Oh O Coolant leak?

[MACKIN]

Ok

Had a break in the action here. Got out my BEST mini flashlight (the SOB cost me almost $200) put a fresh battery in and went hunting. I seen finally the mysterious plate mentioned and it's completely dry around it below it and no wet trail.

Back under the hod and inspecting the turbo coolant line and that is the ONLY thing I see wet. WHY it's still pissing with the truck sitting (if that is it) is beyond any thoughts I can come up.

So I'm going to swap it out ,it has those cheesy clamps on it also, new and try and put better clamps on it and see if the leak goes away. I'm hoping that that is it ,what other choice do I have and it's the ONLY wet spot I see.

I'll let you know how I make out and if anyone has feedback feel free to let it rip!

TIA

 

[GMC_2002_Dmax]

Is the upper hose on the drivers side firm and difficult to squeeze, excessive coolant pressure when you pop the cap on the overflow tank ??

Is so you could have a blown HG and is is allowing combustion gas to enter the coolant and pressurize the system.

Or it could be an injector cup, you had them done right ?

If you drove the thing more shit wouldn't dry out and start leaking.

:roflmao:

 

[TheBac]

If you drove the thing more shit wouldn't dry out and start leaking.

:roflmao:

100% agreed. :rofl: Just how many miles does Princess have on it now? 30,000?

 

[ecc_33]

Damn lol I need to drive mine more also i have 49,000 miles on it now LOL

 

[durallymax]

The coolant line wasnt swelled up or anything was it (the turbo one)?

The turbo is the uppermost part and thus makes everything else look like its leaking.

For 200 bucks you couldve bought a really nice UV test kit. I payed like $30 for my high powered light a CSI glasses from napa

 

[MACKIN]

I don't know why you guys are being pricks and pushing bad luck my way!

Could very well be a HG but I hope NOT. That is the ONLY source of leak that I see at the moment. No it isn't swelled up but pressure could be pushing it pass (leak) the cheesy clamp.

Just for the record what does a HG replacement cost anyway now a days? I have ARP headstuds already. These wont be something that I will be doing do to time.

Lately when I drive it I have been pretty much babying it.

 

[MACKIN]

Well the hell with it there is no sense in being in denial anymore. I'm 99.9 % sure it's head-gaskets pushing coolant out of the lest spot of resistance ,those cheesy clamps.

I've known for awhile that my system has been pressurizing itself,there I said it. Yesterday to prove it again to myself after the truck has been sitting for a week I unscrewed the Rad cap and it let out a big Pssssssssssss.

So I sit here and ponder my next move. One thing I have decided is to put my project car in pieces up for-sale in my sig. Anyone know anyone interested let me know very reasonable it has to go as I also have other personal reasons ,Obama needs money.

Depending on what I get I'll either,
1) Build the motor,basics rods,bolts,keyed,etc.
2) Head-gaskets.
3) Just unload it and buy a new 2500 HD I really love the way the new trucks look. I should be able to get 12/15,000 for the truck as it sits I think.

So I sit and ponder.

 

[stacks04]

Mack, I called and left a message. Just for shits have you tried grabbing a new rad cap and swapped it. It may be a bad cap not venting to atmosphere keeping the pressure in so long. Had a couple like that.

 

[durallymax]

try cleaning the cap or a new one. $15 from gm dealers.

If it is HGs, and you already have studs, parts will cost you between 300 and 400. if you do it yourself. Its not that hard just time consuming, doesnt sound like you drive it anyways haha.

 

[TheBac]

The miles thing is a running joke from 2003, Vinny. Mac's truck is just about flawless, so we used to kid him about only bringing it out on sunny days and then driving like a grandma.

Didnt even think to look at the rad cap. Give it a shot!

 

[MACKIN]

I dunno I might try a cap. First chance I get I'll give you a ring. Or maybe I'll stop by and get the cap.

 

[GMC_2002_Dmax]

I dunno I might try a cap. First chance I get I'll give you a ring. Or maybe I'll stop by and get the cap.

