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Coolant Loss

FMFRM250

By FMFRM250
in Troubleshooting & Recalls

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FMFRM250 New Member

FMFRM250

Posted
Posted

Question?  2018 GMC Sierra 5.3 water pump failure at 29k.  Picked up truck an drove home 20 minutes smelled coolant figured it was just residual burning off.  Got home to drop other car off and wife walked up to truck and we saw steam from hood.  Opened hood and upper hose not connected off shut off truck.  Overflow empty , no coolant on the ground or driveway, but everywhere under hood, no check engine light, slight increase passed middle temp.  Dealer reconnected filled and said all good.  Told me I caught it just in time, and that the computer had no codes from overheating, and that if it would have overheated the check engine light would have come one, and the truck will shut itself down to prevent overheating from damaging the engine.  Is this true?  I picked it up tonight and drove from Downtown SLC, Utah  up to Park City, Utah a nice mountain climb and it drove perfect and no overheat issues.  But it has been 30 degrees here as well.  I figure the drive up when it is 100 degrees in the summer will tell the tale.  Thanks for your feed back !  I just find it hard to believe that no damage occurred.  

JimCost2014 Senior Enthusiast

JimCost2014

Posted
Posted (edited)
43 minutes ago, FMFRM250 said:

Question?  2018 GMC Sierra 5.3 water pump failure at 29k.  Picked up truck an drove home 20 minutes smelled coolant figured it was just residual burning off.  Got home to drop other car off and wife walked up to truck and we saw steam from hood.  Opened hood and upper hose not connected off shut off truck.  Overflow empty , no coolant on the ground or driveway, but everywhere under hood, no check engine light, slight increase passed middle temp.  Dealer reconnected filled and said all good.  Told me I caught it just in time, and that the computer had no codes from overheating, and that if it would have overheated the check engine light would have come one, and the truck will shut itself down to prevent overheating from damaging the engine.  Is this true?  I picked it up tonight and drove from Downtown SLC, Utah  up to Park City, Utah a nice mountain climb and it drove perfect and no overheat issues.  But it has been 30 degrees here as well.  I figure the drive up when it is 100 degrees in the summer will tell the tale.  Thanks for your feed back !  I just find it hard to believe that no damage occurred.  

Yikes, welcome to the site.

 

I know this is the Captain Obvious response, but I always drive around the block and pop the hood, even after oil changes. Worked at a dealership for a while, so I have my suspicions. 

 

I would keep an eye on the overflow, you will probably need to add coolant as they only top it off before you drive away. Hopefully there was enough in the block to keep it somewhat cool as it lost everything in the top end of the radiator. 

Edited by JimCost2014
CamGTP Senior Enthusiast

CamGTP

Posted
Posted

It takes a lot to completely melt down an engine. Not only would the coolant temps need to be super hot but your oil temps would have to be through the roof as well. You said the coolant temp gauge never went much past the middle, so that means it was around 200-220 degrees and your oil temps are going to anywhere from 180-210 degrees in a 20 minute drive, no possible way any damage could have been done.

 

The dealership is right about the over temp protection, it will put the engine into a limp/reduced power mode if it feels that damage is going to happen. At this point you couldn't even drive it and it would tell you to turn the truck off.

Eddie 70 Senior Enthusiast

Eddie 70

Posted
Posted

Just hypothesizing, maybe the slid the upper hose into place and didn't get the clamp tightened/released in the correct place letting coolant seep while driving. Once shut down, the heat soak, temperature rise from no coolant flowing built pressure in the system and blew the upper hose off. I think you are safe. I would check the look of my oil and if it looks fine, let it be. If it doesn't pass the eye test, change it for comfort.

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