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Losing coolant near top of engine 3.8L

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  #11  
Old 03-06-2010, 06:36 AM
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Originally Posted by nnewquist
Props to Gorn for the pic! How in the world did you take that? Did you remove the TB and water pump just for a pic, or did you happen to have an extra 3800 engine lying around? LOL!
Someone ask the question about a years ago while I was doing my build. I never delete the pic off my Photo bucket
 
  #12  
Old 03-06-2010, 09:30 PM
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Originally Posted by 96 3.8L Texas
thanks Gorn. The photo works on my home computer. Autozone says its dealer part. Advance says I have to buy the whole belt tensioner pulley assembly $75. Couldn't find it on GM parts direct. I did get a look at the one that came with the assembly at Advance & looks like the one in the photo. Black plastic about 5/8" ID with an o-ring on each end. I'll keep looking. Any ideas?
I bought a pack of 2 at Advance for 4 or 5 bucks just a few months ago. They are in the "HELP" section or the section where the radiator caps are hanging. You are talking about the L shaped plastice pipe, right?
 
  #13  
Old 03-07-2010, 06:58 PM
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Talking Leak fixed!

Thanks for your help, the leak is fixed! Hard to believe GM puts all those cast aluminum parts together with one weak piece of plastic. Now that I've got that off my chest...it did last 14 years... Two photos: 1) the ugly mess behind the tensioner, fried coolant, intake gasket okay, 2) the culprit, disentegrated elbow. The ends of the elbow and the o-rings were still in the intake & tensioner. Bought part from dealer $12. Works now. Thanks again for your help. It was driving me batty trying to figure it out. Intake seals look okay.

 
Attached Thumbnails Losing coolant near top of engine 3.8L-top-leak-196-3800-v6-copy.jpg   Losing coolant near top of engine 3.8L-elbow-leak-1-96-3800-v6.jpg  
  #14  
Old 05-02-2010, 09:59 AM
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I am doing this job too . The belt tensioner assembly has an outlet that goes into the water pump block that uses an o-ring seal . I want to replace that o-ring too . The exist o-ring is distorted I would reuse it anyway What size is it ? The large end of the extra fitting (that I don't needed wit) in the Dorman kit has purple o-ring on one end that looks close in size but I want to get the right one . - Thanks
 
  #15  
Old 05-02-2010, 12:32 PM
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Originally Posted by rkpatt
I am doing this job too . The belt tensioner assembly has an outlet tat goes into the block that uses an o-ring seal . I want to replace that o-ring too . What size is it ? The large end of the extra fitting (that I don't needed) in the Dorman kit has o-ring on one that looks close but I want to get the right one . - Thanks
I just replaced the tensioner yesterday. NAPA part number 660 1736, has both the elbow that is in Gorns picture as well as the elbow that fits the later maolels that require a plastic elbow where you are talking abou. I paid $5 for both elbows. I don't know the part number for the oring but worse case, pick up this part from NAPA and put the oring on your tensiioner.
 
  #16  
Old 05-03-2010, 07:22 AM
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The o-ring bore of water pump ( WP ) seems to have a little roughness ( RTV resdue, O-ring residue, bars leaks ?) that I cna't get off with my fingernail, stiff toothbrush and brake cleaner . I want the seal area to be petfectly smooth (no scratches). I guess that I will try gasoline next then maybe or 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper.

Would it be OK to use a little permatex orange copper RTV sealant along with the o-ring to make sure there is a good seal ? Normally I wouldn't do this with o-ring seals but maybe it is appropriate here .

- Thanks
 
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