1st Generation S-series (1983-1994) Tech Discuss 1st generation S-series (1983-1994) general tech topics here.

HELP-leaking fluid on 1990 Chevy S10 Blazer

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 02-05-2011, 06:23 PM
curvygirl0817's Avatar
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 3
curvygirl0817 is on a distinguished road
Lightbulb HELP-leaking fluid on 1990 Chevy S10 Blazer

Yesterday my S10 Blazer started leaking fluid from the left front. Any suggestions?
 
  #2  
Old 02-05-2011, 06:27 PM
supermutt73's Avatar
Beginning Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Akron, OH
Posts: 44
supermutt73 is on a distinguished road
Default

Left front is a little too general. What color is the fluid? When is it leaking, running or off? Is there any smell to the fluid?
 
  #3  
Old 02-05-2011, 08:04 PM
curvygirl0817's Avatar
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 3
curvygirl0817 is on a distinguished road
Default

When I came home yesterday it was really leaking, now only a few drops here and there. I checked all the fluids and the only one that was really low was the power steering fluid. The fluid looks almost pinkish in color it's hard to tell because of black debris. No smell. Just leaking. The fluid seems to be dripping down from a black coiled line. Does this help?
 
  #4  
Old 02-05-2011, 10:39 PM
supermutt73's Avatar
Beginning Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Akron, OH
Posts: 44
supermutt73 is on a distinguished road
Default

O.K., the pinkish color may be from someone using trans. fluid as power steering fluid which is fine. Your best bet is to get the entire area as clean and dry as possible then run the engine and while in park turn your steering wheel back and forth. Shut off the engine and see if you can tell where exactly the leak is. Hopefully, if it is power steering fluid, it's just a brittle hose or something simple. Good luck! Post back if you need more help.
 
  #5  
Old 02-10-2011, 10:22 PM
theonetruetom's Avatar
Starting Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 146
theonetruetom is on a distinguished road
Default

and if you're unlucky, that's transmission fluid coming from the transmission fluid cooler or the lines to the transmission cooler. Auto or stick? there's not enough information here.
 
  #6  
Old 02-11-2011, 12:28 AM
mxpxpunkrock1987's Avatar
New Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: connecticut
Posts: 67
mxpxpunkrock1987 is on a distinguished road
Default

well steering lines are known to run on 87 to 93 cause of tbi design i had an 88 that started leaking then blew the line so yeah gota be careful
 
  #7  
Old 02-11-2011, 01:23 AM
curvygirl0817's Avatar
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 3
curvygirl0817 is on a distinguished road
Default

Ok- thankfully it's not leaking like it was. I checked all my fluids and the oil and transmission fluid were ok. I checked the radiator (this is after my car cooled down) and was pressurized-the radiator was not empty, only took a little to fill it. But being old, it has the rust smell to it. And question-is the plastic thing for the radiator water be dry. It's getting worse when I drive it-the oil guage is all the way up; engine light only sporatically; I also suspect that I am using more gas. It's hard to explain it over puter. I used to know a couple of gear heads-but not anymore. I'm thinking that I need it to be professionaly looked at-without having to incur their services, but another brick wall. Any help on this will be most helpful. Thank you guys.
 
  #8  
Old 02-11-2011, 09:21 AM
ohsofly's Avatar
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Camrose AB... Canada
Posts: 1,534
ohsofly will become famous soon enoughohsofly will become famous soon enough
Default

Well you should snap some photos of the leaking area first off so we can see what you see. If its coolant sometimes you can hear it squirting or bubbling when you shut the hot engine off and its quiet outside. Coolant you will also smell, its sweet smelling. If its steering, there is 2 main hoses that it goes from where you fill it up on the pump, down to the power steering unit, have a look at those from up top and underneath for a fresh wet leaking spot. If you have an auto trans there will be cooler lines on your radiator - the 2 smaller lines, not the fat rubber hoses for coolant. Follow those lines and see if they are leaking. If you are making a puddles on the ground it wont hurt you to taste a drip on your finger, coolant tastes sweet like kool-aid. Where do the leaks line up with the bottom of the truck? back of engine, front? left side? right? Wouldnt hurt to give the whole engine a wash from top and bottom before trying to find your leak too.

And you can use the "paperclip method" to get the code that is blinking your engine light for us at the same time. To do that undo a paperclip or twist tie, sit in your drivers seat, between your knees there is a wire plug, stick the wire in the top 2 left holes to jump them together. Then turn the key to the on position and dont start it. Notice the engine light blinking? blink blink pause blink long pause (21) - this happens three times - now your trouble code comes through - write down the pattern of blinks and pauses for us and report back. It will be something like 32 (blink blink blink pause blink blink) you see how the blinks make a number? There may be multiple codes to get. You could also pop into an autozone and get the guys there to scan your codes with the computer for free and report them to us. Dont let the kid there sell you anything till you come talk to us first though
 

Last edited by ohsofly; 02-11-2011 at 09:26 AM.
  #9  
Old 02-11-2011, 11:55 AM
mxpxpunkrock1987's Avatar
New Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: connecticut
Posts: 67
mxpxpunkrock1987 is on a distinguished road
Default

u have 4x4 so one thing i know about blazers is the front diff there know for going bad and leaking so it could be that but i know my s10 leaks oil but i know i need a pan gasket just trying to put it off right till spring for the rebuilt another place u might wana check is behind the heads on both side intake and valve covers are prone to leak after normal use as well.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bryson_horton
Engine & Transmission
5
11-03-2011 10:23 AM
joemrmold
1st Generation S-series (1983-1994) Tech
6
02-17-2010 07:16 PM
bryson_horton
Full Size K5 (1969-1991) GMT415 (1992-1994) Tech
3
02-02-2010 06:58 PM



Quick Reply: HELP-leaking fluid on 1990 Chevy S10 Blazer



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:57 PM.