LB7 Coolant overflowing from reservoir tank...

[fishv12]

Yesterday I had a first time occurance of coolant spilling from my overflow tank. My truck was basically covered on one side with coolant. So once I got home I took a real good look and determined it was coming out of the overflow as the hose was wet. Then I figured... Ah! It must be my pressure cap and/or thermostat acting up. Only logical thing... Then I read on forums that it can also be my head gasket and/or injector cups. So I let the truck sit for three hours and when I came out to check the upper rad hose it was hard. I opened the coolant reservoir and fluid was spilling out still. Now I don't quite know what to think... My truck is unmodified bone stock with 200,000kms. Need help! How can I determine if I am really screwed and what could I try. I am thinking about stopping by the stealership to get a new cap. Should I also change the thermostat or do you guys think that it's for sure the head gasket and/or injector cups.

Driving it this morning didn't seem to cause further spillage. It drives totally normal and the oil seems just as clean as when I put it in.

Thanks in advance!

 

[duramaxdiesel]

Fill out your sig so we know what year truck you're talking about. From what I can tell, this doesn't look good. You can try a rad cap and hopefully that'll work but honestly it sounds like head gaskets. Been there before. Good luck. Let us know what you find.

Nick

 

[MACKIN]

You could try the hope it is the cheap fixes and also check the coolant for traces of exhaust gases which would suggest a head gasket.

Good luck

 

[MACKIN]

Fill out your sig so we know what year truck you're talking about. From what I can tell, this doesn't look good. You can try a rad cap and hopefully that'll work but honestly it sounds like head gaskets. Been there before. Good luck. Let us know what you find.

Nick

Says LB7 Id bet it's a early model

 

[NC-smokinlmm]

More than likely gonna be one of your head gaskets let go...

 

[fishv12]

It's an 02 and I really feel like driving it into a post right now! Or a river... I love the darn thing but what the f***!

Okay... So where can I get this gizmo to test if I have exhaust gases in the coolant.

 

[Bustedknuckles]

Almost any parts store should have it.

 

[MACKIN]

Any parts store Napa or the big chains. They aren't that expensive. Do you see any air bubbles in the tank ?

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...tector&vehicleIdSearch=-1&searchedFrom=header


Ive seen them cheaper.

 

[fishv12]

Well I just came to check out my truck after letting it sit for 3 hours this morning and the hose was still rock hard. I am sure I am low in coolant even tho the light is not turning on. I was able to remove the cap very slowly with air pressure coming out...

I am about to go and purchase the cap and thermostat and I will ask for the exhaust gas coolant kit at the same time. Thanks guys! I will report back on the results.

 

[fishv12]

Just went out for lunch with the truck and got myself a new rad cap and two new thermostats. Place where I went didn't even know what I was talking about when I spoke about this kit. They looked at me pretty dazzled anyways I will give Napa a call hopefully they will have that. If I have a blown hg I will just end up trying to find myself a cheap replacement car that I can run while I tear my truck to bits. I put in the new cap already so I will give that a try and report back!

 

[fishv12]

Tracked down the combustion leak detector kit for 90$ at Napa. I will go pick it up after work and give my coolant a test. I wonder how it works exactly but I am sure I will figure it out when I get it.

 

[JoshH]

I've used the test stuff on trucks I knew to have a bad head gasket, and it didn't work. So if it turns out negative, I wouldn't put much faith in it.

 

[NC-smokinlmm]

I think the tester is a waste also, I also tried one on a truck I knew had a bad HG and it passed. If it is puking and eating coolant one is blown. You can tear the heads off and install a new gasket in 1 day, so no need for a intermediate ride at all...

 

[fishv12]

I just watched a vid on how to use one of these... They say to run the engine at operating temperature. I suppose I remove the cap before hand and then start the engine and have that tube with liquid vaccuuming the reservoir tank. I guess I will know soon! I wonder if that also tells me if the injector cups are leaking.

 

[bonomax]

i have 01 LB7 had the same problem that finally diagnosed it and got it fixed last april. i thought it had been bad for almost year. couple of my indication were same as yours. hard raditor hose thats because combustion gases are building pressure in there. also when it was running you could see tiny bubbles raising from bottom to top of the overflow tank. also could get low coolant light off because it would also push out the overflow tank again because of the pressure. when it got really bad it started eating coolant and would go so low so quick truck would overheat. weird thing is your hardly notice the differance in powerloss because so gradually and if you drive it as daily like do you and because these truck have so much power. . took to guy that only works on Dmaxs andturns out my number 7 and starting to 5 leaking at the head pretty bad and the number 7 injector was improerly torque which was rubbing on the injector cup. had ARP studs in then and been running like MF champ now. so from what you saying def sounds like head gasket and/or injector cup problem. i would take it to professional like that build truck pulling trucks and have him look at it. thats what i did and ill neve let anyone else work on it again.

 

[fishv12]

Alright well I didn't see the last two posts for some reason until after I posted mine. From the sound of it I may as well save myself the 90$ for the kit if it's unreliable. One day sounds pretty unreal when I keep reading that it takes people several days :S I would need a really good how to and I may as well replace the injector cups while I am at it. I just hope it doesn't come to that. I have knowledge installing ball joints, rads, power steering pumps, starters, etc. But I never went as far as changing a head gasket so this is very very new to me. Virtually nothing scares me if I am given time which with a kid and a wife working shifts between our two jobs it's very difficult although I just can't aford paying a shop to do this.

 

[fishv12]

There is no other pros around here but the dealership. I live in an area where diesels trucks are rare lol

 

[fishv12]

If I remember correctly I remember seeing the dealership sheet of the work that's been done on the truck and the injectors were one of them. Can I still expect the cups to be the culprit? I suppose anything is possible. I really thought these trucks were tanks when I purchased them.

 

[bonomax]

this is not an ez job as just doing those things i am 3rd generation mechicanic and i would even do that job because it so time intensive and has so many things that need to be done just right. like when you put the head on you should check the heads to be true and flat and have them deck by machine shop. gettin all the torques just right is very important. when torque the bolts you should let them sit because of creep of yeild strength. also senior in Mechcanical Enineering so sorry for the terms if unknown basically bolts stretch and need let them sit and retorque a few times. id have someone thats done it before do it because alot to go wrong. just my opinion tho. i know its expensive and sucks but diesels arent cheap.

 

[bonomax]

that sucks stealships i mean dealships charge like double. id drive or have tow somewhere far and prolly still be cheaper and way better job. it prolly is not the injector cup althought their like 25 buck a peice but prolly wont have to change them all if one is bad jus change that one. good luck man. ive been the same boat it suck just keep on truckin thru it.