Antifreeze leak

[Roscopcoletrain]

So since we bought the truck (used) a few weeks ago, I could smell antifreeze from the front. I asked them to look at it initially before we took delivery. They said they found nothing. Fast forward a few weeks, still smell it. Overflow looks low. So I ask them to look at it again. Tech says he did a pressure test, found nothing, a bit of dampness near the back of one cylinder head, just to keep an eye on it. So I get home today with it from the dealer... Tell me what you see?

 

 

 

[Brianibew]

Looks like a little dampness to me...

[Doublebase]

Leaking from the radiator side tank? Pretty commmon and not always obvious. They kind of seep.

[Roscopcoletrain]

53 minutes ago, Doublebase said:

Leaking from the radiator side tank? Pretty commmon and not always obvious. They kind of seep.

 

You'd think a tech doing a pressure test would see this.  

 

Spoke to another dealer, said they'd do it again with a dye test. 

[Supreme Pizza]

3 hours ago, Roscopcoletrain said:

a bit of dampness near the back of one cylinder head

 

Blown head gasket, based on your description. Only you can decide the level of alarm: 

 

1) Not a big deal 

2) Cause for alarm 

3) Not good at all

4) Extremely bad

 

 

 

 

 

[Roscopcoletrain]

2 minutes ago, starman8tdc said:

 

Blown head gasket, based on your description. Only you can decide the level of alarm: 

 

1) Not a big deal 

2) Cause for alarm 

3) Not good at all

4) Extremely bad

 

 

 

 

 

I asked that question, they said no. That said, they also said I had no leak lol

 

Well I'm going camping this weekend. Will either be non eventful or end in disaster ☺️

[Supreme Pizza]

The mechanics description suggests a blown head gasket. Your pictures indicate a problem in the radiator area. The primary cause of head gasket failure, is coolant loss. Coolant loss is often caused by a leak in the cooling system - such as the radiator. 

 

   If your cooling system looses to much coolant, either through a leaking head gasket or a radiator leak, then your truck will grind to a stop and have catastrophic mechanical failure. 

 

   Its like buying a horse that has a leaking circulatory system. Sooner or later, it will stop - unless you give it a blood transfusion. Same thing applies for your truck. Keep adding coolant every 25 miles, or be prepared to call a tow truck. 

 

   If you did not buy an warranty with your used truck, then your pretty much "trucked". 

[Roscopcoletrain]

Yeah pretty much. It's definitely going to be looked into though more. In the meantime, gonna keep a close eye on the level and the temp gauge ?

[Supreme Pizza]

If you would like to diagnose the problem, I can help - and I can walk you through the repair process. 

 

If you have no warranty, don't bother returning to the dealer. They will not give you any free buckets of money. 

 

Don't give up hope, if you have a bad radiator and a blown head gasket - you may be able to patch both for about $35 total. 

 

The dealer would charge around $3,400 for a "proper" fix. 

 

 

[Roscopcoletrain]

Thanks. Appreciate that. I do have some warranty thankfully.

 

 

[Supreme Pizza]

Oh, well in that case - I would ask them to do a leak down test, a compression test, and a cooling system pressure test. Also have them probe the exhaust for coolant vapor, and test the cooling system for combustion gas residue. If you have a warranty - you might as well use it. 

 

 

[Sierra Dan]

Roscoe,

 

Have you seen this Topic:

 

https://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/194376-letter-cycling-thermostat/

[Roscopcoletrain]

22 minutes ago, Sierra Dan said:

Roscoe,

 

Have you seen this Topic:

 

https://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/194376-letter-cycling-thermostat/

i have. i actually printed that off and gave it to my Chev dealer.  They didnt seem to think my truck was covered under that. But next week when we get back from camping, it will be looked into more. 

[Sierra Dan]

Do you have a Certified Pre-Owned warranty or is your warranty up?

The above Cycling Thermostat issue was a TSB.

From what I understand it depends on the dealer's discretion.

[Roscopcoletrain]

3 hours ago, Sierra Dan said:

Do you have a Certified Pre-Owned warranty or is your warranty up?

The above Cycling Thermostat issue was a TSB.

From what I understand it depends on the dealer's discretion.

Im Still under the powertrain warranty.