Hi:

I have a 97 SSE in vg condition, 170k highway miles.

All typical issues known with engine/transmission. Have replaced LIM, UIM, etc...and basically zero difficult issues till now.

After engine has warmed up, there is a slight coolant leak/drip coming from the rear of the engine block, noticable when viewing from underneath and between the engine block and the transmission. I removed the flywheel dust cover, and evidence of a slow drip coming from that area. Hmm...I would think not typical.

Anyone have experience with this area? Are there frost plugs in the rear engine block area that are sometimes known to leak? I can't think of anything else it could be. I'm a former auto/mc tech, so generally can troubleshoot well, however I have not rebuilt one of these motors so I don't know what goes on at the rear of the engine block. This is an unusual place for a leak/drip, I think.

If indeed this is it, I guess the tranny would need to be pulled to gain access. How difficult is this? Or maybe time for some coolant sealer, which I don't like to suggest/use, but...

Appreciate your thoughts/suggestions.

Thanks. Dan in MN

Is the area degreased at all?

If not use something like brake cleaner to clean off all the gunk...

Lower intake gaskets can cause that, so can the rear main seal housing gasket...which means seperating the engine & trans...which is awful to do @ home...I'd personally invest in a vial of coolant dye, and check it then to pinpoint..

Yes. Entire engine bay is degreased frequently and recently.

Used brake cleaner to isolate the issue as could not initially find the leak.

All LIM and UIM gaskets/manifolds replaced about 40k miles ago. Using brake cleaner/evaporation, all clean and dry around that entire area.

Noticed the coolant drips while replacing the oil pan gaskets and needed to remove the flywheel dust cover, and could see coolant weeping from above the rear main area and block. Apparently weeping down the back of the block between the flywheel and block area. Due to flywheel, cannot pinpoint exact nature of what is at the rear of the block. Hard to believe it could be a frost plug, but suspicious as everything else checks out.

Thanks for your thoughts. Anyone aware of coolant leaks from the rear block area?