14 Silverardo - Bad water pump at 78k?

[sala0288]

Hey all, 

 

Recently bought 14 silverado back in march/april.  Really like the truck but was driving home from a vacation recently about 6 hr drive and noticed the tranny temp was really high - 220's, never got that high before.  When I got home, checked the coolant, really low.  Wasn't sure where the leak was coming from at the time just filled it up with dexcool and kept going, had to be at work early the next day.  Finally noticed coolant leaking out of the hose that i am pretty sure connects to the water pump on the front of the engine (I have the V6).  I changed the hose clamp thinking that might help, and it did.  I ran my truck another week or two and some coolant was still leaking, but definitely not as much, kept putting dex cool back in it.  And now the leak seems to have stalled out a bit - the last few days i've checked it i don't think i've lost much.  My engine has never over heated, and my trans temp is running normal temps now as well.  Do I have a bad water pump?  other thoughts?  I've checked most of the other radiator connections and they all seem fine.  just seems young, 78,000 mi for a water pump to fail.  Heck, I haven't even made it to my first oil change yet!

 

 

[RACERX7775]

Um, pressure test the cooling system to about 15 or 16 psi. You should find the leak that way, instead of driving it to get it hot and see where its leaking from.

[Sierra Dan]

If it was a bad water pump you would probably have seepage from the weep hole.

I know many '14 and very early '15 model Silverado and Sierra trucks that experienced 

a slow leaking coooant loss from failing radiators.

Mine was one of them.

Coolant smell from front grille area.

Leaking occurs between the aluminum to plastic joint along the edges.

It is caused by a cycling thermostat. Not sure if the V6 was included....

 

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

[sala0288]

Thanks guys.....RacerX, how do you go about doing that?  haha - something I can do at home I'm assuming?  

[sala0288]

8 hours ago, RACERX7775 said:

Um, pressure test the cooling system to about 15 or 16 psi. You should find the leak that way, instead of driving it to get it hot and see where its leaking from.

Thanks guys.....RacerX, how do you go about doing that?  haha - something I can do at home I'm assuming?  

[dsr611]

25 minutes ago, sala0288 said:

Thanks guys.....RacerX, how do you go about doing that?  haha - something I can do at home I'm assuming?  

Go to local O'Rielly's (or other auto parts house that has loaner tools) and borrow the pressure test kit

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b/evertough-4771/tools---equipment-16488/tools-23747/rental-tools-16837/rental-tools--air-conditioning---cooling-19163/26fcb01856e7/rental-tools-evertough-radiator-cap-test-kit/67085/4700282

 

[RACERX7775]

There are cheaper ones than that. But i would say yes, if you can rent it, go for it.  Make sure its cold. Remove the cap, hook up adapter and pressure tester  Pump away till you get to 15 psi max. Look at the pic, it says it on the cap. And then look for leaks. After you find the leak, release pressure. Then remove the tester.