99 Savana With Coolant In Oil

[timebandit]

My cargo van is a 99 Savana with a 5.0L and only about 50,000 miles(in storage for the most part over the years). Late last winter after running the engine for a while I noticed coolant on the ground, and when I pulled the dipstick I had the classic "milkshake"...showing I have an internal as well as external leak.

 

I have read all over the web about the Dexcool issues in regards to gaskets(particularly the intake manifold). I purchased this vehicle used, did a coolant flush on it last summer before developing the leak in the winter(wondering if the previous owner had a leak and just used some sort of sealer...which got flushed out???).

 

Anyway, my question is, is there a definitive way of determining whether or not the leak is coming from a blown intake OR head gasket(or both?) on this engine model?

 

I removed the engine covering and observed a pretty good stream of coolant coming from the passenger-side/rear of the engine...but I could not determine the exact location of the leak. I have already purchased a fel-pro intake manifold set, but if it turns out to be the head gasket instead....it may be a job I am incapable of doing myself.

 

Would a simple coolant pressure test do the trick to know for sure where the leak is coming from...or perhaps a combustion leak test/other?

 

Thanks.

[markw8]

I didn't think the 5.0s had intake gasket problems. If they do suffer from the plastic gaskets, poorly designed gaskets are the problem, not Dexcool.

 

Mark

[8.1HD/ALLISON]

The 5.0s still had wet intake manifolds. I would image that is most probable. If im not mistaken for the external leak there is a coolant nipple that threads into the the intake. I would check it, as they are bad about erroding away over time and leaking. Make sure you get the redesigned intake gaskets made of metal, not plastic.

[timebandit]

The Dexcool issue was just something I read about while researching gasket issues with certain GM products. While many blame Dexcool, most determain the problem was low-quality gaskets used on specific models.

 

The FelPro gaskets I purchased BTW are the metal type.

 

Back to the original question, how does one determain, with a relatively high level of certainty, that the internal leak is an intake manifold vs. a head gasket issue, specifically on the 5.0L model?

 

Compression test?

Coolant/pressure test?

Pull the plugs/look for visual signs?

Other?

 

Thanks

[FriendlyMan]

Is there coolant leaking from the exhaust pipe?

 

It might take a minute or two of running to tell - but don't run it for too long if you go and look for it. The problem with coolant leaking into the oil is that it can be a blown head and/or intake manifold gasket or it could be more severe, such as an internal crack in the block or heads.

 

The best way to tell is to take it apart and just perform visual inspections.

 

You said this happened late last winter, did you put antifreeze into it or just water? Do you think it's possible that it froze?

 

The reason I ask is because from my personal experience, if it froze and ice formed, it's somewhat likely that you could have a crack somewhere (or a freeze plug popped out/cracked aka core plug). I'd try to look around those first before doing anything if they're visible. - but if you have milkshake oil, there's definitely an internal leak.

 

If it's just a gasket though, which it could be, you're not too bad off.

[TexasAl]

The only definitive way of finding the leak is by opening the motor. Pull the intake manifold, and see if there is corrosion/bad gasket there. If there is, then you have probably found your problem. It is worth a try, since the intake gasket a pretty cheap.

[timebandit]

I'm going to try and tear it down this weekend. I never noticed any coolant leak through the exhaust, but there had been a sweet/coolant smell every now and then inside the van(from where I spotted the external leak..../back of engine/passenger side/..., it was probably getting on the exhaust manifold, ..... since the engine's halfway inside the van, that might explain the smell).

 

One other thing(related or not)and that is after the vehicle had run(operating temp)for a while, when I'd go back in to start the van it would start(hard to describe)...strange, like it wouldn't crank, but still would start. Wondering if coolant(external leak)got on the starter/other component. Or it's just some completely unrelated issue(emissions component,etc.).

 

In regards to adding water/coolant....I had flushed the old and put new Dexcool last summer (before winter storage)....I did however(before winter)notice the coolant level dropping(small amount)late summer/early fall, but no signs of coolant in the oil, or in the driveway....like it did when I warmed it up last Feb.(?).

 

Anyway, thanks for the replies...still going to do a coolant pressure test before tear-down, just to see if there are any noticeable(external)leaks on this thing.