Anti freeze leak

[Dr Mike]

Hi my 03 VUE has a small leak in the front bank of cly right next to the battery box. Could be a leaking head gasket, my oil is clean but there is a little cream on the oil fill cap. also my mielage has been crappy.

[1saxman]

Moisture 'cream' in the oil fill area is normal. Most of the time an internal coolant leak does not show on the outside.

[Ritz]

Moisture 'cream' in the oil fill area is normal. Most of the time an internal coolant leak does not show on the outside.

I agree. I've only seen a few instances where a head gasket failed in a manner that caused it to leak outside without also leaking coolant into the oil. I've never worked on the 3.0L engine so I'll leave others to opine about potential sources of the leak.

Cheers,

[Dr Mike]

I noticed the antifreeze is coming from above the head. Does the intake have antifreeze running through it? If so can a leak start there?

[1saxman]

There's an oil cooler on the end of the intake (driver's side) that I believe has coolant going through it. I don't know if it's for engine or trans oil.

[burnout]

You never said what kind of fluid it's leaking!

[Dr Mike]

It's that orange corrosive antifreeze fluid and only a teaspoon after it set's overnight

[VTchemist]

You've probably done this.... but have you checked all the hoses and clamps to see if everything is tight?

[Dr Mike]

Yes all is tight >I can't see with all the hoses. But after the car was driven and parked I see a small drops running along where the head and the intake mate. Was there a class action suit about the intake gasket and the reaction with the Orange antifreeze.

[thermalfinder]

My VUE is leaking from the radiator drain plug. I checked the plug and it's tight. Does anyone know whether a new plug or seal is available? :xeye:

[Wolfc70]

Yes all is tight >I can't see with all the hoses. But after the car was driven and parked I see a small drops running along where the head and the intake mate. Was there a class action suit about the intake gasket and the reaction with the Orange antifreeze.

No it is not the intake gasket. It is the oil cooler cover leaking, a common problem on the 3.0 V6. The intake needs to be taken apart to get to it. While everything is apart, change the thermostat and housing too. Not cheap, I paid $1200 at the dealer.

The thread below has pictures of the cover. It is from an L series Saturn, but the process is very similar, same engine.

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133394

[1saxman]

It's that orange corrosive antifreeze fluid and only a teaspoon after it set's overnight

Dexcool is not corrosive when the cooling system is properly maintained. It must be changed at five years or sooner, and it must not be mixed with any other coolant or impure water. Any leak in the cooling system must be fixed so air does not remain in the system.

[SoCalVue]

the radiator drain plug has to be one of the crappiest designs I've seen. A more durable polymer could've been selected... WAY too soft for the torque required to loosen/tighten it. It appears it was designed to be a "dealer service" item... tho don't know why. Hard to find a screwdriver that works with a cross of that size. I found that a nickel works pretty good... tho I suppose any small, thick washer would work as well. A vice-grip on the nickel (or washer) helps put a little more torque on it as well.

Every time I thought I had it tight, it would start dripping again... so... loosen it up a quarter turn, then try to tighten it some more. You forget how far recessed that plug is, relative to the bung surrounding it. It seems there's a rubber bushing to seal it tho, as you can feel it compress (and hear the friction/rubbing) as it starts to tighten up & seal.