# 1997 S10 radiator leak at back of engine **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [November 10, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-s10-radiator-leak-at-back-of-engine/21928 "2008-11-10T21:21:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chevydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/35a633/32.png) [@chevydude](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chevydude)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-s10-radiator-leak-at-back-of-engine/21928/1 "2008-11-10T21:21:44Z")
1997 S10 2wd 4 cyl is leaking radiator fluid from the back left side of engine, pretty good leak bout a drip every 2 to 5 seconds. compression in all cylinders good oil looks good so dont think its a head gasket. freeze plug a little moist but no huge leak. any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks… ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-s10-radiator-leak-at-back-of-engine/21928/2 "2008-11-10T21:37:28Z")
You’ve already named the reason that the only thing left to do is…look and see. The best way to do that is to start with a clean engine, then the next leaks you see will show their source. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-s10-radiator-leak-at-back-of-engine/21928/3 "2008-11-10T22:42:52Z")
It may still be a head gasket leak, but an external head gasket leak. When my Chevy’s head gasket developed an external leak I just added a tablespoon of black pepper to the coolant. That lasted a year before another external leak developed. Then it was time to replace the head gasket. Tester