So driving around today, my car starts to smell like burning coolant, and it's getting hotter and hotter. So I pull over to a target, pop the hood and I see coolant everywhere on the left side of the engine. So I go buy some antifreeze, and manage to get it home, pop the hood again and look more carefully at what is causing this. I fill it back up with coolant, let it run, and I see a steady stream of coolant coming from what looks like this little plastic elbow:


Sorry for the crappy pic. I don't own a digital camera.

Is this even a coolant elbow? Has anyone ever had a leak from here, or am I missing the big picture and it might be my intake gasket. There is no coolant in my oil, and the car is running perfectly (read: no vacuum leaks). Also it looks like it's quite the PITA to change. It would probably require tearing down the whole top end of the engine yes?

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2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GT2
MODS: Wizaired|Custom DHP Tune|180° Thermostat|DR F/R Brackets w/GMPP STB's|UMI Trailing Arms|Bilstein HDs w/SSC|Projector Retro|Black SPO Grilles and Spoiler|SS Inserts Rear Inlay|ZZP Volt. Booster & Alt Rewire

It could just be your coolant elbow. It could be your water pump. You're not SC.. so I don't know if the NA cars even have a LIM gasket? If it is just the elbow, it would require taking off the tensioner, (not just the pulley, the entire assembly) as coolant flows through the piece.. there is also a coolant elbow on the bottom side of that tensionser also.

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Wow... what a coincidence. I just changed these on my GF's 02 Monte Carlo (3800 n/a). Squeeze the upper radiator hose and watch it squirt from around that plastic elbow! Then go to your parts place on the HELP! shelf and Dorman part no: 47065. Its a two pack of elbows w/ o-rings. Less then $5 One upper and one lower. You'll replace both.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/t663401.html

This link is a walkthrough, except you're only replacing the coolant elbows, not the tensioner.

TIP: The elbows will break off in the tensioner and the engine block. Be extremely careful when prying these plastic pieces out of the block. If you push them in, you'll be in for 10X more fun that you don't want. And don't gouge the block with your tools while digging them out!
Also, I put a little Vasaline around the ends of the new elbows. They slide in alot easier that way.
I also drained a quite a bit of coolant before doing it, or you can just pull the elbows out and watch it drain on your driveway. Pets and EPA Beware!

After you get it back together, jack up the front of the car and start filling the radiator with new coolant. Could be a helluva time for flush since you're draining so much anyway. Just a thought. Just make sure you get the air out of the line, before and after the engine hits operatating temp. and the thermostat opens up and sucks even more coolant.

All in all, $5 elbow, $11.50 for a jug of coolant (2 jugs after I mixed it 50/50) and about 45 minutes of time and a nice coolant mess! Really not all that hard and the most I've ever really done is change oil and changed a thermostat once.

Edit: Also a great time to change your belt if need be.

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2005 Grand Prix GT - SPO Spoiler, Tips, Grilles, Sills, Mats, SE Front Fascia, GMPP F/R STB's W/ Don's Brackets, GMPP RTA's & GMPP Rear Sway Bar

Wow. Thanks. Didn't think they'd be in the HELP! section at autozone. All my coolant leaked out on the way home. There's not much left. But I tried to pry the elbow out, and for the life of me, it's gonna take some patience and alot of muscle. lol. But thanks for the write up and the part # man.

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2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GT2
MODS: Wizaired|Custom DHP Tune|180° Thermostat|DR F/R Brackets w/GMPP STB's|UMI Trailing Arms|Bilstein HDs w/SSC|Projector Retro|Black SPO Grilles and Spoiler|SS Inserts Rear Inlay|ZZP Volt. Booster & Alt Rewire

Good luck with that elbow. If you haven't got it out yet, you may have to just break it at the bend so you can get a pair of Channel Locks on it and try and pull it out from the block that way. And even then, it will probably break off at the o-ring and you'll end up digging that part out of the intake regardless. Again, just be careful not to let the plastic or o-ring fall back in!

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2005 Grand Prix GT - SPO Spoiler, Tips, Grilles, Sills, Mats, SE Front Fascia, GMPP F/R STB's W/ Don's Brackets, GMPP RTA's & GMPP Rear Sway Bar

Yeah. So that was not fun at all. And just for a crack in a 4 dollar piece of plastic. I did end up breaking it. Had to get in there with a small flathead and pry it out. While I was at it, I went ahead and replaced both of them, cause they were both brittle as hell, and it'll save me a headache down the road. And I did lose a bit of plastic, but I ran the hose through and watched it all drain back out, so I'm good. I got both of them out in basically one piece minus the ends in the intake which required digging. lol. Took me about an hour and 15 min to do it all.

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2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GT2
MODS: Wizaired|Custom DHP Tune|180° Thermostat|DR F/R Brackets w/GMPP STB's|UMI Trailing Arms|Bilstein HDs w/SSC|Projector Retro|Black SPO Grilles and Spoiler|SS Inserts Rear Inlay|ZZP Volt. Booster & Alt Rewire

Good to go!

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2005 Grand Prix GT - SPO Spoiler, Tips, Grilles, Sills, Mats, SE Front Fascia, GMPP F/R STB's W/ Don's Brackets, GMPP RTA's & GMPP Rear Sway Bar