Water leaking from head

[climberman]

I have about 49 miles on this 283 it sat for about 3 to 4 years before I ran it. Yesterday water was dripping from it after I pulled in the garage after shut it off. But from the back of the motor. Today I took a closer look and it is coming from the back of the heads. I could be wrong because it is so slow but I can't see anywhere else it could be from. And on both sides one side more then the other. I am hoping I just need to check the torque and tighten the head bolts.

[Rickysnickers]

That's what I would start with, checking the head bolts and also the intake bolts too. I'd check the oil to make sure there doesn't appear to be any coolant in the pan.

[climberman]

I did check the oil and there isn't any coolant it looks good and the exhaust is clear.

[jtrichard]

Engine history? miles,rebuilt, head work, never been apart?ECT.?

[TJ's Chevy]

Check the casting plugs to....just had one go at the rear head of my gmc v6.

[jtrichard]

TJ none in head on 283....... AND a big A++ that you know what the "plugs" are for

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by jtrichard

TJ none in head on 283....... AND a big A++ that you know what the "plugs" are for

Oh ok, Not up on the 8's as much as I am on the 6's. haha I have heard them called, casting plugs, core plugs, freeze plugs, soft plugs, block plugs, sand plugs, and just plain ol plugs!

[jtrichard]

the one thing they are not is "freeze plugs"

[padresag]

Originally Posted by jtrichard

the one thing they are not is "freeze plugs"

but they are called frost plugs
ron

[andyh1956]

I'll bet it's the intake gasket leaking coolant at the rear. Common SBC problem.

[climberman]

The history is that I bought it from a guy that had it rebuilt. It sat around for a while before I bought it. And I didn't start it for at least two years. It runs great has a lot of power and ideals smooth. Clean exhaust maybe running a little rich. I was putting a electric fan on and it got a little hot because the sending unit wasn't working properly and they had to send me another one. But we drove it after that and there wasn't a leak. The leak just happened yesterday.

[climberman]

Wow thanks Andy now that you say that it could be where it is coming form.

[andyh1956]

When you install the new gaskets use a coat of aviation permatex around the water jacket on the head & on the intake side also. And don't forget that all but the end bolts go thru into the underside of the intake & use some permatex on the threads to keep oil leaks down on the intake beside the carb. Also one bolt on each side will intersect with a push rod if it's too long so watch for that.

[climberman]

I was thinking maybe I should try to tighten them first.

[WOLFMANmike]

IMO i would pull off the intake strip off all old gasket material off intake and heads .... also clean all bolts with a wire brush so all threads are clear of gummed oil residue . and re gasket it with new intake gaskets ... and for gaskets i always use Gasket cinch ... imo best stuff around also yes use permatex on the newly cleaned bolts

[climberman]

I am really filling stupid now, when I seen the leek I never once opened the hood. Today I opened the hood and there was water on the intake it came from the sending unit for the electric fan. Put one layer of plumbers tape on it and problem solved.

Thanks for all of your time always appreciate everyone.

[andyh1956]

I think you should pull that intake & reseal it anyway, just to make us happy!

[climberman]

I took it for a long drive and it isn't leaking anymore

[andyh1956]

That's great! Now I wish the head gaskets on my S10 would stop leaking that easy...

[climberman]

Well I spoke to soon the leak from the sending unit was solved but I still had another. It was coming from the back passages side freeze plug. I took the easy fix and pored in some blue devil. Now there are no leaks!!! What would cause a freeze plug to leak.

[WOLFMANmike]

Originally Posted by climberman

Well I spoke to soon the leak from the sending unit was solved but I still had another. It was coming from the back passages side freeze plug. I took the easy fix and pored in some blue devil. Now there are no leaks!!! What would cause a freeze plug to leak.

Oh oh that blue devil stuff. Just cost you a Radiator brother I'm sorry for bad news ...but I would not drive that truck again until you get a new radiator . Does stop leak additives are only made to get you home safely so that you can perform a real repair on the problem regardless of what it says on the bottle it's really just meant to get you home next as far as why a plug would fail there are two reasons one would be that yes it was installed wrong also another reason is using a plug that is not brass the non brass plugs don't last as long. Believe me I understand needing to do things on the cheap as I'm on disability and only get paid once a month butt it's never proven better to be fixing things on the cheap it's always come back and bit me in the butt so I have to save do whatever to get the proper fix also it's not really hard to replace your plugs in the back of the motor with new brass plugs when you do put a little Permatex around the plug as well lightly tap them in until the edge of the plug is just slightly past the edge of the block done fixed my point being is that plugs cost you about 35 bucks for a whole set for the entire engine to fix the problem but because of Blue Devil now you're looking at a couple hundred for a radiator Blue Devil has now clocked up your radiator it is not flowing to the specs that it should and you will start to have problems with Cooling and water flow maybe not right away but you will also this will cost you if you're not careful and you continue to drive on it even more money as far as repair goes because if she gets too hot now you're talking head gaskets and so on I'm not really trying to preach to you here I'm trying to help you but through my own experiences as well I have done the same things and cost myself an entire engine in the moment I will post a picture for you to see what Blue Devil did to me Suburban engine just to stop a plug leak

[WOLFMANmike]

All that crystals looking stuff was much worse it's been sitting now for 2 years but my Radiator was so full of that stuff I tossed it out .

[WOLFMANmike]

Here is the pic

[jtrichard]

Originally Posted by climberman

Well I spoke to soon It was coming from the back passages side freeze plug. What would cause a freeze plug to leak.

Are you talking about on the side of the block behind the starter? or back of block (behind the flywheel)? with steel core plugs the one behind the starter is almost always the first to go because of the electrolysis caused by the starter

[climberman]

Yes