Coolant Odor When Running Hard

[99silverado1500]

On my truck it stinks like coolant, especially if im running it hard. If I let it warm up, and then im late and im flying to work and its winding out to 5000+ rpms, it smells HORRIBLE! It seems to be the strongest on top of the motor, but I know one hose has a small cut in it but it doesnt leak unless you bend the hose. What could this be? It always has a slight coolant odor when i shut it off, its just horrible when I run it real hard. But again its always there, should I replace all the hoses? Or should I have a head gasket or intake gasket or my heater core checked out? It annoys me to smell coolant all the time. When its warmer out I go through coolant at a slow pace but it still uses it, but it doesnt have any visible leaks. Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

PS Got my rear finished yesterday!! I got a new G80 Locker, new spider gears, all new bearings and seals, a eaton carrier, new yoke, etc cost 1700 even, and my extended warranty covered 1548 of it so it was all good. Also got a new but stock cover as it blew schrapnel threw it on the way home when I was driving in 4x4 with no rear driveshaft to get it home.

[silveradocoa]

replace that hose is a start. it will leak goin down the road cuz the pressure builds up. also may want to add coolant dye to help find the leak. if it the head gaskets when u change the oil it will look like caramel or choc milk. coolant does not run thru the intakes on 5.3's so its not that tho there is a crossover pipe thats about 1/4in diameter under the intake but those usually dont leak.

 

replace the hose, add dye and look at the pump (as chev pumps are infamous for leakin, all years)

[99silverado1500]

Should I do all the hoses? and dye can be purchased at like autozone or advance auto correct? would the pump be leaking from the casting or a gasket?

[redsled2007]

It seems to be the strongest on top of the motor, but I know one hose has a small cut in it but it doesnt leak unless you bend the hose. What could this be?

If it's leaking when you bend it, it's leaking when you drive it. (I.E. pressure builds up and hose expands due to pressure build up) I'm suprised you haven't noticed a loss of coolent.

[marko]

Should I do all the hoses? and dye can be purchased at like autozone or advance auto correct? would the pump be leaking from the casting or a gasket?

 

The rule with fixing stuff on a vehicle is a variation of the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid). I would call it the FCTF. Now that acronym may sound more like the first letters of the words coming out of a mechanic's mouth when he's fixing things, what it really stands for is Fix the Cheapest Thing First.

 

Before you go worrying about water pumps and castings, REPLACE THE HOSES. They are 10 years old now, and worn out therefore. Whether they are leaking or not they are ticking time bombs waiting to burst. You need to replace them RFN anyway. Make sure you wirebrush off any corrosion where the hoses clamp onto stuff, and lubricate the ends of the hoses before installing them.

 

Then drive it for awhile, check for leaks from where you attached the new hoses, and see if the smell goes away.

[ws6_guy]

Good to hear the rear is fixed up though

[wlvrn1215]

i had the same thing in my 07 the other day....I popped the hood and nothing ...no leaks no coolant loss. I ran it hard a few times and smelt coolant. Hasnt done it lately though.

[99silverado1500]

When I had it in for the rear being fixed, they checked it out and it was leaking from the pump gasket. So I ordered 2 gaskets and a O ring. When they come in ill put em on and replace the hoses and hopefully it smells good again.