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Chev 5.3 Coolant Leak In Oil

jukebox

By jukebox
in Ask A GM Technician

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jukebox New Member

jukebox

Posted
Posted

Hello, I have a 2005 Chev Silverado with a minor coolant leak.

 

 

Tested system to 21 PSI with no leaks anywhere.

 

 

Used about 1 gal over 1 month.

 

 

Changed Oil and found Jelly Like Sludge in Oil pan.

 

 

Drained oil and sludge and installed new oil.

 

 

Truck has 85k miles, Oil changes done evey 3500 miles and well maintained.

 

 

Is there coolant running through intake manifold, I heard this could be cause or

 

Head Gasket, other.

 

 

Do you have any history on this problem ? I see I am not alone with this problem.

 

 

Thank you, Charles e-mail: [email protected]

Nytemare Senior Enthusiast

Nytemare

Posted
Posted

There's a TSB out for Castech heads that crack, Do a search on here for Castech and you'll come up with more info on this subject than you care to read.

 

TSB means technical service bulletin....in case you were wondering.

jukebox New Member

jukebox

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Hello, I have a 2005 Chev Silverado with a minor coolant leak.

 

 

Tested system to 21 PSI with no leaks anywhere.

 

 

Used about 1 gal over 1 month.

 

 

Changed Oil and found Jelly Like Sludge in Oil pan.

 

 

Drained oil and sludge and installed new oil.

 

 

Truck has 85k miles, Oil changes done evey 3500 miles and well maintained.

 

 

Is there coolant running through intake manifold, I heard this could be cause or

 

Head Gasket, other.

 

 

Do you have any history on this problem ? I see I am not alone with this problem.

 

 

Thank you, Charles e-mail: [email protected]

 

tHANKS , i AM FINDING THIS OUT ALREADY

  • 2 weeks later...
gmc2004Z71 New Member

gmc2004Z71

Posted
Posted
Hello, I have a 2005 Chev Silverado with a minor coolant leak.

 

[/size]

 

Tested system to 21 PSI with no leaks anywhere.

 

 

Used about 1 gal over 1 month.

 

 

Changed Oil and found Jelly Like Sludge in Oil pan.

 

 

Drained oil and sludge and installed new oil.

 

 

Truck has 85k miles, Oil changes done evey 3500 miles and well maintained.

 

 

Is there coolant running through intake manifold, I heard this could be cause or

 

Head Gasket, other.

 

 

Do you have any history on this problem ? I see I am not alone with this problem.

 

 

Thank you, Charles e-mail: [email protected]

 

tHANKS , i AM FINDING THIS OUT ALREADY

 

kgrigsby Enthusiast

kgrigsby

Posted
Posted
Hello, I have a 2005 Chev Silverado with a minor coolant leak.

 

 

Tested system to 21 PSI with no leaks anywhere.

 

 

Used about 1 gal over 1 month.

 

 

Changed Oil and found Jelly Like Sludge in Oil pan.

 

 

Drained oil and sludge and installed new oil.

 

 

Truck has 85k miles, Oil changes done evey 3500 miles and well maintained.

 

 

Is there coolant running through intake manifold, I heard this could be cause or

 

Head Gasket, other.

 

 

Do you have any history on this problem ? I see I am not alone with this problem.

 

 

Thank you, Charles e-mail: [email protected]

This may give you a place to look before you tear down further

 

Last year my 1999 gmc 4.8l 250,000 km had all the issues with the valve noisy lifters, loss of coolant with no visible sign of leaks on outside of engine.

I checked to see if I had the castec heads and did not.

Another thing I found in regards determining if you have antifreeze in you oil is your oil will not always be ' milky' on the oil dipstick to confirm that antifreeze has mixed with the oil, antifreeze does not like to mix with oil. You have to drop your oil and if it comes out kind of chunky or blobs, you have antifreeze in the oil, it will end up on the bottom of your drain pan.

I found the problem when I pulled the intake manifold off, THE TOP ROW OF BOLTS ABOVE PUSHROD GALLERIES, (11mm, not the main head bolts) ON THE LEFT HEAD HAD LOST TORQUE and subseqently antifreeze was able enter the oil pan via the valve pushrod galleries, there was evidence of corrosion, etc on the pushrods, aft lifter area.

At this point I was 90% sure I found the leak but decided to change the head gaskets, when they were pulled I found no evidence of leakage around the head gaskets gaskets.

So what I suggest, pull your intake manifold off, (only way to get at the smaller 11mm? bolts) check torque, if loose retorque, put intake back on (new gasket), if not and no sign of corrosion etc in pushrod galleries continue on with changing out head gaskets. If you do this it should take, 2-3 hrs versus 4-8 hr for a head gasket change depending on your experience.

If you are looking for a complicated explanation for this problem there is not one, that was all it is. Let us know what you find, Good luck and pm me if you

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