| Gas smell and coolant leak [message #197732] |
Thu, 07 February 2013 18:59  |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
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Senior Member |
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split from other thread:
http://gmc.mybirdfeeder.net/GMCforum/index.php?t=msg&th=24975&start=0&rid=2555
Well, tightening the bolts SEEMS to have solved the gas smell... maybe. I'd have to start it and run a while to be sure but can't do that BECAUSE, I'd drained the coolant in order to change the thermostat.
I noticed when we got to Tampa for Lazydays, my coolant was low and added some. Added more in Panama city. And it was so low when we got home that the heat core was not getting any. No visible leaks but Ken Henderson reminded me that you can't fill a GMC by just filling the radiator because the heater core and water heater (exchanger) are above the motor. In fact, it takes a few warm/cool cycles to draw enough coolant from the expansion tank to get everything topped off.
I had not smelled the telltale antifreeze smell in the coach so I knew the heater core was probably OK. The heat exchanger in the hot water heater was an unknown the the PO did change all the lines...more on that later.
However, I was certain the thermostat was stuck open and had ordered a new one (Robertshaw) from Jim K with my last tithe to Applied GMC.
So this afternoon I pulled the thermostat housing. Two bolts into the intake manifold and the hose clamp at the top of the short hose that goes to the front of the engine. When I lifted the housing, to my surprise, the short hose came right off. I got to looking and the lower hose clamp that SHOULD have been on the hard line, was actually on the bottom of the little gooseneck hard line. The hose was sorta clamped but not enough that it didn't come right off with a little twist and pull. DUH! I guess I never really had the engine cover off while the motor was running to see the coolant.
So what was happening is my coolant was slowly dribbling out over the front of the engine and the engine fan was just evaporating it away on the hot block. I'm surprised the motor never got hot but it didn't and it was greasy enough that we would have smelled it for sure.
So if I'm LUCKY, the coolant lean and cold engine will be solved easily by tomorrow morning and the gas leak will be gone...all because the PO apparently did not know how to use a flat blade screwdriver or a 9/16 wrench.
I've decided NOT to pull the intake and plug the crossover at this point. If I'm still loosing coolant, I'd have to suspect a cracked head or head gasket  and the intake would have to come off again. The crossover being unblocked has worked for 56K miles, a couple K more probably won't kill it.
I've pressure washed and steam cleaned the engine and fixed the exhaust leak. Now I'll start hunting down oil leaks which is liable to be cause for taking other things off the motor.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
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| Re: [GMCnet] Gas smell and coolant leak [message #197915 is a reply to message #197899] |
Fri, 08 February 2013 23:26  |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Kerry,
When you get a chance, check that the hose from the Vapor canister is
hooked up to the base of the carburetor. Several have brought coaches in to
our shop with complaint of gas smell.
On Fri, Feb 8, 2013 at 7:29 PM, Kerry Pinkerton <Pinkertonk@mchsi.com>wrote:
>
>
> Kerry Pinkerton wrote on Thu, 07 February 2013 18:59
> > ...So if I'm LUCKY, the coolant lean and cold engine will be solved
> easily by tomorrow morning and the gas leak will be gone...all because the
> PO apparently did not know how to use a flat blade screwdriver or a 9/16
> wrench.....
>
>
> Looks like I was lucky. No gas smell! Replaced the thermostat and the
> guages show the motor is getting up to temp. Slowly filling up the heater
> core and water heater exchange by heating and cooling cycles. Don't see
> any leaks but won't know until it's been through some heat and cool cycles
> and completely filled the system then run a while.
>
> While I was letting the engine run, I decided to put it in gear. NO
> wheels and on jack stands. Foot on the brake, drop into drive and the
> motor quieted right down as the RPM dropped. The fix to the leaking donut
> worked. :d
>
> Put it back in park and let off the brake and felt a vibration. Humm,
> that feels like the hubs are turning. Sure enough they were. Messed with
> the shifter and it felt weird. Shut the motor off and investigated. Crap!
> A cotter key had come out of the tranny linkage bell crank and the linkage
> is off. Really glad that didn't happen on the trip! SHE would not have
> been happy even if it is a 1 cent fix.
>
> My power steering pump is toast. Apparently the main seal has let go.
> It's repairable if the parts are available but for $40 it isn't worth it.
> New one on order and should be here Tuesday.
>
> The encouraging news is that I don't see any oil leaks after running for a
> half hour. Perhaps all my oil leakage was the power steering pump weeping
> before it let go completely. That would be a nice surprise.
> --
> Kerry Pinkerton
>
> North Alabama, near Huntsville,
>
> 77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, also a 76 Eleganza being re-bodied as
> an Art Deco car hauler
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
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>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
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jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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