please help cooland leak near pot 3 on 4.6

[issue truck]

coolant leak near pot 3 on 4.6

hi i have a 4.6 and it has a coolant leak coming from somwhere near pot 3 or 4. it is running down the block and dripping off just above and in front of starter, i cant actually see where it is coming from as there is very little access but there doesnt seem to be any coolant on top of the rocker cover or near heater pipes, so my question is, is there any other coolant lines in this area that i have missed? (been told there is one under intake manifold somwhere????) if so can i get access to this without taking manifold off? also the question i am scared of is.. if the head gasket has gone would i get coolant coming out as i thought it would be oil instead? the truck has 300000km on it. anyone with any ideas please let me no asap

 

[clok1966]

Well ima New Ford 4.6 owner so my help is not 4.6 releated, but simpley engine related. First thing I would do is wipe it all off and try to see where it starts. You say running down the block.. but you say by the POTS.. Unless im understanding this wrong (and maybe I am). if its running down the block it would be on the side, yet the POTS (cops?) are on top..

Headgaskets leak both il or water.. as most engines have both passages in them.. so if the gasket is leaking it could leak either but i would suspect water first. Intake gaskets seem to be a problem spot on several makes of cars. As most manufactures use several types of materials on parts of the engine they dont all expand and contract the same and this can cuse gasket failure.. as well as poor coolent mangment.

I'm sory i dont have any "this is it" advice.. clean it up and try to pinpoint the location and post here again.

 

[toms89]

The heater core hoses come off the back of the motor near that location. I would check them for leaks. They have to absorb the movement of the motor so it could be at a connection. The heater core connectors are just press on type with orings.

 

[issue truck]

Well ima New Ford 4.6 owner so my help is not 4.6 releated, but simpley engine related. First thing I would do is wipe it all off and try to see where it starts. You say running down the block.. but you say by the POTS.. Unless im understanding this wrong (and maybe I am). if its running down the block it would be on the side, yet the POTS (cops?) are on top..

Headgaskets leak both il or water.. as most engines have both passages in them.. so if the gasket is leaking it could leak either but i would suspect water first. Intake gaskets seem to be a problem spot on several makes of cars. As most manufactures use several types of materials on parts of the engine they dont all expand and contract the same and this can cuse gasket failure.. as well as poor coolent mangment.

I'm sory i dont have any "this is it" advice.. clean it up and try to pinpoint the location and post here again.

Thanks for the advice. perhaps i should explain i am English and some of the terms i am using may be different to what you guys use. (and other way round!) when i say pots i mean cylinders. as you said correctly the leak is running down the side of the block somwhere between cylinder 3 and 4. i have cleaned it all up and run it again and it squirted out but seemed to slow down once the engine heated up.(but didnt stop completly) i have some engine building experience but it was always air cooled not water so i am a little out of my comfort zone. i had another quick look and it seems to be coming from above a disk shape pressed into the side of the block just below where the block and head meet. thanks for the advice any more is welcome