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Possible coolant leak

servantsalesmen

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servantsalesmen Enthusiast

servantsalesmen

Posted
Posted

Okay so as I was working on removing trans cooler lines, I noticed that my trucks coolant tank was bone dry. The truck has never overheated on me nor have I ever gotten a low coolant message. The truck is a 2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD with a 6.0 motor. It has also never left a puddle underneath it either. The truck only has 87,000 miles on it and it is still on the original water pump and radiator. Does anybody have any idea what this could be? Could I have bad head gaskets? Or can the system slowly go through coolant over 10 years and 87,000 miles?

 

Thanks for any help in advance.

fondupot Senior Enthusiast

fondupot

Posted
Posted

first off, this is the kind of stuff you check with each oil change....

 

second, it is possible that some of the coolant evaporated over 10 years.

servantsalesmen Enthusiast

servantsalesmen

Posted
  • Author
Posted

first off, this is the kind of stuff you check with each oil change....

 

second, it is possible that some of the coolant evaporated over 10 years.

Well every oil change has not shown evidence of coolant in it. I just wanted to know if it is possible that coolant has evaporated. So long as it has evaporated and not been burned, I can deal with that.

fondupot Senior Enthusiast

fondupot

Posted
Posted

Yea it a possible. But I meant checking the coolant reservoir. Then you could have noticed how much coolant was being used.

Colossus Senior Enthusiast

Colossus

Posted
Posted

Highly unlikely it has evaporated. Never go the 10 years/100,000 miles on a coolant change. 50,000 minimum. Yes I know GM *claims* that it will do 100,000 miles but by then the coolant is so broken down the ad packs have worn out, and the conductivity of the stuff is damaging componants in the engine since it will be like acid and imagine what that does to water pumps, lines, and the various seals not to mention the radiator. Get that old stuff FLUSHED out of there ASAP and if you are not seeing anything leaking, you can always have them put in some dye into the coolant and then run the truck for awhile, take it back have them use the cool UV or other spectrum light that they use to check for leaks with the dye in it, and maybe they'll find what's going on. My bet is on the water pump or cooler lines. Yes I know there are many out there who make it to 100,000+ miles on original plugs, tranny fluid, brake fluid, and coolant without any issues, but that is in my opinion taking huge expensive risks. Preventative maintenance does wonders on extending the life and eventually saving money in the long run. Just my humble opinion. Good luck!

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