Elusive coolant leak

[GeoffM]

Over the winter, I noticed a very small coolant leak.
Recently, I degreased my engine, and it was clean for a while. Now, I have 2 marks, one looks like oil, the other looks like water.

Water pics:



Oil pic:


The water looks like it might be coming from the top hose going into the block. But it doesn't start until a few inches below it.

The oil I'm clueless on. I've replaced the inner distributor seal. When I took the cap off, I didn't see any oil in it.
Everything else looked good.
The coolant lines around the intake, the thermostat, the trans cooler lines.
Didn't get a great look at the lower tube.

Edit: The oil is difficult to see here. It's on top of the starter, right in front of the black part.

[burt]

not sure where the oil one is coming from, maybe a small crack in the metal piece where the starter bolts to the block? But the water leaks may be caused from a small crack or hole in the hose, or maybe a bad seal where the hose connects to the block. Try starting the car and spray the bottom of the hose with some soapy water. If there is a hole or crack there, then it will bubble up from the soap suds. Hope you figure it out.

[GeoffM]

I should mention:
For those who do not know, My coolant leak is minuscule. My guess is about a tablespoon a month. I'm trying to catch it before it becomes bigger.

[ugafan001]

Not sure if this helps but i had the same leak only mine got worse and what i found as far as coolant goes was a small pin hole in the hose going to the thermostat an it would only leak when sitting still an build enough pressure otherwise it never leaked. It was right by the clamp. Took me forever to figure it out. Only other idea i got would be headgasket. As for oil i really couldnt say unless its valve cover gasket an its so small its hard to see

[burt]

old and dry hoses are notorious for cracking/splitting. Especially where its clamped onto the thermostat.

[wed3k]

or maybe check the water neck connected to the cylinder head.

[Fleetw00d]

When you replaced the inner distributor seal, did you also install a new outer seal?

[GeoffM]

or maybe check the water neck connected to the cylinder head.

Water neck = the metal assembly the upper hose goes into? With the wires coming out of it?

When you replaced the inner distributor seal, did you also install a new outer seal?

I removed the distributor, cut the ring seal that goes into the valve cover, and slid a new one on.

[Fleetw00d]

I removed the distributor, cut the ring seal that goes into the valve cover, and slid a new one on.

Ok, that's what referred to as the outer seal. There is an internal seal that requires disassembly of the distributor (the one I thought you replaced), but you said there is no oil in the distributor so that shouldn't be the issue. Hard to tell from the photos, but follow the leak up. Does it start right there above the timing window?

[GeoffM]

Ok, that's what referred to as the outer seal. There is an internal seal that requires disassembly of the distributor (the one I thought you replaced), but you said there is no oil in the distributor so that shouldn't be the issue. Hard to tell from the photos, but follow the leak up. Does it start right there above the timing window?

I water? It looks like it does.

The only oil I've seen was right atop the starter.

[GeoffM]

I'm thinking water neck:

[Losiracer2]

there is a triangular shaped O-ring gasket for that water outlet from the head. But also from the looks of that clamp, its beat. Try removeing that and replacing it w/ a newer worm style clamp

[GeoffM]

there is a triangular shaped O-ring gasket for that water outlet from the head. But also from the looks of that clamp, its beat. Try removeing that and replacing it w/ a newer worm style clamp

Alright, I'll repair in this order:
Clamp
Hose
Gasket


I'm really happy to have found the source!