Massive Coolant leak

[LilBusDude]

Hey everyone,

Working on a 2001 E450.

Was going to top off coolant with water, when i sudenly realise that what i pour in the tank just spills immediately out from the bottom of the engine somewhere between the rear engine and the transmission bell.

Did not know it was possible.

No hose leak, no waterpump leak. The only visible leak is massive, and all comes out the left bottom back side of the engine.

Can't find any diagram for gaskets or coolant system to better diagnose.

Thank you for any info.


M@

 

[BamaBus]

Freeze plug on side of block?

 

[LilBusDude]

I wish !! Nothing i can see on front, left and right side, but i cannot see the back side where the transmission is mounted.


Was able to take down the guard that the water was pouring from and found this : seems not belonging in this drain pan looks like a plug that correspond to the amount of water comming out.


Only problem, cannot have a visuel of the hole it came out from.


Anyone has a clue what we looking at ??


Thank you

 

[Cheezewhiz]

Merp

 

[BamaBus]

Anyone has a clue what we looking at ??


Thank you

It's a freeze plug. Hopefully you don't have to pull the engine to replace.

 

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

thats one of your freeze plugs.
gonna have to find the hole it came from and create enough room for a block of wood and a hammer.
you dont have to but i would use a new plug.

 

[LilBusDude]

It's a freeze plug. Hopefully you don't have to pull the engine to replace.

I'm afraid it poped from the back side of the engine, into the transmission bell, witch is super hard to have a visuel if not just impossible.

What's easier between pulling the engine, or droping the transmission bell ?

I cannot find a diagram showing that side of the engine that could help me find that freeze plug hole.

 

[Cheezewhiz]

The two times ive done it, both on small pickup trucks, it was take all the bolts out of the transmission and engine mounts in order to get enough wiggle to get them apart

 

[ewo1]

If it came out of the backside of the engine your gonna have to pull the flywheel off to access the block.
Whet's easier to pull, engine or trans ??
Might be helpful to readers if you would let us know what engine/tranny you talking about.

On a van, I think I would drop the tranny versus pulling the engine.

 

[LilBusDude]

Sorry,

We are talking about a 2001 E-450 7.3L SchoolBus Thomas build, with the inside hatch to access most of the engine. The worst nightmare for body builders / big arms.

Some jobs on this engine is blind, meaning that you have to learn to see with your fingers.

Still hoping to find a fix that doesn't require to drop transmission or engine. What a mess it would be otherwise ..

 

[LilBusDude]

The two times ive done it, both on small pickup trucks, it was take all the bolts out of the transmission and engine mounts in order to get enough wiggle to get them apart

Do you mean detaching the bell from the engine AND detaching the engine mounts from chassis ???

 

[LilBusDude]

Anyways still want to thank you all for the kindness and reactivite here. It helps a lot to keep hope, going forward, and find some awesome support.

Thank you Skoolies !!

 

[Cheezewhiz]

Do you mean detaching the bell from the engine AND detaching the engine mounts from chassis ???

Yeah?

Small block stuff, wasn't giving us enough clearance otherwise. Hoses and such kept it from wandering too far as I recall.

One was an old toyota and the other a chevy, 80s-90s models... clutch replacement on the yota.

I'm just saying, unbolting a motor mount ain't that big a deal. Wiggle the bitch!

 

[ewo1]

Do you mean detaching the bell from the engine AND detaching the engine mounts from chassis ???

So I did a quick google search and also went thru the EGES-205 manual which covers engines from 1997-2003 and the verdict is in....Drop the tranny !

There are two freeze plugs on the back of the block. If you pull the engine you still have to remove the tranny so It would be best, IMO, to just drop the tranny only.

Here is the google explanation and pages from the manual that will show you where the plugs are located.

GOOGLE --> Google Search

On a 2001 T444E engine, the freeze plugs are typically located on the engine block, primarily on the sides and the front, near the water jacket area; you will usually find them in the following locations: behind the flywheel housing, at the bottom of the cylinder head, and on the sides of the engine block near the oil pan.

 

[ewo1]

another google search result

Google Search

Replacing a rear freeze plug on a 2001 T444E engine is a challenging task that usually requires significant disassembly, often including removing the transmission to access the rear of the engine block where the freeze plug is located, making it a job best left to a professional mechanic due to the limited space and complexity involved.

 

[LilBusDude]

All right, thank you so much for the data, and advice.

I now have to take the decision of either going the bold way as Mr Whiz suggests, or play it safe ..

 

[nikitis]

Also keep in mind Manufacturers have been skimping on "Accuracy" of the radius of freeze plugs, When you go to order one and it doesn't fit on there tight, send it back. This has been a REAL problem lately in the mechanical world.

 

[LilBusDude]

Also keep in mind Manufacturers have been skimping on "Accuracy" of the radius of freeze plugs, When you go to order one and it doesn't fit on there tight, send it back. This has been a REAL problem lately in the mechanical world.

Good to know. Thanks for the info. I'm definitely not droping that tranny twice, for sure ! Even if that means spending extra days to get it all done properly

Cheers

 

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

you can pressure test the block and cooling system before you put the tranny back in the first time.

 

[LilBusDude]

you can pressure test the block and cooling system before you put the tranny back in the first time.

Sounds like a good idea

[ Do y'all know if a 80$ pressure kit is good for any kind of pressure test ?¿ Never done anything like it.

I guess i answered my own question just by looking up online. ]

Question is more : if i grab a cooling pressure test, would it be smart to also have a compression tester for any forseable futur ?¿

Feels like the answer should be yes, but i'm always curious about other perspectives.

Thanks