HELP JonB need advice!...Coolant tracks under head

[94 RT/10 Black MAMBA]

The passenger side (driver side OK) bank of my block shows what appears to be small coolant leak tracks (three to five of them about two inches long) below the head. I haven't seen any other evidence (water on floor, etc.) than that. My car is still under 100% extended warranty (until June 2004).

Question, should I bring this to Dodge's attention yet or wait for it to get worse?

Is it possible it won't get worse.

Do you think they would fix both sides even if only one shows evidence of a leak?

 

[KWIK]

Paul
Take to your dealer thay should send engine to Arrow for repairs.
Arrow will rebuiled your entire engine.
if i can help feel free to call me at 503-736-5183

JONB'S VIPER&NEON TEC KEN KLICKMAN
TIMBERLINE DODGE
POTLAND OR

 

[94 RT/10 Black MAMBA]

Are you serious?.... I would love it if they did that, but I can't imagine they would rebuild the engine based on the few coolant tracks on one side only.

 

[94 RT/10 Black MAMBA]

What has been anyone else's experience with coolant tracks under the heads as far as warranty work?

 

[FRANK]

I have a few small ones like yours and I don't let them bother me. When it gets bad or I see antifreeze on the floor I will pull the heads and put the upgraded gaskets on. I check every time I back her out of the garage. Let's face it, just about every car I have owned has had some small staining in the head gasket area - whether it be from oil or coolant. Aluminum head/block combos will be even more subseptible to leakage in that area because of the greater amount of expansion and contraction over cast iron.

Think about it...most aluminum headed engines and or blocks always experience head gasket failure and become known for it. The Chrysler 2.0, 2.2 (including turbo), Cadillac 4100, etc.

 

[Jay Herbert]

I had similar "coolant tracks" on my Project Vipers Engine, an engine that has been rebuilt by Arrow. This engine has about 12,000 miles on it after the rebuild. I chatted with Dan Cragin of Santa Monica Dodge about it, and he said to retouque the heads and that should take care of it. Aluminun Heads/block are tough to seal by their nature.

If your engine is under warranty, by all means take it into a dealer for inspection. More than likely, they'll retorque the heads, and ask for a follow up visit at a predetermined milage. If there is a future problem, at a minimum, the service visit for the "coolant tracks" will be on file.

 

[SNK BIT in WA]

Paul,
Take Ken's advice. He noticed the same thing on my 94 and I had the full 110% rebuild by Arrow. My motor had more wrong with it than the eye could see so I was/am extremely happy to get that kind of service. From Timberline Dodge and Dodge.

Mark

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jay Herbert:
retouque the heads
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Would this be a good idea as a precautionary measure? Is there any reason NOT to retorque head bolts or any other bolts? Just curious, because I retorque my wheel lugs frequently.

 

[Jack B]

Just a thought

After a removing the valve covers a small amount of oil leaked down the back/side of the block. If I didn't know the cause and I read these posts I would think these were coolant tracks. The oil stain lightens and is in the areas where the head bolts are located.

 

[FRANK]

Jay you made my day. Just like I said a million times on this board. You are living proof that Arrow rebuilds prior to the new gasket will eventually all leak again. I've been saying this all along but everyone insists on a rebuild...

A while back I posted that I spoke with someone at Arrow who told me that it was an inferior head gasket that was the culprit and that all the engines that were sent to Arrow will develop coolant leaks again within the next 20,000 miles...and a few people thought (1) I was making the entire story up (2) It is due to the sleeves moving - not the gaskets.

Case in point. Jay's motor was rebuilt prior to the introduction of the new head gasket design and is beginning to weep once again. I wouldn't be surprised if within the next few years those people who had their motors rebuilt prior to 2001 at Arrow will be posting something like this:


"I can't believe this...my once Arrow rebuilt motor is now leaking coolant all over the floor as it did 5 years ago. What gives here? The motor only has 12,000 miles on the Arrow rebuild. I hope it is the thermostat gasket! It can't be the head gaskets because Jon B said that the entire motor was gone through and is now indestructible. Please help. My warranty is up as well. Who can I call?"


I will be laughing all the way to the funny farm when I see this sort of post in years to come...

 

[94 RT/10 Black MAMBA]

Jon_B...Thanks for the advice. I plan to start a history on this with my dealer as you suggest. Since I still have over three years of warranty left (can you believe it, till June 2004 - mileage shouldn't be an issue) I figure that in that time I can talk them into a Arrow rebuild.