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Pete, Since you are going to have the intake off, be sure to replace the pot-metal heater fitting that connects the heater hose to the manifold. I am not sure if your truck has this. From the mid 90s and later the trucks had this fitting. It is notorious for breaking off in the manifold or having the hose leak at the plastic retaining clip. It is such a problem, there are special tools to remove it from the manifold (once it breaks off) and almost every parts store stocks these fittings (see link). If you can find a hose fitting that matches the hose barb to the pipe thread going into the manifold that is a permanent solution. (brass would be best, but you may only find the correct configuration in steel) Throw out the factory hose with the special end and replace it with regular heater hose you buy by the foot. As described by the other replies, corrosion is a big problem in the GMs with Death-cool antifreeze. You may find the mating surface of the cylinder head to intake has been etched by rancid coolant (thank you GM). Good for you and bad for others, it sounds like you have plenty of company on this one. Just post back here and there will be plenty of help. Gen 3
http://www.partsgeek.com/gbproducts/MC/3523-07017088.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ff&utm_term=1997+Chevrolet+Malibu+Heater+Hose+Connector+Dorman+97+Chevrolet+Heater+Hose+Connector&utm_content=MC&utm_campaign=PartsGeek+Google+BaseSomebody beat me to the puch with the regular heater hose….. 🙂
Still haven’t had the time to work on it. I had to appear in court this week and need to appear again next week and the week after. All the while I am working too. I had some emergency calls the last couple days, so time got limited….
I will get the job done, but getting custody of my kids and getting this divorce crap done take priority.
I did get a mirror in and it does appear to be the intake gasket, so now that I have found the leak, I can tackle it once I finally have the time…..
I also got some of my tools up here, which helps me greatly.
Wow. First time I’ve come across a situation where the OEM product is actually inferior to a generic product. I have a feeling that there are many other examples, but they remain hidden because of marketing etc.
Sorry I haven’t updated this in a while. I have a new career now and have been very, very busy the last several weeks.
I did get the truck fixed, turns out it was the upper radiator hose had a split and the coolant was running down the valve cover (top edge, closest to the manifold) and down to the back of the head. Also the Temp guage sending unit had died and needed replacing….
So yeah, it’s fixed now and is back in service.
Thank you all for your advice and help.
Quoted From spelunkerd:
What are the years where you would consider swapping the OEM dexcool for regular green antifreeze?
Any year…. Dex-cool is the worst to use IMHO.
Thanks for the update with the fix.
You may want to change the traffic light on your thread to green so it updates our database and will possibly help someone else out with the same issue C8-)
Quoted From dreamer2355:
Thanks for the update with the fix.
You may want to change the traffic light on your thread to green so it updates our database and will possibly help someone else out with the same issue C8-)
There you go! Should be green now. Thank you for letting me know that. I’m sure that the info will help. 🙂
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