I had my GS running and noticed water coming from both tail pipes. I drained the oil and sure enough there was some water in there. Put a fresh filter and oil in it, pulled all the plugs. Plugs all look good, a little rich but all the same. I then did a compression test and all cylinders were good. I drained the radiator and pulled a vacuum on the cooling system and it would not hold vacuum, immediately bled down. I could hear some bubbling sounds but could not tell for sure where they were coming from. Thinking it may be coolant leak at the intake, I just pulled the intake and don't see any coolant stains around the water ports only a little water laying in the back of the valley. I rebuilt this engine in 2011 and it has had no issues until now. Should I look at the timing cover next? Thanks, Ken
How did you pull a vacuum on the cooling system, you mean you pressurized it ? where do you live that your running water in the cooling system? water condensation is normal coming out of a exh system especially if the small drain holes in your mufflers are blocked off .
I chased a leak like this and it ended up being a rotten timing cover gasket. Coolant was pouring into the oil pan as soon as it poured it in the radiator.
Stevem, I pulled a vacuum. I borrowed a kit off of my brother that replaced the radiator cap and has a venturi setup, so you run air pressure to it to pull the vacuum. It has a vacuum gauge; you bring it to around 20 inches of vacuum then shut the valve off and see if it holds. It did not, dropped almost immediately. It's used for filling a system with coolant with no air pockets. I run antifreeze in the car, not straight water. This was not just condensation. This was antifreeze coming out the tailpipes. Sorry if I wasn't clear. Smartin, I'm leaning toward the timing chain cover gasket myself. Just wanted to make sure I was on the right track and not missing something else. Not looking forward to that but it could use a little detailing anyway. I'll check to see if I have a gasket set "in stock". That might be the mission for tomorrow unless I get some other suggestions. I want to get this taken care of this weekend if possible. I have a TKX 5 speed coming next week and want to get it in the car next weekend. Thanks guys, Ken
I had a leak at the intake. It emptied my recovery tank in the time it took me to drive home from a cruise night. There was emulsified oil in the valley and under the valve covers. New gaskets and the leak stopped. It was the back of the intake. Gaskets looked good, but I could see a trail of emulsion.
If you have antifreeze coming out your tail pipes then it’s not a timing cover leak. Unfortunately it’s time to pull the intake manifold to look for ruptured gaskets and if that all looks good it’s time to pull the heads to have a peak at the gaskets. it may only be coolant getting into one cylinder and the plug will be clean or cleaner then the others due to the steam cleaning process. so looking closely at the plugs might help you to narrow down which bank of the motor has the issue.
I’m going to say if you DO have physical liquid antifreeze dripping from your tail pipes, and it’s not condensation, or steam, the coolant is getting in the exhaust AFTER the combustion chamber, cracked head by exhaust port??
Coolant coming out the exhaust has to be entering on the intake side so like mark said either manifold or head.
Good points guys. but are you sure it was coolant coming out of the tailpipes? I’ve had way too many people freak out about condensation. The fact that it won’t hold vacuum even for a moment tells me that it’s a substantial leak…and that is difficult for it to be anywhere but something like the timing cover…unless he has a big hole in a head or cylinder wall.
Definitely not condensation. I had water (antifreeze) in the oil when I drained it, about a quart extra showing on the dipstick, so I know there is some kind of internal leak. I already pulled the intake, no signs of a leak there. I'll start with the timing cover gasket today. If all looks good, I guess I'll pull the heads and get them checked out. Whenever I've dealt with a cracked or warped head in the past, the spark plug on that cylinder showed signs of it but I am not ruling that out. As I said in my first post, all the plugs look good. Thank you for all the ideas. Ken
With water (antifreeze?) coming out both tailpipes my question is, does your exhaust system have an H or an X pipe? The problem could be only on one side if so. Just saying.
Hmmmmm, with no crossover and antifreeze pouring out BOTH pipes you have serious engine issues, OR it is IS just condensation water.
My money is on the timing cover leaking into the crankcase and water in the exhaust is condensation. Especially if the car is running OK.
I just pulled the timing cover off and it appears that the gasket did fail at the passenger side water port. New gasket should be here tomorrow. I am going to take some time and correct and detail a few things before putting it all back together. I'll get the intake back on today and place a small order with Todd for a couple of odds and ends. Once I get the intake and timing cover back on, I'll pull a vacuum on the cooling system again and see how it does. Ken
Good news Ken. My TC gasket failed as well, but externally. I had to make sure I replaced it with the identical gasket because of my roller cam. Some of the replacement gaskets are thicker than others.
Gaskets came today but I knew this would snowball. New water pump is on the way, timing chain cover is all stripped down and getting repainted, balancer getting repainted, pulleys getting cleaned up and I'm replacing as many of the non-original type bolts with original type as I can. Since I've always kind of liked the "day 2" look, I'm adding my Edelbrock valve covers, and long tube headers too. I have an exhaust manifold that is either cracked or warped anyway. I may even put on a set of Torque Thrust wheels I have on it. I haven't really messed with the car since I finished the frame off on it in 2012, just cruise around and maintain it. Ken
I just got a message from a Buick buddy here in central Florida that’s getting rid of a set of Torque Thrust wheels. If interested PM me.
Thanks, but I've had a set here for years just never put them on this car. My son had them on his car for a few years. Good looking wheels! Ken
