WeGotMud

Projects & Parts => Garage/Tech => Topic started by: ToughBowtieTruck on March 14, 2012, 04:01:43 AM

Title: Where's my coolant going?
Post by: ToughBowtieTruck on March 14, 2012, 04:01:43 AM
2000 Silverado 5.3 208k

I am slowly losing coolant. Takes 2 months or so for it to lose most of the reserve tank. And I can smell coolant from time to time. So I think it might be burning it. Oddly enough, I keep getting a "cat efficiency below threshold bank 1" . . . could that be suggesting I am losing coolant in the left bank of the engine?

Where are these notorious for leaking coolant ?

Title: Re: Where's my coolant going?
Post by: Eroq on March 14, 2012, 04:08:07 AM
5.3 and 6.0s always got leaky water pumps....   dont know why they changed from the old style water pumps... seems like they almost never fail... loll    look and see if its coming outta the weep hole on the top of the water pump... prolly hard to see if its leaking real slow.
Title: Re: Where's my coolant going?
Post by: RIP_K52007 on March 14, 2012, 10:16:31 AM
if you smell it could be heater core or heater hose... pressure test it..
Title: Re: Where's my coolant going?
Post by: buddman (AKA Mick) on March 14, 2012, 11:41:58 AM
Starting to see more and more of those with leaking intakes. And the O2 code is usualy a symptom.
Title: Re: Where's my coolant going?
Post by: 71 Highboy on March 14, 2012, 12:09:28 PM
My 03 did the same thing, heads were warped :(
Title: Re: Where's my coolant going?
Post by: 989F150904 on March 14, 2012, 04:03:49 PM
Quote from: buddman (AKA Mick) on March 14, 2012, 11:41:58 AM
Starting to see more and more of those with leaking intakes. And the O2 code is usualy a symptom.

X2.     If you know a mechanic or take it in to a shop, they can do a pressure test on the cooling system and put a dye in it to see where it's coming from. I'd keep an eye on your oil. If it starts getting milky it means it's leaking internally and can wash a bearing out on you.
Title: Re: Where's my coolant going?
Post by: ToughBowtieTruck on March 14, 2012, 04:47:49 PM
Yeah I have those capabilities. I'll give it a pressure test soon and see what happens. I know my oil is good though. If I blow it up I might throw a Detroit in it or something cool . . .
Title: Re: Where's my coolant going?
Post by: Boggen Joe on March 14, 2012, 04:57:30 PM
if it has casttec heads they leak through the castings, to sume it up you will need new heads. I have changed a few like this
Title: Re: Where's my coolant going?
Post by: Strapless on March 15, 2012, 04:37:13 AM
I have also changed alot of intakes on the 5.3 and 6.0 for that code. Good news is it has a dry intake. For the code you need to scan it and check the O2 activity. seen alot with the mysterious coolant leak and cant never find it via pressure check. It mighy be what bogger joe was saying... Good luck
Title: Re: Where's my coolant going?
Post by: Boggen Joe on March 16, 2012, 01:02:58 AM
Quote from: buddman (AKA Mick) on March 14, 2012, 11:41:58 AM
Starting to see more and more of those with leaking intakes. And the O2 code is usualy a symptom.
no coolant runs through the intake
Title: Re: Where's my coolant going?
Post by: old school truck dude on March 16, 2012, 01:40:40 AM
http://www.silveradosierra.com/vortec-5-3l-v8/5-3l-coolant-lose-t11033.html (http://www.silveradosierra.com/vortec-5-3l-v8/5-3l-coolant-lose-t11033.html)


There a link to a pdf file on that page, its like the 2nd reply, shows the head and stuff. Sounds like that might be whats goin on..  ;D
Title: Re: Where's my coolant going?
Post by: ToughBowtieTruck on March 16, 2012, 03:03:17 AM
Quote from: old school truck dude on March 16, 2012, 01:40:40 AM
http://www.silveradosierra.com/vortec-5-3l-v8/5-3l-coolant-lose-t11033.html (http://www.silveradosierra.com/vortec-5-3l-v8/5-3l-coolant-lose-t11033.html)


There a link to a pdf file on that page, its like the 2nd reply, shows the head and stuff. Sounds like that might be whats goin on..  ;D

Quotehttp://www.silveradosierra.com/resources/file/6330

Very good read. Thanks! Seems easy to investigate.
Title: Re: Where's my coolant going?
Post by: Strapless on March 16, 2012, 03:41:57 AM
Your right bogger joe but in the quote he was only referring to the code not the coolant leak.
Title: Re: Where's my coolant going?
Post by: old school truck dude on March 16, 2012, 12:24:58 PM
Quote from: ToughBowtieTruck on March 16, 2012, 03:03:17 AM
Quote from: old school truck dude on March 16, 2012, 01:40:40 AM
http://www.silveradosierra.com/vortec-5-3l-v8/5-3l-coolant-lose-t11033.html (http://www.silveradosierra.com/vortec-5-3l-v8/5-3l-coolant-lose-t11033.html)


There a link to a pdf file on that page, its like the 2nd reply, shows the head and stuff. Sounds like that might be whats goin on..  ;D

Quotehttp://www.silveradosierra.com/resources/file/6330

Very good read. Thanks! Seems easy to investigate.

==np