coolant loss

660catman

Active member
May 18, 2021
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I apologize for the long winded post but the other day I had to use my truck. 2013 LML Sierra with 158K kilometres on it. Outside temperature was about -17c. Truck was not plugged in. Started truck and let it warm up about 10 minutes. Hooked up my sled trailer and noticed some coolant in the snow. Checked level and it was down. I proceeded to add more coolant but when I loosened cap antifreeze spilled over into the fender side of overflow tank. I topped it off and parked it. Fast forward 4 days later I had to use my truck to take my wife to work as we had a snowstorm. Outside temps were -26c and truck wasn't plugged in. It started no problem and let it warm up a half hour. About 40 kilometres into the trip my low coolant warning came on. Checked coolant and engine side was low and fender side was half full and AF was leaking on the ground under RH fender. Pulled it into shop and liner around overflow tank was soaked with AF. Pulled cap slowly to let air out. We pressure tested the system and it checked out. Topped up the AF and I left for home and checked it twice at the side of the road. By the time I got home it was down a bit. Did not see coolant in snow where it was parked. Temp guage in the summer had never hit the 100 mark unless I was towing. In winter it's a high as the summer reading not towing. Any ideas what's going on here? What to check for?
 

660catman

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May 18, 2021
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I couldn’t tell with the new coolant in it. However after sitting out for the last 5 hours in -25c it still pushes a lot of air opening the cap so I stopped. Upper hose is a little hard but it’s frickin’ cold outside.


2013 Sierra SLE 2500HD Crew Cab
 

660catman

Active member
May 18, 2021
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I’ve been reading on a procedure to fill AF in these things. Would it be possible I’ve got an air lock in the system thinking I filled AF to MIN line? Im going to look into more tomorrow. It’ll be cold out but no wind.


2013 Sierra SLE 2500HD Crew Cab
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
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I doubt it’s a bubble.

You are giving classic signs of a head gasket failure. It doesn’t help the lml gasket is prone to cracking into the coolant jackets and causing this
 

2004LB7

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Dec 15, 2010
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I'm with James on this. sounds like a head gasket. you may get buy a little longer by not tightening the cap down all the way or drilling a small hole in it. all this does is keep the pressure from building and pushing out the coolant.
 

660catman

Active member
May 18, 2021
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I finally got the truck in from the cold yesterday. While in denial that it could be the head gaskets I did more research on here and talked to a couple of guys. My nephew said it could be the EGR cooler and to bypass it to test. I did buy a new overflow tank cap which made no difference after a short run. Definitely pressure being introduced into the system. With cap off and idling in the garage the tank slowly filled up and overflowed. Put the cap on and continued to idle. Top hose got rock hard and this morning it’s still rock hard! I guess the inevitable happened and now need to take it in somewhere. There’s a few large diesel repair places near me of which one my nephew works at.


2013 Sierra SLE 2500HD Crew Cab
 

660catman

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May 18, 2021
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Let pressure out of system, pinched EGR cooler hoses and upper hose hard again with 4 minutes idling. Gaskets it is


2013 Sierra SLE 2500HD Crew Cab
 

660catman

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May 18, 2021
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Had a mechanic confirm it’s gaskets. For just less than 8k CDN it’ll be back on the road.


2013 Sierra SLE 2500HD Crew Cab
 

08lmm72mm

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May 13, 2019
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Saskatchewan, Canada
Had a mechanic confirm it’s gaskets. For just less than 8k CDN it’ll be back on the road.


2013 Sierra SLE 2500HD Crew Cab

As your mechanic what it would cost if you supplied the headstuds, gaskets and coolant yourself then order a headgasket kit from Lincolndiesel.

My quote went from 8k to $3500-4000.
 

660catman

Active member
May 18, 2021
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As your mechanic what it would cost if you supplied the headstuds, gaskets and coolant yourself then order a headgasket kit from Lincolndiesel.

My quote went from 8k to $3500-4000.

It’s would be cheaper for sure but if there’s an issue with parts, he can deal with it. His quote is 7200 bucks with taxes including sublet on the heads but it didn’t include the water pump I’ll want changed too. I talked to another mechanic who couldn’t do it and said price was reasonable.
This guy came well recommended.


2013 Sierra SLE 2500HD Crew Cab
 

660catman

Active member
May 18, 2021
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Found a cheaper price from a mechanic who used to work at a GM dealer with his dad. They started up their own shop. 1200 bucks cheaper is 1200 bucks. Same work and parts, cheaper rate.


2013 Sierra SLE 2500HD Crew Cab
 

$chultz38

Member
Jan 22, 2009
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Found a cheaper price from a mechanic who used to work at a GM dealer with his dad. They started up their own shop. 1200 bucks cheaper is 1200 bucks. Same work and parts, cheaper rate.


2013 Sierra SLE 2500HD Crew Cab
Stock truck doesn't need head studs like someone said earlier, save yourself some more money and just put new head bolts in it.
 
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