Low coolant

[ekordas]

So I've been fighting coolant problems on my truck for a while. There's coolant on the garage floor directly below the motor. Water pump was replaced 25k miles ago, pressure test did not expose any leaks, no visible signs of leakage, but low coolant light comes on after the truck has been running a while and sitting still. After a 30 mile highway drive, I let it sit in the driveway idling for a half hour and no drips. When hot, the truck has about an inch of coolant in the tank. No over heating at all. Any ideas? I also have very light white smoke coming out my tail pipes even on hot days which suggests its burning coolant but doesn't explain the puddles on the floor.

 

[chauncey0337]

Uh oh. Unexplained coolant loss and smoke usually indicate bad head gaskets. Check your oil to see if it's milky, foamy. Look in the bottom of the oil cap too.
Also visually inspect the bottom of the engine(hoses, water pump, radiator) for drip marks.

 

[DefendHawaii]

Be safe and replace gaskets. I am doing this ASAP. My oil light low came on yesterday. I am nervous about cracking cylinder or a headgasket

 

[ekordas]

By gaskets I assume you mean head gaskets? Anyone ever done this before? I know how to get the heads off and everything but what's the best way to clean the old gaskets off? And should I stick with GM gaskets or should I bump up the compression and get some cometics?

 

[bkboatnsleds]

you will have to get all new head bolts too. YOu can not re-use them.

 

[DefendHawaii]

I just was told MrGasket? I want to go with some sort of upgraded ones.

 

[ekordas]

I was always told Cometic or GM. I know all the guys with the F bodies threw on Cometics when they do cam/head builds to boost compression. Does changing the gasket thickness require a tune?