Antifreeze leak

[harryron]

When I got home this morning I noticed that there was some antifreeze dripping from my X. I crawled under there an seen that I was dripping of the bell housing of the transmission on the the cross member but could not find where the source of the leak is. what would the likely culprit be? If it is the head gasket how hard is it for someone with limited tools and experience to change? Another question should I have to take the heads off should I go ahead and change the knock senor while I am at it?

 

[Muadeeb]

Check your heater hoses. Mine broke about a year ago.

 

[harryron]

After looking closer at the problem it looks like it is the head gasket but not 100% positive. I checked the oil and it did not look milky.

 

[robcarync]

I had the same heater hose issue and it leak down right over the transmission as you describe. It was a slight leak though...and it ended up just being a pin hole on the bottom of the hole. I didn't find out until I wrapped the hoses individually in paper towels and ran the truck with the heater on for a few minutes. Had green spots and drips when I took the towels off.

 

[Intender]

I also have a heater core hose with a slow leak. It runs down the firewall and lands on the headers and transmission. Just a few drops makes it smell pretty bad when it hits the headers. Also check out the idle air control valve. They tend to develop issues and can leak. You will usually have problems with the truck running roigj or stalling on cold mornings if its the idle ai xontrol valve.

 

[harryron]

Still can't pinpoint my leak, I have been keeping an eye on the oil and have not noticed any antifreeze in there. I drove it for an hour today and when I got back home I continued looking for the leak and I did not see a drop but could smell it. My X is running fine but this is aggravating me I want to find the issue and fix it so I don't have a problem when I'm miles from home.

 

[mudmohak]

If is a external leak then it is a external leak. you will only have anitfreeze in the oil if you have a internal head gasket leak. buy a pressure tester for 10 bucks and pump about 10-12 psi and let it sit. 9 times out of 10 it will leak and because you control the psi, it gives you all the time you need to find it.

 

[Hollywood151]

I also have a heater core hose with a slow leak. It runs down the firewall and lands on the headers and transmission. Just a few drops makes it smell pretty bad when it hits the headers. Also check out the idle air control valve. They tend to develop issues and can leak. You will usually have problems with the truck running roigj or stalling on cold mornings if its the idle ai xontrol valve.

I've got that same issue. No noticeable loss of coolant, but if I leave it running in the garage to warm up (door open) I can smell hella coolant stink....