Read enough threads here, and I always had a feeling that this day would come. Last week I was in stop and go traffic, when suddenly I looked down and my temp gauge was at 7/8 on the scale. Wha?!! I crank the heater, traffic starts moving again and it comes back down. I check the coolant tank, and it's basically empty, just a little wet down at the bottom. I refill, but then I start noticing 'Blueberry' is leaving a nice little spot in my driveway after I drive her (him? I think he's a guy...not sure though). Anyway, I put it up on jack stands and search like crazy. Not hoses leaking, no fittings, radiator looks good, it's just coming from somewhere up high. Today I pulled the air filter box out and start looking from up above. What I found is worrying me. Somewhere up high on the engine, in the neighborhood of the head gasket or freeze plug (right rear, as if you are standing in front of the car examining the engine) is where the coolant is leaking. No hoses above it are wet, it's certainly coming from there. I really don't know how to tell if it's one or the other, except for looking at how high the fluid goes. Know what I mean?

Ok, so let's say it's a head gasket. I can do it, I've got the tools and experience, just a matter of digging in and being careful and learning the nuances of this car. But it's a lot of time, and a huge pain. What am I in for in terms of dollars if I do all the work? Conversely, let's say it's a freeze plug. Can I simply replace these? It's summer, why did this thing just decide to start leaking? Just that right there has me thinking head gasket.

No pics yet as this is an extremely tough spot to get any, but hopefully I can. Thanks for listening

 

Between those two choices, it's almost always a head Gasket.
Just for gaskets and bolts your looking at: (ish)
Head Gasket - $75.00
Thermostat and Gasket - $45.00 (might as well do it)
Head Bolts or Studs:
OEM Bolts - $60.00 (but again another "One-Time" use Bolt)
ARP Studs - $135.00 (reusable)

+ Fluids, incidentals and of course any other PM items you deem necessary.

 

Bummer. Any other "may as well" items anyone else can think of?

 

Really, probably just the chain tensioner since it's coming out anyway.
That's all of the top of my head.

 

Check out these two pics. A bit crappy, as I snapped these off of my inspection camera screen, but that threaded fitting is just encrusted in coolant. Maybe it's coming from that? I'm going to investigate further.



Zoomed out



Close up

 

Is there water in your oil?

I wouldn't immediately say it's the head gasket. It could be, but I would keep looking for the leak.

 

I think you may be right, Shawnnn. I'm now highly suspicious of a thermostat housing leak, or temp sensor sending unit. I think that's what the threaded piece is.

 

Replaced the thermostat housing and gasket, and the leak has stopped. It may have been just the gasket, but I felt better doing all of it. I'll keep this thread posted if anything changes.