I have a coolant leak and it appears to be leaking from the hole at the bottom of the bell housing. It might also be dripping from the bottom of the right brace that connects to the bottom of the bell housing, but I know that it is coming out of the bell housing. Is this definitely an intake manifold gasket problem, or could it be something else. My engine has been surging at idle, but that problem seems to be better after having replaced the fuel filter (I've only run it for about three minutes after that, so I can't really say for sure). As far as the intake manifold gasket, I don't believe that I'm getting any coolant in the oil.

Also, I am leaking some transmission fluid, and it appears to be coming from where the cooling lines connect to the transmission. Do I need to replace the cooling lines, just tighten them, or what? Thanks!

 

On a lot of engines they have freeze plugs back there that leak. Just did one on a dodge ram

 

How important would this be to replace, and how difficult is it to replace? I'm guessing you'd have to pull the engine or tranny? Does the IM gasket sound like a potential problem?

 

the only way to tell which part is leaking is to clean where the lower intake meets the block with engine degreaser on the back of the motor and get everything really clean and then run the truck until you see where new coolant is leaking. it could be a intake gasket, it could be a freeze plug, although i don't think these motors have freeze plugs on the back of the motor, but i could be wrong.same with the tranny cooler lines, clean everything up and run it until you see the leak. if tranny fluid is coming out of the threads then you can probably tighten it, if its coming out between the line and the fitting then you have to replace the o-ring that is in there.

 

There are no freeze plugs on the back of the 4.3L engine.

 

So then it sounds like it would have to be the IM gasket...

 

The LIM gasket is about the only place it can come from on the back of the engine.

 

what about heater core hoses?

 

I would probably prefer that option over replacing the intake manifold gasket.