1997chevy expresss van leaking water pump and intake gasket leak

Hello Richard,

There doesn't appear to be a freeze plug on the front of the block.
They are always located on the lower sides of the block.

If you can see water on the front of the engine do a visual inspection when the motor is off and cold.

Take a rag and dry off any noticeable moisture. Start the engine and let it warm up, carefully check all the areas listed below to see if you can isolate the leak.

The radiator could be leaking and dispersing coolant towards the motor while driving the car. A hose or fitting could be leaking. The intake manifold or thermostat gasket could be leaking. The water pump could be leaking at higher RPM's.

Water will pour out from a dislodged frost plug. You most likely have a leak from the water pump or intake manifold gasket. Also, check your heater hoses and water pump by pass hose for leaks.

I can give you a couple of possible causes(1)freeze plugs in the block,there round & look like drink coasters,but are brass(2)intake manifold gasket can be leaking from the corners where water jackets are/also the head gasket both are on all four corners,I don't know what motor you have,but there are pipes that are called crossovers that run from the back off the timing cover to the heater core on the fire wall,sometimes on top of the manifold on one side & there will be a hose connected to it possible bad hose or corroded tube?

water pump is where serpentine belt is at front of engine, coolant leak could be your intake manifold gaskets, engine is prone for intake gaskets to leak.

sorry to say its the intake 99% of the time on these

i would check the hoses to see if u have cut in the hoses or check intake gasket or check head gasket most likely it a hose or freeze plug leaking

Without knowing what year or engine size is, I/m just guessing??????? But the 3.1L engines are FAMOUS for intake maniflod gaskets leaking. Look where the intake bolts to the heads. A freeze plug is in the block. Freeze plugs dont leak unless you have been running pure water or weak/cheap anti-freeze. They will rust out from behind and its BIG BUCKS to replace them all.

Hi I'm litoshop yes under the manifolds you water seals on the block of the engine when you use a lot of water in your radiator the freeze out plugs rust out and you get these leaks to replace you have to remove the manifold you can use some kind of block sealer but I recommend to replace the seal good luck. if this information has been useful please let us know thank you

Have a look for a heater control valve that may be leaking in area near firewall on passenger side, just follow your heater hoses.

mmmmmmmm they are really hard to replace but most likelly is goin to be a intake gasket, i do recomend you to call arrown the auto repairs and ask for a pressure test to the cooling system
this test is not that expensive and will tell you exactly where is the leak coming from, but on this type of vehicles i badly see a freeze plug leaking.