00Silverado4x4

Glad you found the problem. Check back when repairs are done. Hope it turns out well.

Did you check your front cv shafts? Pops/clicks on hard turns tend to be CV joint. Is it when you turn in one direction or both? Frankly if they look old or original, I'd go ahead & replace them both. If one is going the other is probably not far behind.

No insult intended but soapy water may not be very helpful to find a coolant leak. You need everything clean & dry then pressure check the system. Also the balloons on the tail pipe won't help as there are preexisting drain holes in your exhaust system. Did you check over your radiator & connections? With modern radiators being more plastic then before tend to crack easier with age. However it still could be a head gasket. It could be leaking internally. You will need to get a camera in through a spark plug hole or pull the heads to find out for sure.

So since it's been awhile since I've updated this...here we go Both front hubs....again. Both front outer tie rods...cheap parts, my fault. All tires...cheap tires don't last long. Front passenger window regulator Fuel pump, on the road so shop replaced it Fuel filter, along with new pump Fuel pressure regulator Thermostat...finally. New hitch & pin, both stolen...WTH??? Battery Alternator Wiper washer pump Repaired washer lines Valve cover gaskets Redneck tire carrier installed Front brakes Most recent....upgraded transmission cooler. Old one was still working but new one is twice the size & doing great. That's what I can think of for the truck off hand. I post again of what I've done in the shop.

This ^^^^. After all the cap is how the pressure is allowed to develop.

What is the fluid levels & condition of your drive line? I.e. front/rear diff, trans, transfer case.

Personally if it's only seeping, I would just keep an eye on it & keep it topped off. I'm not sure but 2-3 hours seems a bit much. When I replaced the same seal on my previous truck, 06 Sierra, it took me a total of 2 hours including the necessary beer break...or two.

I don't have a link or document handy but GM put out a notice years ago now changing the gap from .060" to .040". When I changed my plugs on my truck I also set the gap to .040". You'll be fine with that gap.

Finally hit the road today. Last minute change, now using the truck to tow ourselves back to Alaska. The wife's Jeep just wasn't going to cut it.

No worries. Our journey to The Last Frontier is to begin this coming Tuesday. We are planning a whole summer of driving across the US & then up through Canada. Don't have a specific itinerary but it should one heck of a good time for all.

Yup.

Oh quiet down, you're still a 100k behind me...lol

Finally got to the as antifreeze change. In the interest of time before the big cross country trip I left the old thermostat alone. Finally got all the "must do" items done from when I bought the truck. Now for the want to do items...well and a few other new better get done soon items.

Drove to base & got my VA claim started.

I've only ever driven through OK a few times. Never know I've met a lot of people in the 20 years.