Just do what I did, jam a small washer in the coolant reservoir cap so it can't build pressure.......................works great on my truck.

:thumb:

I tried a new cap, you are wasting your time IMHO, but hey spend $15 at least you have a new cap.

 

[Sledhead]

I've got a spare cap too

 

[MACKIN]

I went to get a cap and they were closed for lunch,not sure I'm going to go back I also feel it's a waste of time but ..........

Ok so I changed the hose what a pain in the balls that lil bitch is. Now there is Orange Juice every where so detecting a leak anytime soon wont be possible. Drip drip drippity drip drip,etc

NOW I refilled the coolant tank up to the hot level and fired it up WITHOUT the Rad cap on. Why does it piss fluid out the overflow?

When I put the cap on it stops. I let it run I'dunno tell the temp came up about half way to normal temp on the highest high-idle setting no bubbles in the tank the upper rad hose didn't get hard and when I un-screwed the rad cap very little pressure came out.

Guess I'm gonna have to drive it and see what it does. Maybe go get a spare cap o) and take it out next week when we get a few sunny days in a row. I could take it out today but then I have to put it away on Sunday which is a pain in the ass. So prolly next week,regardless I'll let you know what happens,probably aint gonna be good.

Why is it pissing coolant at idle with the cap off ? ? ? I always thought that it would piss coolant that way once it got UNDER extreme pressure. Perhaps over filled? I don't believe so.

Confused as when I flushed my system years ago I don't recall that happening BUT maybe I didn't run it with the cap off,it was a while ago. I kinda want to believe it's just finding a level and just draining. I didn't let it continue as it was making a mess. I could have gotten a drain bucket but it was easier just to screw the cap on.

 

[MACKIN]

I got my spare cap now to get it out of the garage out on the asphalt. Hopefully this week.

Why is the new one all black,updated version? No one knows why it's pushing coolant out of the over-flow without the cap on? Am I just stupid and over looking the obvious?

 

[MACKIN]

All right Ladies and Germs,

I took Big Black out for a spin but not for long have you guys seem the friggen price of diesel? WTF!!!!

Anyway with the new cap installed it seems that the upper rad hose isn't getting hard and it was soft this morning before I started it up. So far it isn't pissing coolant anywhere also. The upper hose is ,after driving it firm ,I assume typical, but not hard as previous.

I guess the bottom line is that after sitting over night the upper rad hose isn't rock hard as previous is a tell tale (GOOD) sign!

NOW I would NOT of believed that I had a faulty cap but something for-sure changed. But I will continue to monitor the results. Thanks to all that helped but DON"T get discouraged (for collecting my hard earned dead presidents) as I'm not 100% positive problem is solved.

I did for shits and giggles get out my Cooling System Pressure Tester and check the Rad Cap and it does appear to be faulty but I'm not betting the farm on it's accuracy ,see pic attached.

Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Thoughts?

 

[MACKIN]

Ya on the Coolant System Pressure tester my assumption is that it SHOULD NOT build pressure beyond 15 PSI but yet it will.Shit I could peg the guage if I want to.

It will creep down eventually ,I just don't believe it's getting a good seal. NO I didn't want to play with my new cap just yet to confirm. Don't want to screw with it,I'm pussying out.

Might just go get a spare for my spare to play with. Whats another $15 bucks. :roflmao:

 

[Sledhead]

Still fine? Very happy for you it was only the cap, you don't hear too many happy endings like that around here.

:happy2::happy2::happy2:

 

[MACKIN]

So far so good.

I can still squeeze the upper rad hose hot ,firm but not like a rock as before and it's mushy at cold start up. Hoping for the best

Oh ya I owned a Hemi Sunday also.
He was a good sport with a thumbs up and a wave.Doesn't happen a lot. :woott:

 

[stacks04]

Good to hear Mack. I hope it works. I have been bitten by the bad cap before so I know that it does reak havoc some times. I hope for your sake that was it. The cap is supposed to blow over at or really near 15lbs so if you can peg the gauge then it is bad.