Need Help Diagnosing!

[benelli12]

I need help diagnosing a 96 4X4 S10 with 81,000 miles. I have been having trouble with my cooling system, possibly. I have flushed my heater core already, and that didn't help. Here are the symptoms:

Smell of coolant in cab when motor is cold or warm

Bubbling noise in liquid, burped the radiator but noise comes back

Bubbling noise usually only audible during acceleration (heavy or light), deceleration, or turning

No wet carpet or steamed windows

Not seeming to be leaking coolant

Has been doing it for a while

 

Is there any specific instructions for replacing the intake gasket (if that is what it is) on a 4X4, like is it necesary to remove the front skid plate for any reason?

[benelli12]

Also I forgot to mention in my first post that when I first test drove this truck it was leaking oil on top of the engine. The "mechanic" at the car lot supposedly replaced a gasket (forgot which one, this was before I knew anything about engines) before I bought the truck and claimed the bubbling was normal after the procedure. Hope this helps!

Thanks

[RCH]

Also I forgot to mention in my first post that when I first test drove this truck it was leaking oil on top of the engine. The "mechanic" at the car lot supposedly replaced a gasket (forgot which one, this was before I knew anything about engines) before I bought the truck and claimed the bubbling was normal after the procedure. Hope this helps!

Thanks

 

That is not normal. In my 1991 K1500 I had the same gurgling noise. I removed the heater core to test it and the flow was almost totally blocked. I replaced it with a new one from NAPA for about $50 and noise was gone. You might have a very small leak to where you can smell it but no moisture accumulates. LOL

[benelli12]

Thanks for the help! Is there any way to possibly unclog the heater core? I definitely don't look forward to tearing my dash off!

[skills4lou]

Thanks for the help! Is there any way to possibly unclog the heater core? I definitely don't look forward to tearing my dash off!

While it may be possible to clean it out, you'll be far better of to just replace the old one. They aren't expensive, and that way you'll know it won't leak. The problem with super caustic cleaners is they may create more holes than what you already have.

It's NOT fun to tear the dash apart, but that's the right way to fix this problem

[benelli12]

I checked under the passenger side dash and found little spots of orange coolant, time to replace the heater core