88 XJ - Water Leaking out of Bellhousing?

F150SAS · Dec 20, 2012

I have a 170k 4.0, Automatic, 4x4 with a water leak.

I have a small amout of water coming out of the belhousing, would this be a headgasket or a freeze out plug? Back of the head looks dry but it's really tight in this area so before pulling the trans I really want to pinpoint the leak.

Thanks, John

Ecomike · Dec 20, 2012

Water or coolant? Driver's side or passenger? Was AC or defrost (compressor) running? Recent rain?

NotMatt · Dec 20, 2012

There's a freeze plug on the back of the head, but I would make darn sure you eliminate any other possible leaks before you start pulling things apart. It's VERY common for the little heater control valve to crack and leak just enough to pee coolant all over the side of the engine block, then it runs down and looks like it's coming out the bellhousing. It can crack so slightly that you won't even notice it leaking if the rig is not running, or not warmed up enough, or the valve is all the way open.

Start it up and let it warm all the way up, and close that valve off (turn the temp to cold) and look carefully at the heater control valve (in the engine bay, it's part of the heater hose spider assembly next to the expansion tank).

cruiser54 · Dec 20, 2012

There's also a freeze plug in the back of the block between the engine and bell housing.

F150SAS · Dec 21, 2012

Ecomike said:
Water or coolant? Driver's side or passenger? Was AC or defrost (compressor) running? Recent rain?

Looks to be just water. Heat have been running, center of bellhousing.

NotMatt said:
There's a freeze plug on the back of the head, but I would make darn sure you eliminate any other possible leaks before you start pulling things apart. It's VERY common for the little heater control valve to crack and leak just enough to pee coolant all over the side of the engine block, then it runs down and looks like it's coming out the bellhousing. It can crack so slightly that you won't even notice it leaking if the rig is not running, or not warmed up enough, or the valve is all the way open.

Start it up and let it warm all the way up, and close that valve off (turn the temp to cold) and look carefully at the heater control valve (in the engine bay, it's part of the heater hose spider assembly next to the expansion tank).

Will do. Have been getting min. heat out of the heater lately.

cruiser54 said:
There's also a freeze plug in the back of the block between the engine and bell housing.

Thanks

88 XJ - Water Leaking out of Bellhousing?

F150SAS

NAXJA Forum User

Ecomike

NAXJA# 2091

NotMatt

NAXJA Forum User

cruiser54

NAXJA Forum User

F150SAS

NAXJA Forum User

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