slight coolant leak around block heater, anyone?

[RPolidora]

I was under the truck trying to locate a short vibration I am experiencing just for a second or two when putting the truck in gear and I noticed some coolant.

It is just barely wet around the area where the block heater is screwed in with a drop hanging off the heater, anyone else have this problem? Hopefully just a snug with the wrench will fix it because I would to take it in just for this.





Thanks guys

 

[sick_ram]

Mine has been doing the same thing I am thinking about replaceing the block heater. I think the seal went bad around it

 

[GerryDrake]

Loose from the factory

This is a VERY common occurence. I suspect the guy that screws them in doesn't have a wrench and just puts 'em in finger tight



There have been many threads mentioning this to the point it almost seems 'standard'... I took mine in to the dealer and they tightened it up. I doubt it needs to be replaced. .

 

[RPolidora]

Thanks. I did some searching again and found on this board and others that it seems to be common. I must have mistyped something the first time I searched. I think I will unplug the cord and throw the socket and torque wrench on it. I saw some posts that said 35ftlbs I believe.

 

[swexlin]

Where is the block heater screwed in?

 

[jwilliams3]

You can tighten it up a couple more turns with a large socket.

Or you can remove (beware of coolant loss) use teflon tape and re-install.

 

[RPolidora]

I just used a big wrench and got about 3/4 turn out of it. So far I have driven it about 15miles and no sign of coolant. I might unplug it this weekend and put the torque wrench on it.