What is this?? Why Leaking??

[Origommi]

What is this?? I have a 96 GT and my radiator light has been coming on. Under the hood I see THIS leaking radiator fluid from the seams. Any idea why it would out of the blue start leaking. It leaks alot more when I run my Air Conditioner. Sory for the noob question. Any advise will help. Thanks.

 

[97 Stang]

thats your thermostat housing; most likely just needs a new gasket.

 

[Jinx]

+1
Looks like the thermostat housing. Probably leaking due to age of vehicle.

 

[Origommi]

I checked and the therm housing is tightened down. I dont understand why sometimes it leaks alot and other times it is bone dry. Any thoughts? AND is there a sealer I can use or does it have to be a gasket just made for the housing?

 

[Jinx]

Another possibility is that the leak is comming from the hose Itself (near the clamp) and running down on top of the t-stat housing flange.

If it's the gasket, just buy a new one. They're cheap.

 

[Origommi]

Got ya... Thanks.

 

[Bolt on 5.0]

wipe your finger under the radiator hose along the clamp and see if there is any moisture or coolant on your finger. Those spring load clamps are known for loosing strength over the years. If not remore the housing and replace the t-stat gasket.

 

[RandyStinchcomb]

sounds more like another cracked plastic intake, yes I've seen them split at the seems on the thermostat housing and not just on the coolant cross-over

 

[HP Addiction]

that is exactly where my plastic intake split

 

[Origommi]

Plastic Intake??? OK what is a plastic intake and where is it? How do you know if it is split?

 

[Built98GT]

Plastic Intake??? OK what is a plastic intake and where is it? How do you know if it is split?

The plastic intake is your actual intake manifold. They are know to crack on NPI cars from 96 to 98. More than likely you need a new manifold but they are not that expensive. Make sure its not a gasket first before you start changing the manifold

 

[Dusstbuster]

Or you could just change it now so you don't have to worry about it cracking in the future. Mine hasn't cracked yet but I don't care anymore, between the power gains it gives and the slight boost in peace of mind I think it's worth it...

 

[DTNODYA]

Cracked intake is my guess.

 

[Origommi]

How could you all tell if it was the intake that was cracked or simply a gasket? Did you replace the gasket first OR was the crack that obvious?

 

[Built98GT]

I took mine to a shop and they found the crack but mine was spraying everywhere cause the crack in mine was so big.Do you have a performance shop near you that can diagnose the problem?

 

[Origommi]

There is a shop near by... I will have it checked out. I was hoping that if it was a crack then I would be able to see it. I just checked it again and the only part that is remotly damp is the seal around the themo housing gasket

 

[DTNODYA]

Add some coolant if you need to and let it run. Watch the area that is leaking with the car running and try to see where it's leaking.

Reason I (and a couple others) said cracked intake, is because our intakes crack. Not a matter of 'if they will crack' but more like 'when will they crack' ..

 

[Origommi]

OK, last question... Any idea why it doesnt leak when I drive (its bone dry), but when I let it sit over night it leaks from the therm housing area. I imagine it has something to do with the temp. Thanks all for your help.

 

[Jinx]

OK, last question... Any idea why it doesnt leak when I drive (its bone dry), but when I let it sit over night it leaks from the therm housing area. I imagine it has something to do with the temp. Thanks all for your help.

This is why I believe the gasket/hose theory. It's sounds like it's not leaking under pressure or heat. Perhaps when the metal t-stat housing cools down, it contracts just enough to leak.

 

[DTNODYA]

This is why I believe the gasket/hose theory. It's sounds like it's not leaking under pressure or heat. Perhaps when the metal t-stat housing cools down, it contracts just enough to leak.

That makes sense.


Whatever you do, if you remove the thermostat housing BE CAREFUL WHEN REMOVING THE BOLTS!!! I broke one and it was a PITA to fix! Just a heads up.