overheating, leaking coolant from back Options

[celicanice]

hi
Celica ST
coolant seems to be coming out from the back of the engine, left (passenger side) that is where the steam is coming from.
it has the smell of coolant
i had the heater turned on all the way, no heat at all.
looked at the coolant reservoir, doesn't seem low.
I recently had the radiator and freeze plugs replaced because it overheated on me 3 weeks ago.
not sure what to do from here. use stop leak?
could the freeze plugs have went bad again?
what could it be?
thanks

edit: also when I was going downhill, the temp gauge seemed to go down a bit.

This post has been edited by celicanice: Nov 1, 2009 - 4:00 PM

[celicanice]

Looks like sludge. previous owner did use stop leak, i found it blocking the radiator cap, i removed it.
seems like its loose and i am thinking probably blocking everything in the heater core, which is why i get no hot air in cabin even though there is no (apparent) leak.
if i leave the coolant reservoir open i dont get the steam as the pic though it will overheat still eventually. fluid level in resivoir is low but not down to the end low.

options:
bypass heatercore?
power flush?

f i can bypass heater core and have it work i can live without heat. i think bypass would be a cheaper option.


edit:
i did burp the car, i let it run 20 mins, and while idleing after removing sludge, it didnt overheat while idleing, overheats when moving though. i havent idled longer then 25 mins

This post has been edited by celicanice: Nov 9, 2009 - 4:44 AM