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Chevy Suburban 5.3L coolant leak into engine

27 messages,  Last post on Feb 04, 2013 at 10:29 AM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe Limited/Z71, Engine, SUV

    

Messages Page 3 of 3

#18 of 27 Re: Suburban 5.3L coolant leak into engine [gainer] by suburbansue

Feb 01, 2012 (6:57 pm)

Replying to: gainer (Feb 09, 2011 6:40 pm)
I am reading these posts with great interest. I have a 2002 Suburban. It has 181,000 miles and has never been a problem - until now. It just started leaking coolant two weeks ago. I took it to my trusted mechanic, who advised me to buy a new car within the year. He also has a Suburban which is a 2001, and it is leaking coolant. He took the engine apart on his - used ultra-violet lights - couldn't find the leak. He said that it is likely an internal leak, and that it often goes into the oil reservoir, which then creates sludge and will eventually ruin the engine. I agree that if this is a common problem with these cars, there should be a recall and a manufacturer's fix.

#20 of 27 Re: Suburban 5.3L coolant leak into engine [daves67] by infidelforlife

Feb 15, 2012 (12:07 pm)

Replying to: daves67 (Mar 05, 2007 3:50 pm)
Chevy's are plagued with this problem-- usually the intake gasket leaking at right rear of engine where the water jacket is- is a poor gasket design. A gallon a week would either go out the exhaust or leak to the ground. But I am confused-- it gets into the valve train but not the oil pan? The muddy mix may be whats fooling you--- can be from condensate (antifreeze leaking into engine) but your oil should be milky as well. I had the same problem on a 96 Suburban and the gasket repair was the solution if that helps.

#21 of 27 Re: Tahoe 5.3L coolant leak [maryt13] by rbdog

Mar 01, 2012 (4:22 pm)

Replying to: maryt13 (Jul 23, 2011 8:15 am)
Hi There,
 
That's exactly what's happening to my truck, word by word as you described. Took it to a mechanic and he said it's the water pump, however I doubt it. I think it may be a leaky gasket or something. If you find out what's actually causing it please let me know. One of these days when I have enough time I'll try to take the front apart and maybe find out where it's coming from. Good luck!!

#22 of 27 Re: Tahoe 5.3L coolant leak [rbdog] by tomahawk2

Sep 01, 2012 (6:58 am)

Replying to: rbdog (Mar 01, 2012 4:22 pm)
Hi,
 
I have a 2005 LT suburban that had me baffled for about its coolant leak. It was dripping around the transmission (the pink color had me thinking it was transmission fluid first), leaving a decent size puddle. I feared it was the intake gasket but the oil was clean and all parts of the front and side of the engine were clean and dry... just about to give up and ready to pay big money on a repair when i finally found the leak! There are 2 long hoses that connect to the heater core on the passenger side of the truck. There is a white plastic "T" connect to the fire wall and the o-ring seal on it was bad. The white plastic piece was fine, just the internal seal had failed and its right below it is the A/C drip pan. This was the reason the coolant was traveling all the way back to the transmission housing. You can't just buy the o-ring seal, i had to buy the entire "T" but it was only $35 and the job was not too diffucult. I was really glad not to have gone into the heads or water pump route to resolve this. Hope this helps others with the similar odd coolant leaks with out a clear source issue.

#23 of 27 Re: Tahoe 5.3L coolant leak [tomahawk2] by mtnlksd

Sep 28, 2012 (8:37 am)

Replying to: tomahawk2 (Sep 01, 2012 6:58 am)
Thanks for the encouraging suggestion, my 2003 Z71 has had a slight coolant leak for a few years, a little puddle on the floor after it has been parked for a while, or a trail of drops leading out the driveway. Within the week it has been losing a lot more coolant, so I took off the covers above and below the radiator and inspecting everything, can't find any sign of leak. Oil looks clean. Loosened the skid plate (removed front 2 bolts, loosened rear ones) but there doesn't appear to be any fluid accumulation there. Do you have a part number for the T connect?

#25 of 27 Re: 01 Chevy Suburban loosing coolant [rsaloio] by carolinasdad

Jan 28, 2013 (8:34 am)

Replying to: rsaloio (Jan 18, 2011 2:27 pm)
Has anyone contacted GM about this problem. I have and I got the run around. I argue that theirBulletin #06-06-01-019b says that they know and rreconize the problem with castech heads, and that durning casting of this heads that they have porosity in very specific areas. They want to argue that mileage is the issue, but I argue that porosity happens durning the molding process and NO matter how much you drive or run the motor that they dont get porosity or gain more porosity. They are not wanting to except responisblitiy for the bad metal and hold the castech company responible for faulty product. They want me to take to a gm dealer and have them to check the heads for porosity, Just to remove heads is $800. Then I have to pay for the mag test also. Has anyone looked into a class action Lawsuit about this problem and does anyone think it would be worth it.

#26 of 27 Re: Suburban 5.3L coolant leak into engine [daves67] by carolinasdad

Jan 28, 2013 (8:39 am)

Replying to: daves67 (Mar 05, 2007 3:50 pm)
You may want to check your heads to see if they are casteck heads. There is a document out there # 06-06-01-019b put out to gm mechanics to let them know about bad castings of these heads. they have porosity in the metal whick is leaking thru to the lifter area but evaporating because of heat leaving a sludge mix oil.

#27 of 27 Re: 01 Chevy Suburban loosing coolant [bena8837] by daveport

Feb 04, 2013 (10:29 am)

Replying to: bena8837 (Feb 08, 2008 8:22 am)
I have a 2004 Tahoe LT with the 5.3 flex fuel engine, that I bought new. I have the very same problem that you have described. At about 40,000 miles, I noticed that coolant was always being added when I had the oil changed at a 'quick lube' shop. This got worse by 80,000 miles. The dealer did a pressure test and found no leak or drop in the pressure. I am having to add about a pint every 200 hundred miles. The lube shop suggested a Radiator shop and they suggested to replace the coolant reservoir cap. THAT, has fixed the problem.

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