Coolant Seeps Near Intake

[jaycanode]

I recently bought a beautiful 93 Camry Wagon with the V6. I'm perplexed by a coolant leak that is taking place near the coolant inlet manifold. The coolant inlet is bolted to another manifold that rests between both valve covers. The are studs that protrude from this manifold with 14mm or so nuts securing. Antifreeze is seeping from these studs upon startup and gradually dries up and stops once the engine reaches highway temps. The seepage is chronic on the waterpump side of the engine and occasionally surfaces on the opposite side. I am losing enough coolant to notice the perpetual sweet smell and have to top off my overflow resevoir once a week or so. Have tried tightening these nuts but they dont readily move and am scared to bust these studs. Anyone know whats going on here?

[Eye8Pussies]

are you talking about your thermostat housing?


hmmm....or I guess not, since you're talking about the waterpump side.


do you have a picture of where you're talking about? are the bolts that you're talking about on the top or the side of the engine?

[Toysrme]

One of the 3vz-fe's passages is the top of the intake manifold. Then, the coolant tree exit is on the side of the intake manifold
Buy a new pair of gaskets. This could not be a more duh solution, come on man. If a seal is worn, replace it...



stay ontop of your coolant system maintenance, or warp a head & need milling + a headgasket.

[jaycanode]

Unfortunately I am completely new to this engine. The studs where the seepage happens are adjacent to the timing belt housing. The "radiator cap" is right between where these studs are. If I were to buy new seals or gaskets, I wouldn't know how to describe them to purchase them. It is obviously NOT an intake manifold gasket. The intake manifold in turn bolts to another (cooling) manifold. The studs that secure this cooling manifold are leaking. Are there seals for the studs themselves? Or is it a case of a large flat gasket?

Toyrme: to some this may be a "duh" issue. If it were to me I wouldn't be seeking help now would I? Thanks for your reply regardless of the condescending tone.

[dpetteys]

By your description you are taking about the water outlet, are there three nuts that hold it in place? The water outlet bolts to the intake manifold, and there is a small gasket between them. It is possible that it is leaking from there. There are no seperate seals for the studs they are sealed by that gasket. It may be a simple fix. Hopefully some penetrating oil and some heat will help you get those nuts off.