Coolant on Block?

ok while changin plugs today I noticed a pile on coolant on the block where the thermostat housing is..now could this be a bad thermostat?? I dont see any leaks so I dont kno how it could get on the block..any help???

The coolant came from somewhere.  Do you have access to a digital camera so we can see a pic of where it is?  I think I know, but a picture says a thousand words...

On my Chevelle, I didn't seal up with RTV around the new intake manifold gaskets and I had a coolant leak that seeped out around one of the bolts near the front coolant cross-over.  This caused pooling of coolant on the intake manifold like you describe.  You may want to pop off the intake and just replace the gaskets to be sure.

ill try to take one with my phone tomorrow..i would now but its dark n i dont got flash...but its mainly around the theromsata housing only not all over..but i went to check it and with my luck the bolt head was broke off....so would anyone know how to get the threads out??

Depending on how much bolt threads were left after the head broke off you could try to remove the thermostat housing and find some nuts (2) to lock into each other and try to remove it. Some times you might be able to get a pair of locking pliers on the remaing bolt and get it started...but first thing would be to spray the remaining threads with WD-40 or similar product to penetrate any rust that may be holding the bolt from moving...

If you could get a metal saw blade and cut a groove for a screw driver etc...etc...etc...
 
Make sure that you cover the hole for the thermostat so that you don't contaminate your coolant...

yea the bolt head sheared right off do all the threads are in there..and they are in to deep to use pliers or vicegrips..what about drilling it out??

Wow.  Thought somehow I had missed something about a broken bolt...  LOL  I read all of the posts on the forums through my email so I don't get edits that people make. 

Anyway, yes, you can drill it out.  If you cannot get it out using vise grips, I would recommend cutting it off flush with the top of the gasket surface, center punch the center of the bolt, then use the appropriate drill bit for an easy-out bolt extractor.  If that doesn't work, you could go larger, or go all the way and put in a heli-coil.

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ORIGINAL: Chevyguy032

yea the bolt head sheared right off do all the threads are in there..and they are in to deep to use pliers or vicegrips..what about drilling it out??

 
you could find a drill and easy out setup at either Lowe's or homedepot...the easy out is a tapered reverse twist item so that after you get a hole deep enough to get a grip with it you can just unscrew it from its location but remember to use penetrating lubricant....will help to loosen any rust on the threads...also make sure that the drill is not to big so that you end up having to drill out the hole to the next size larger bolt and re-thread for the newer size...

Sounds like you might have to invest in a set of easy outs (bolt extractors)

what exactly is a Heli Coil??

Heli coils are basically replacement threads for bolts.
http://www.emhart.com/products/helicoil.asp?gclid=COOc8vmU9okCFRZlggodcFKLVw

wouldnt it just be easer to tap it than out in Heli Coils?

It all depends on if you have the material there to go larger.  In your case, you should be able to step up to the next larger size.  If you do not have the extra material, or do not have the room for the head of a larger bolt (and don't have access to socket headed cap screws, etc), then Helicoil is an excellent alternative.

Just for some additional information, we use Helicoils in many of our fixtures in our large CNC machining centers.  Reason, the threads wear out.  With helicoils, we can just remove the coil and put in a new one.

Another benefit to using heli coils is thet you still have the bolt with the same thread.