440 Coolant leak from passenger side

[pmschmitt]

noticed today I had a one drip per 3 minutes coolant leak on the rear of my 440 primarily on the passenger side. Oil is clean with no water in it. All heater hoses appear to be without leaks. Could this be a leaking freeze plug?

Curious if any have experienced this. Thanks. Just wanted to know what I was getting into before jacking up the car.... Again

 

[rexus31]

Most likely a freeze plug or exhaust manifold stud.

 

[CanCritter]

frezze plug...condensation from ac....heater hose or heater core leak...intake or head gasket leak....need to dry area the best you can and nail down where its comeing from....may even be water pump and fans makeing coolant travel along bottom of engine or down along intake ect...

 

[rexus31]

frezze plug...condensation from ac....heater hose or heater core leak...intake or head gasket leak....need to dry area the best you can and nail down where its comeing from....may even be water pump and fans makeing coolant travel along bottom of engine or down along intake ect...

Intake?

The intake on my 383 is dry. Is it different on a 440?

 

[CanCritter]

on occasion fluids can "travel" from front to rear via top or bottom of engine...op needs to nail down source to start or were all just assumeing

 

[rexus31]

on occasion fluids can "travel" from front to rear via top or bottom of engine...op needs to nail down source to start or were all just assumeing

I understand that and I agree. You stated an "intake or head gasket leak". Just clarifying the intake is dry on Mopar Big Blocks for the OP so they aren't chasing something that isn't the cause.

 

[pmschmitt]

I will jack up car and dry everything off and try to mail it down

Thanks

 

[CanCritter]

please use jackstands along with hydraulic jack when ya do

 

[1978 NYB]

Get a can or two of Engine Brite and clean up the engine with a water hose. It'll make looking for the leak alot easier. Check all the hose clamps on everything to make sure nothing is loose.

 

[barnfind]

If its not obvious where its coming from these are handy, some parts stores have loaners.

 

[traintech55]

If its not obvious where its coming from these are handy, some parts stores have loaners.
View attachment 91546

If you have a Harbor Freight store by you the tester kit is well worth the money spent.

 

[1978 NYB]

I know AAP has a loaner set.

 

[65sporty]

If its not obvious where its coming from these are handy, some parts stores have loaners.
View attachment 91546

That is what I was going to suggest, it's a lot easier to just pressurize the system and look over a cold engine than look at a hot one or one that's running. Seems like a lot of us think a like, most be the great minds think like thing. Lol

 

[rexus31]

If its not obvious where its coming from these are handy, some parts stores have loaners.
View attachment 91546

Good tool to have.

 

[pmschmitt]

Ok jacked it up and ran it a bit to see if I could figure it out without the pump. Initial assessment it looks to be the freeze plug on the rear passenger side of the block. I'm gonna let it cool and clean it up to be sure.

 

[cantflip]

Ok jacked it up and ran it a bit to see if I could figure it out without the pump. Initial assessment it looks to be the freeze plug on the rear passenger side of the block. I'm gonna let it cool and clean it up to be sure. View attachment 91613 View attachment 91612View attachment 91614

That appears to a heck of a good guess... I too would pressure test it and then you get to work on the age old "one or all" theory... I personally would poke at the others and do the one for now... still some driving weather left in Texas before they salt the roads...

BTW see if you can rent the installation driver... it's more fun with the right tools.

 

[Slantsix]

I bet you can poke screwdriver thru that rusted freeze plug....

 

[Big_John]

You can buy an expansion type plug that will be about a zillion times easier to install than the pound in plug.

 

[65sporty]

You can buy an expansion type plug that will be about a zillion times easier to install than the pound in plug.

Yes, but I still like the drive in steel or brass freeze plug. I guess it depends on his skill level.

 

[Big_John]

Yes, but I still like the drive in steel or brass freeze plug. I guess it depends on his skill level.

If the engine was out on the stand, I would agree 100%.