Dex-cool Fill Level?

Got V8? · November 6, 2008

Hi, i am having a slight problem, I had a oil analysis done and was told that there was some sodium found, and was told that it would probably be from antifreeze. I was told to watch the coolant level, and asked if had to add any. Which it has been around the same level since I purchased it a year ago. I have a 01 Silverado 5.3.

My Question is on my Coolant bottle it has a line in the middle right hand side that says fill cold, I dont see any line that says full cold or hot like the old bottles. Is the fill cold line in the middle where the coolant needs to be or does the coolant level need to be all the way to the top?

Also the tech said this could indicate a bad intake gasket. Would a coolant pressure test be a better idea than just eye balling the coolant and hoping it isnt leaking? What leads me to believe that I dont have a coolant leak is that the analysis does not indicate any water in the oil. I just want to find out before I run my Motor.

Any help appreciated thanks.

2000DV4.8 · November 6, 2008

The "cold fill" mark is the seam in the middle of the overflow reservoir. Also, if I'm not mistaken, these trucks have a dry intake, which means a bad intake manifold gasket wouldn't cause loss of coolant.

txab · November 6, 2008

Hi, i am having a slight problem, I had a oil analysis done and was told that there was some sodium found, and was told that it would probably be from antifreeze. I was told to watch the coolant level, and asked if had to add any. Which it has been around the same level since I purchased it a year ago. I have a 01 Silverado 5.3.
My Question is on my Coolant bottle it has a line in the middle right hand side that says fill cold, I dont see any line that says full cold or hot like the old bottles. Is the fill cold line in the middle where the coolant needs to be or does the coolant level need to be all the way to the top?

Also the tech said this could indicate a bad intake gasket. Would a coolant pressure test be a better idea than just eye balling the coolant and hoping it isnt leaking? What leads me to believe that I dont have a coolant leak is that the analysis does not indicate any water in the oil. I just want to find out before I run my Motor.

Any help appreciated thanks.

What is the sodium reading on your oil report? What oil are you using? If it was a small leak, the water might boil off and not show in your report. I had that same situation when I first bought my '04 used. After 2 oil changes with my own preferred oil, the sodium levels dropped. Some oils have a higher level of sodium. I have never added a drop to my coolant tank in the time I've been driving it. Keep an eye on your coolant level. Also you may want to have it pressure tested for your own peace of mind.

Also who performed your UOA?

Got V8? · November 7, 2008

Hi, i am having a slight problem, I had a oil analysis done and was told that there was some sodium found, and was told that it would probably be from antifreeze. I was told to watch the coolant level, and asked if had to add any. Which it has been around the same level since I purchased it a year ago. I have a 01 Silverado 5.3.
My Question is on my Coolant bottle it has a line in the middle right hand side that says fill cold, I dont see any line that says full cold or hot like the old bottles. Is the fill cold line in the middle where the coolant needs to be or does the coolant level need to be all the way to the top?

Also the tech said this could indicate a bad intake gasket. Would a coolant pressure test be a better idea than just eye balling the coolant and hoping it isnt leaking? What leads me to believe that I dont have a coolant leak is that the analysis does not indicate any water in the oil. I just want to find out before I run my Motor.

Any help appreciated thanks.

What is the sodium reading on your oil report? What oil are you using? If it was a small leak, the water might boil off and not show in your report. I had that same situation when I first bought my '04 used. After 2 oil changes with my own preferred oil, the sodium levels dropped. Some oils have a higher level of sodium. I have never added a drop to my coolant tank in the time I've been driving it. Keep an eye on your coolant level. Also you may want to have it pressure tested for your own peace of mind.

Also who performed your UOA?

Got V8? · November 7, 2008

txab, thanks for the reply. The amount of sodium on my report was 0.12. The type of oil I am using is Quaker State Synthetic 5W30. I had the analysis done at Blackstone laboratories. They told me that this oil may contain sodium, and did a free test on a virgin oil sample that did not find any sodium present. My Coolant level has been staying at the midpoint fill cold level of the coolant bottle, which would lead me to believe that since this oil was used in Wisconsin in the winter time that it is probably road salt spray ingested by the intake system.

txab · November 7, 2008

txab, thanks for the reply. The amount of sodium on my report was 0.12. The type of oil I am using is Quaker State Synthetic 5W30. I had the analysis done at Blackstone laboratories. They told me that this oil may contain sodium, and did a free test on a virgin oil sample that did not find any sodium present. My Coolant level has been staying at the midpoint fill cold level of the coolant bottle, which would lead me to believe that since this oil was used in Wisconsin in the winter time that it is probably road salt spray ingested by the intake system.

According to Blackstones universal average figure you should be OK. My reports show 11 for average for the 5.3 engine. Just looked over my 3 reports I had done early on. First was 50. Second was 21. The last was was 10. I figured it was due to the oil that had been being used in it. Guy I bought it from only had it serviced at GM dealer. No telling what they were putting in it. I know they weren't lubing any ball joints.

Got V8? · November 7, 2008

txcab.

Thanks for the reply once again. i made a mistake the sodium level on my report is 59. The 0.12 is down in the properties section at the bottom of the page, which should be 0. The tech called me on the phone to let me know that they thouhgt that I had antifreeze in my motor, because i also had high wear of iron 156, lead 24 aluminum 26. I think that I plan on doing a pressure test this weekend, but I dont seem to be losing any antifreeze. I think that the high wear could have came from the sand that I found in the air box. The truck only has 58k I bought it with 48k from my Uncle he said that he used Havoline oil, so I am not sure how much sodium this oil contained. i am not sure when and how all that sand ended up in the air box at first I was checking that air filter gage and it never seemed to move so I checked the filter which looked good, I decceided to check it a second time and found a good amount of sand in the bottom of the air filter box, the truck did come from a very dust area, dirt roads, gravel, and iron air all around. Maybe that is why the iron was high. i also suspect that this grit is responsible for most of the wear, I just never suspected that it would have made it past the AC Delco air Cleaner which I have read some reports that these are supposed to be best at trapping dirt.