Coolant system leak, need advice/help?

[huskerfoos]

I have a 96 s10 4.3 vortec. I knew I had a leak in the radiator. Replaced radiator, all hoses, recovery tank, water outlet, and thermostat. I still have a leak somewhere else tho.

As of now, I just have water running thru it. I would like to pressure test the coolant system. But, how do I do that if there are open ended hoses on the coolant tank?

I am also gong to check the pressure thru the plugs this weekend. Hopefully, at worst it is just intake.

Any help/thoughts/advice?

thanks
JJ

 

[Lead Shoes]

add dye to it and park it in a dark garage and look for the leak with a black light, it will take less than 10mins..

 

[tomcat27]

it appears that your truck may have come from the factory with dexcool. I'd suspect the intake manifold gaskets. certainly adding dye to the coolant and using a black light works well. I used that trick on my brother's LH. I could smell coolant but could not locate it. used the dye and found 3 leaks!!! the lucky bum - he got his labor for free!!! (from me)

 

[huskerfoos]

Yes, the truck came with Dex-cool. My system looked like total [censored], and that's being nice. That is/was after a couple times of letting it run for an hour or so while I ran a hose into the radiator.

I back flushed the heater core before I installed all my new stuff. Ran water/compressed air both ways for over an hour swapping back and forth. I filled up probably 4 gallons of grey/black gunk. But, filled the heater core before I connected everything back to keep from having such an air bubble.

I am going to look into the dye for this weekend when I am off. I found, what I think is pretty in depth, an article with pictures etc on removal of the upper/lower intake. It doesn't look too bad, just time consuming.

I just signed up for the forums, but had previously used them as reference when looking for fixes or suggestions. Glad I got on board here now.

thanks
JJ

ps, haha, I didn't put a derogatory word, but it must have known what I was thinking.

 

[doitmyself]

Water pump/weep hole?

 

[huskerfoos]

I have yet to see anything on the ground. I would much rather it be the water pump than either of the gaskets. But, it is what it is, I guess. We'll see tomorrow or Friday

 

[Chris142]

Could be intake gaskets, a hose, water pump etc.