DISCO II 2001 60K
During the past 3-4 months, I've noticed cooling fluid drip spots on the right catalytic converter. The level of liquid during those months decreased by 1 inch in the reservoir. I took a mirror and took a look behind the engine, looks like the source of leaking is higher than the head gasket. But I'm not sure cause I can't see much. Any thoughts, experience, suggestions? Thanks.

 

Heater hose.

 

Not heater hose on the back of the block. Either you have a valley pan gasket leaking or it is your head gaskets. I would suggest you have a coolant pressure test done and verify exactly where the leak is.
How mechanical are you?

 

Thanks Mike for the fast response as usual.
I am an auto mechanic, and I did perform a pressure test, but the leak is so small, it doesn't leak under the pressure.
Due to your experience, which has a higher chance of being the source of the leak: the head gasket or the valley pan gasket.(60K) Are leaks from either gasket a common problem on this engine?
I was going to change the ignition wires regardless, so I will be ordering the upper gasket set anyway.
Any additional thoughts or information? Thanks.

 

There really isn't a way to tell valley pan from head gasket if you can't see it. If you do the work yourself, by the time you are down to the valley pan, you might as well do the head gaskets as well. Mine turned out to be the head gaskets. I got some dye from NAPA and a mirror on a stick and finally located it...came out drop by drop. At your mileage, just do the the head gaskets and you'll be good for another 100k at least. Oh, and yes, head gaskets are a very common problem with these engines. Consider yourself lucky if you get 100k from the originals.

 

thank you

 

If your head gaskets have not been done, and since you are a mechanic, I would go ahead and do the head gaskets and be done with them. Make sure to use new head bolts, t/stat, 8 mm STI or Magnacor wires and if your bleed screw is still molded into your upper radiator hose, replace it with the newer version that relocates the bleed screw to a black plastic screw.