipe if it,s a 40 or later the pressure kit has the adpt. you need, heres a tip if your buying a flathead eng .you take a small hammer & tap about 1/2 3/4 above the pan rail this is where the flathead is very thin when it left the factory after 50 years they can rot through you would be suprized how maney blocks crumble there . i hope that is not your proulbem . but i have seen plenty of them leaking there after a cooling system cleaning.

Re: Block water leak
 

I would retighten the head nuts,even a little 1/2 turn on the nut might stop it.Dont cost nothing to do it. ken ct. Do it on a cold engine.

Re: Block water leak
 

Exhaust manifold bolts go into the water jacket, a loose bolt can leak. When I went to pull my manifolds I took the head off of one on each side, was able to pull them then took a torch to the remainders of the bolts, was able to screw the remains out with a pair of vice grips after heating. The remains of the bolts were well rusted from the water immersion.

Re: Block water leak
 

I've never had an exhaust manifold bolt that went in to the water.

Re: Block water leak
 

Please ID the engine for better advice. Personally, I'd try to find and cure the leak before pouring goop into it. Sounds like it might be the head gasket or a head stud/bolt leak. A dye test might help you trace it.

Re: Block water leak
 

Clem, Ken ct is right, i would do all the easy stuff first to stop the leak before i started taking things apart, and water glass works a lot better than Bars Leak, just be sure to follow the directions

Re: Block water leak
 

My brother had the same problem some years ago. Couldn't find the leak until we took the starter off. And found a split in the engine block about 5 inches long. We used some type of silicone on it. Can't remember what it was. It ran for years with no problem

Re: Block water leak
 

Block seal will close up the leaks in a non pressurized system. We had a chevy 6 banger at our shop with a 6 inch crack down the side. Poured the block seal and ran the engine and watched the leak stop. Just make sure its not a head gasket or other mentioned above. Also is it iron or alluminum heads?

Re: Block water leak
 

Thanks. This the engine in my 39 Peeekup. 85 horse when they are all awake.

Some time back I did have to tighten some of the exhaust manifold nuts. Whats the head nut torque: 55fp?

Re: Block water leak
 

Clem... do you have the bulges on the side of the block, indicating the surface the pan sits on holds freeze plugs? The ones I've seen are rotted to nothing....First place I'ld look...
Karl

Re: Block water leak
 

I don't see any bulges.
Status report:

I found two of the exhaust manifold nuts were loose. Front ones one each side. Gasket seems OK. Can I tighten them without breaking the manifold?

By using a mirror I can see the leak. It is in the block below the head/block line. Below the next to last head bolt. It looks like nail is sticking out of the block about an inch. It is stained and wet. There is buildup around it which I think is Stop Leak trying to do its job. The driver's side does not have this phenom. I did not try and touch it. I'm afraid if I fool with it, I get a bigger leak

Re: Block water leak
 

You never answered are the heads alluminum or iron? I had the same problem with alluminum heads but they ate away at the top side.

Re: Block water leak
 

Clem, you said you can see a piece sticking out between bolck and head, if so you may have pushed out a piece of head gasket

Re: Block water leak
 

Clem, Your going to have to fix this at some time. It sounds like it could be a sand hole. I wonder if you could drill a #7 hole and tap it for 1/4-20 screw or for a 1/4-28 fine thread. I would drill a smaller hole first to see what the metal looks like. Even if you have to go to a 5/16" bolt this would be a good perminate fix with lock tite on the threads. G.M.

Re: Block water leak
 

That's what I had to do to fix a leak on Apatchy.

Re: Block water leak
 

Sorry. the heads are iron.

The "nail " is a couple of inches below the head/block seam. That seam is dry with no leak stains. I'm wondering is this is a cut of welding rod welded in place. My camera is sick at the moment.

Re: Block water leak
 

ok Clem, sorry , i miss understood you post, any way water glass will stop it

Re: Block water leak
 

sounds like one of the casting wires coming through a corroded spot in the block.
don't torque manifolds to 55 ft lb,the 7/16 bolts may survive but 3/8 bolts will brake or strip the threads. John

Re: Block water leak
 

I wouldn't disturbe it until you are ready to fix it. I don't think it is a welding rod. I can't imagine any welder leaving a rod sticking up out of a weld. Maybe someone shot at you with a nail gun?? There were some nail like studs that were made to weld on sheet metal to pull dents. G.M.

Re: Block water leak
 

thanks. It looks funny sticking out behind the exhaust manifold. Clearly a homey fix of some sort. I'd like to be able to see if it ia fix for a crack or a hole plug. I know about stop-drilling. So far I'm for leaving it alone.

Re: Block water leak
 

I checked again and barely touched the protrusion. It was a stalagtite and crumbled. I'm guessing the rust built up as the leak weaped. I'm still going to leave it alone, but watch it. It is behind the exhaust manifold and hard to reach.
Clem

Re: Block water leak
 

Clem do you have anti freeze or rust preventatives in the coolant or are you one of these plain water guys?? I would think if there were preventatives in the water you would have a seep but the larger formation of rust puzzles me. This will get softer and larger over time. It may be an easy fix now but more difficult in time. Some times these dreaded repairs arn't as bad after you have tiume to think about them and have a plan. G.M.

Re: Block water leak
 

Water leaks tend to errode the hole faster and faster as the pin hole gets bigger. I'd recommend scheduling a fix for it sooner than later. Holes like that can get a lot bigger than a guy would want it too and faster than a guy might think it could. Lock & stitch might be the best fix for cast iron since the metals are the same. It's hard to say how big a pocket might be on the inside of that leak in the water jacket wall.

Re: Block water leak
 

That's a great quote right there.

Re: Block water leak
 

I have anytifreeze and additional water pump lube in the engine.