leak from timing chain cover

[GhettoPop]

Leaking coolant from the timing chain cover. My shop will be doing the work. The motor is stock w/ 130,000 miles. I also will have the stock timing chain replaced with a double roller, as I assume the stock chain must have some slop after all those miles. Any recommendations on one? Is this like a 4-5 hour job?

Also, anything else I should have done while he's in there?
(don't say heads, cam, intake, can't afford it right now)

[~The Jester~]

R U Sure it's coming from the chain cover? Is there any antifreeze in the oil? Sometimes when the water pump leaks out of the weep hole, it'll run down and drip off of the cover. Might just need a pump (read as: Cheaper!) If you have to go in that deep, change the timing chain, front seal, and have them flush the cooling system before refilling it.

Good-Ta-Go!

[GhettoPop]

yeah, my mechanic confirmed the timing chain cover leak. i told him to change the timing chain and flush out that shitty dexcool (i know, finally!) and put green back in. also gave him a set of FMS silicone hoses to throw on.

front seal????

[Ieatcamaros]

I think I can do it in less than 4 hours, but that's me. The front seal is in the timing chain cover. It seals off of the harmonic balancer. It comes in the timing cover gasket set, but I would still remind the mechanic to change it. No more than it costs, I would recommend getting the whole three piece timing set (two gears and chain).

[GhettoPop]

add a 2 year old Stewart Water pump to the bill, it was totally corroded, thanks dexcool. i assume dexcool put the finishing touches on the timing cover gaskets.... i can't believe my old mechanic recommended dexcool and put it in, i wish i knew more back then. i feel like paying him a little visit................

i wonder how many more dexcool related problems i will encounter in the future. i think the copper rad and heater core (copper?) are ok, but all those old gaskets will make me lose sleep

[~The Jester~]

How long was the orange "Kool-Aid" in there? If not long, change the thermostat & gasket, cuz that'll be next. Flushing the system should get any lodged crud outta the heater core (remind your wrench to flush that side too, not just the engine). If you've had that orange GM junk in there for say 30,000 to 40,000 miles, plan on intake gaskets sometime in the future. Longer than that? Start thinking head gaskets. Not wanting to rain on your parade bro, just telling you what I've seen happen. Had a GMC truck in my shop that was born with Dex-Crap in it, and at 64,000 miles I had to put new heads on it. It's got good-ole-green in her now.

On a sideline, I've had really good luck with the Prestone "yellow" (looks green to me!) "mix with anything" stuff.

[GhettoPop]

jester, that orange crap was in there for 2 yrs, about 20,000 miles. tstat and gasket were also changed today, mechanic said it was going downhill. he flushed the entire system. he finsihed it up and said it ran well. then he let it cool down and was gonna start it up again and now he says its not starting..............great...........it never f'ing ends

[~The Jester~]

TFI would be my guess. Those things are soooo damn quirky.