1997 4.3L/ANTIFREEZE LEAKING/Overheating HLP

[Matt24]

Sorry guys I did a quick search.

the left side under the truck is covered in antifreeze. the temp went way abouve 210. I cant find where it's coming from. but right under the radiator,its wet. the frame, my inner front wheel is just soaked.

if it's the radiator thats leaking, what am I looking at as far as replacing it? cost? how hard is the job?

I'm praying it's a hose, but for now I cant really see anything

thanks,
sorry just freaking out a bit.

:(

[Dogsofjune]

How many miles?
Which left? The drivers left? Or the pedestrian your gonna hit's left?
We have been discussing radiators in another thread. Not sure what the parts store charges be a few of us have picked up a HD radiator from JTR (https://shell7.tdl.com/%7Ejags/S-10_Order.html)
Probably ought to check local sources first to make sure you get a good price.

When in doubt about the hoses, replace them. That shouldn't be expensive. Beats having to trace down a pinhole.

[Matt24]

drivers side. right now Im letting the engine cool down so I can start it up again and see where the hell it's leaking.

btw, it's got 150,000 miles. Ive replaced the water pump once and never
replaced any of the hoses yet

[Dogsofjune]

I'd say those hoses are suspect. While doing that inspect the radiator tank for cracks.
Might be able to get a feel for pricing at the online sites of Autozone, Advance, O'Reilly's, Napa etc.

[turbine guy]

In Canada, all GM trucks come with a plug in engine heater, that replaces one engine block frost plug. It's real common for these to leak, or blow a sealing o-ring out, causing the leak you describe.
Also, it's not unheard of for a frost plug to start leaking, especially if straight water has been used as the coolant. Start with the easy stuff, look at the hoses, and rad, but don't rule out a frost plug. Usually the first one to go, is the one directly behind the starter.

Good luck.

turbine guy

[Matt24]

my neighbor told me to go find a pressure tester and that will find the leak.

what a pain in the ass for a friday!

[JONGO8]

my neighbor told me to go find a pressure tester and that will find the leak.

what a pain in the ass for a friday!
Where are you at on earth?? You can use mine... Hell If you are by me I'll come over and help..

[Matt24]

west palm beach, florida!

my dad cme over with some sort of contraption and he put an airline to it, and
put it in the radiator...... not exactly the right tool, but it worked. as soon as he started blowing air.......nothing............radiator was empty! poured water in it and tried again, and water started coming out on both sides.

advanced auto parts wants $218 for a radiator :eek:
thats the aluminum and plastic like the oem style.

bennett auto and a few other places sell the copper ones, and my dad said they are junk bc he bought one like that for his Iroc-Z camaro and said it didnt last 2 months!

[JONGO8]

west palm beach, florida!

my dad cme over with some sort of contraption and he put an airline to it, and
put it in the radiator...... not exactly the right tool, but it worked. as soon as he started blowing air.......nothing............radiator was empty! poured water in it and tried again, and water started coming out on both sides.

advanced auto parts wants $218 for a radiator :eek:
thats the aluminum and plastic like the oem style.

bennett auto and a few other places sell the copper ones, and my dad said they are junk bc he bought one like that for his Iroc-Z camaro and said it didnt last 2 months!
I got mine from Advance and it has a lifetime replacement on it...

[Matt24]

I got mine from Advance and it has a lifetime replacement on it...

cool. well. good thing my parents live close by. I drove it to thier house before the engine could even get hot. my dad was like, "dude no worries. it looks like the radiator is fked! we'll get one tomorrow, and get the top and bottom hoses too"

it's always great having cool parents, and a dad with every tool imaginable!
now if I Can just get my mom to loan me a few bucks id be cool! :D

hell before this happened today, I replaced my passanger side street scene mirror with a new one! seems i'm workin on the truck more than I thought!

[JONGO8]

Good luck,, At least it's just a radiator. I could be worse...

[Matt24]

Good luck,, At least it's just a radiator. I could be worse...

thanks!

[oldS10dude]

when I bought my 96 ,I replaced every hose on the engine that had coolant running through it ... the upper and lower hoses were like mush,one of the two heater hoses had a pin hole leak in it .... a stitch in time .....

sorry your problem was so expensive to repair ...