Leaking bolt

TYTILIDIE

METH HEAD
On the front left of the intake manifold, by the alternator, the very first bolt leaks. I drained coolant and used some right stuff and let it dry a few hours and it still leaks. Any good cures for this? I have vortec heads.
 

bezerk

New member
Re: Leaking bolt

maybe use the instant gasket thing on the bolt, not sure if it's the same as rtv.
 

Ry368

one mile = 5280 feet
Re: Leaking bolt

Do NOT use JB weld............pull it out and load the threads up with some black rtv.
 

TYTILIDIE

METH HEAD
Re: Leaking bolt

Do NOT use JB weld............pull it out and load the threads up with some black rtv.

Yeah I know, some people around here think I'm a ****tard but I assure you I'm not. The machine shop I used seem to think I should go with a stud and bottom it out and put a bunch of The Right Stuff on there. Here we go for round 3.
 

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: Leaking bolt

Mike,

You sure it's not the gasket? Vortec conversion on my end and on the original install AND on my just finished replacement of the head gaskets I used (to assemble the the lower intake) formagasket around all ports on both the heads and the corresponding locations on the manifold even where "blank" at the rear, a small amount a red RTV on all the bolts leaving the very first thread uncoated. No leaks either time.

HTH
 

TYTILIDIE

METH HEAD
Re: Leaking bolt

Upon much closer inspection, it appears I have to other bolts holes leaking coolant. I took them out and they all seem to have something in common. It looks as though where the holes were drilled for the conversion that they drill in to the water jackets and there is only about 2-3 threads on 1/2 of the bolt hole. Im sure this sounds confusing but basically there is an "intrusion" hole in the drilled and tapped holes. I am going to try and let one sit over night and see if it works out. I sprayed some brake cleaner in there and dried it out best I could. So hopefully this will work. Is red better than the right stuff? Is there a better sealer I should be using for this situation?
 

nallj92

Active member
Re: Leaking bolt

use a longer bolt also, I have had issues with same hole before, this last time i did it with a longer bolt, washer and rtv dry and it has not leaked at all.
 

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: Leaking bolt

Upon much closer inspection, it appears I have to other bolts holes leaking coolant. I took them out and they all seem to have something in common. It looks as though where the holes were drilled for the conversion that they drill in to the water jackets and there is only about 2-3 threads on 1/2 of the bolt hole. Im sure this sounds confusing but basically there is an "intrusion" hole in the drilled and tapped holes. I am going to try and let one sit over night and see if it works out. I sprayed some brake cleaner in there and dried it out best I could. So hopefully this will work. Is red better than the right stuff? Is there a better sealer I should be using for this situation?

My heads are the same Mike. Like I said I used the red RTV with no trouble with gasket sealer also. BUT somehow yur gonna have to figure out if, in fact, it's the bolt. What I'm wondering is if coolant is getting to the bolt above the threads from somewhere else which makes look like it's the bolt that's leaking.
 

TYTILIDIE

METH HEAD
Re: Leaking bolt

My heads are the same Mike. Like I said I used the red RTV with no trouble with gasket sealer also. BUT somehow yur gonna have to figure out if, in fact, it's the bolt. What I'm wondering is if coolant is getting to the bolt above the threads from somewhere else which makes look like it's the bolt that's leaking.

Im thinking no. I inspected this for a while last night. Funny thing is that the back right one is doing it also, you guys may want to check those to be sure. What do you think of firing the motor with the bolt out and seeing where the water comes form:lol: I imagine a pressure test with the bolt out could ruin my gasket seal if it is indeed sealed?
 

TYTILIDIE

METH HEAD
Re: Leaking bolt

One thing I did not do when I built the motor was put thread sealer on the bolts. Damn I wish I would have now. I think I was so excited I may have simply forgot. Had I done the sealer and the motor sat a few days I'm sure now I wouldn't be having this problem.
 

UR50SLO

V6+2=LSXCamaro
Re: Leaking bolt

I had the same problem when I put coolant in her Vortec headed engine just before I fired it up. I put white pipe tape on the threads and GMSI (GM sealant)/RTV and a flat washer.
No leaks since.
Hope that helps... It was the exact bolt your talking about.. Ironic huh.
~Scott
 

TYTILIDIE

METH HEAD
Re: Leaking bolt

I had the same problem when I put coolant in her Vortec headed engine just before I fired it up. I put white pipe tape on the threads and GMSI (GM sealant)/RTV and a flat washer.
No leaks since.
Hope that helps... It was the exact bolt your talking about.. Ironic huh.
~Scott

Teflon and rtv? I assume you did the teflon first?
 

UR50SLO

V6+2=LSXCamaro
Re: Leaking bolt

Yep... wrapped the bolt with white teflon pipe tape (make sure you put it on the direction that the bolt is being screwed in) or it'll un-wrap as you tighten it.

Then coated it with RTV/(GMSI) the kind you listed is good too.

Since I've got 03 accrys on the front mine was under the damn A/C compressor .. Grrrrrrr :)
 
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