crankit

Just found a coolant leak its on the drivers side of the engine. When I rev it up it leaks pretty dam good. Can't see where it is. Any ideas on this. 12a engine leaks on drivers side somehwheres below the dip stick.

nimrodTT

Below the dipstick?
Check the coolant drain plug, it's a 14mm bolt right under the dipstick.

crankit

found the leak it looks like its the coolant hose that comes from the oil cooler thats sits below the oil filter. Question is this a dealer item or not?

Dusukun

Naw. You probably could get it from the dealer if you want to, but if it's just the hose, you can go to any auto parts store and get hose in different sizes. Probably would be cheaper that way.

That's what I would say, correct me if I'm wrong.

Is it the hose, though, or like is the hose clamp not tight enough? Maybe all you need is to clamp it down. You can certainly buy those at auto parts stores for like a buck.

Again, correct me if I'm wrong...

Dusukun

Yeah, I just looked at my car for you...If it's the rubber hose you're talking about, you can get new hose and clamps really cheap at any auto pars store.

peejay

It's the hose. All the oil leaking on to it softened it and it blew. Be thankful that you didn't blow the hose on the highway, that's probably the #1 cause of death for '83-85 12As.

crankit

Its the hose. Looks like something was rubbing on it at sometime and cut it. Have a closer look Friday. Pray it don't rain. Thanks Mike

nimrodTT

You'd be better off buying the hose from the dealer, that one will be hard to find at your local auto parts store. And change out those O-rings on the oil cooler while youre at it.

Note: Once upon a time I just cut the swollen oil soaked part of one of those hoses off and stretched it to where it was going, worked so well I decided later that I didnt need a new hose.

WackyRotary

Yeah, I did that too, mine started leaking a couple miles from town, I coasted to a local Dominos pizza, filled it with water and drove a couple blocks and put it up on jackstands and trimed off the oil soaked hose. Ran it like this for 2years no problems. But I felt that I should replace all the hoses after that since they were all boldging. 110,000miles or 15years is a long time for the orginals...let along those stupid orginal hose clamps!

crankit

Found out the OE clamp had finally cut thru the hose
so I was able to cut and still use the hose.