upper intake... no coolant lines right?

[BerniniCaCO3]

Just to double check; there are NO coolant lines hooked into the upper intake, are there?

I just discovered coolant on the pavement after driving my car this morning. At first panicked, because it was dripping off the back passenger side of the engine, but then I noticed that it's puddled across the entire center of the upper intake, so it can't be a head gasket or even the lower intake gasket to get there.
I'll pull the upper intake tomorrow and see what's what. Might have to pressurize it to pinpoint it.

What are some likely culprits?
I don't think I've got a single hose clamp on the upper intake however, so, if any thing is coolant and not vacuum, that's a very likely culprit to be seeping liberally

I'll also look at that plastic return pipe from the heater core, in case it could be cracked-- does it have such a reputation? I'll check the hose clamps at either end.
If it is leaking, can I replace it with real metal pipe from the hardware store?
I can't remember where the hoses to the EGR coolant run; if under the intake, them too...

[86VickyLX]

Just to double check; there are coolant lines hooked into the upper intake.
Fixed that for you. The EGR cooler lines are most likely to blame. There's one that comes from the rear of the passenger side of the engine on the lower intake on a coolant pipe. Then there's the other one that comes from the other side of the engine, in the lower intake.

[BerniniCaCO3]

wait, so both egr cooler hoses come from the lower intake?
Or they pass through the upper intake on their way to the egr spacer?

[87gtVIC]

no they go right to the egr spacer

[BerniniCaCO3]

OK. Those might be hose clamped. But yeah, sounds like they're in the right spot. And while I know I replaced one of them, I think the other egr coolant line is 21 years old. Maybe it was just harder to reach? I actually don't know why I didn't replace it; seems foolish but there must have been some reason that it would be just hard enough not to bother if it seemed OK.

This happened immediately after I fixed the stuck-open thermostat, so the engine was finally able to reach operating temperature/ 195F. So related to heat or pressure; makes sense...

[86VickyLX]

OK. Those might be hose clamped. But yeah, sounds like they're in the right spot. And while I know I replaced one of them, I think the other egr coolant line is 21 years old. Maybe it was just harder to reach? I actually don't know why I didn't replace it; seems foolish but there must have been some reason that it would be just hard enough not to bother if it seemed OK.

This happened immediately after I fixed the stuck-open thermostat, so the engine was finally able to reach operating temperature/ 195F. So related to heat or pressure; makes sense...
make sure all of your clamps are tight. If you have access to a pressure tester, use it and check for leaks.

[1987cp]

If in doubt, bypass the EGR coolant lines and see if it solves your problem.

[1990LTD]

I can't even remember where the lines from the EGR spacer go, I just know I bypassed the spacer :D

[gadget73]

one goes to the back corner of the lower intake, the other loops around and hooks to the steel line running under the upper to the heater core.

[turbo2256b]

Another place to check is were the heater hose attaches to the intake right behind the distributor and coil (depending on year). They fail often. That has failed more often than any other hose on my boxes. Even brand new one havent lasted long untill I reengineered it.

[87_crown_vic]

i bypass the EGR spacer lines... the waterpump bypass line which is a smaller line elbow shaped and the hose connecting to the steel line that runs under the upper intake... might wanna check the stuff out and fix as necessary...