How Much Coolant Loss Is Acceptable?

[Bob D]

Am losing about one pint / 4K mi.s. '03 4.3L Silv.

I don't consider this excessive, but I am a bit concerned. (I personally don't consider any coolant loss desireable).

Vehicle well maintained, never overheated. Don't really want to do manifold gasket unless necessary.

Plan on doing pressure test soon.

Opinions?

[r1byker]

I agree with you. None. Keep an eye on your oil to make sure it's not getting into your crankcase. Milky oil is bad.

[kjctaco]

Check your water pump seals. They are notorious for going bad and leaking slow enough that it evaportates off the engine before it hits the ground.

[Bob D]

 

 

Check your water pump seals...

Seal or gaskets?

[jro909]

if its the pump, i think the coolant will be dripping off the bung hole of the pump.....probably intake gaskets, the 4.3 is notorious for that problem

[mikepike1125]

I had this happeneing on my old 02 silverado 4.3 v6. drove around for about 1500 miles with a very very minor coolant leak. My low coolant light would come on every couple weeks or so. I would add a bit here and there. Then I started smelling the burning anti freeze smell so I took it to the shop and they pressure tested the system and found the manifold to be leaking and could even see where it had been leaking from. Said it was a very minor leak and that I could get away with it for another month before it got real bad. they gave me an estimate of $600. I traded it in.

[apierce918]

yeah, you should not be losing any coolant. definitely investigate the source

[jro909]

coolant will very very very slowly go away over long periods of time, but that much means somethings wrong....

[oubobcat]

Check your hose clamps. My 04 was leaking coolant since new. last october a clamp finally failed all the way. Since then no coolant loss. I could always smell coolant but could not find the leak.

[jwhjr]

Which clamp was it? I've been smelling coolant on my 04 lately, but haven't been losing any and can't find it coming out anywhere. I wonder if it's a clamp?

[oubobcat]

Water pump hose.

[jwhjr]

Thanks, I'll take a look.

[pm26]

Usually you will see powder deposits in spots where coolant is leaking, after it evaporates.

[Stex]

if its the pump, i think the coolant will be dripping off the bung hole of the pump.....probably intake gaskets, the 4.3 is notorious for that problem

 

 

+1 and check all clamps (overflow tank can also crack) and look under water pump for tail tell sign of leak down the hose..good luck