Smelling coolant

[5strmtrp]

Hey guys been a while. With my accident that took me out of commission far longer than I ever wanted. The loss of my wife’s mom and my step son all in a matter of 2 weeks it’s been a rough ride.

ok ok, been driving the Tahoe a lot! Recently starts smelling/tasting coolant outside of the truck when I park it.

Coolant level is constantly at the correct level.

However, the upper hose is rock hard once the truck warms up. I know it’s hot side of the radiator reverse flow, but is this a sign of a possible water pump. Currently nearing the 120,000 mile range. If it’s the pump I have Sunday to do this.

Thanks
Paul
5trmtpr

 

[wjburken]

Hey guys been a while. With my accident that took me out of commission far longer than I ever wanted. The loss of my wife’s mom and my step son all in a matter of 2 weeks it’s been a rough ride.

ok ok, been driving the Tahoe a lot! Recently starts smelling/tasting coolant outside of the truck when I park it.

Coolant level is constantly at the correct level.

However, the upper hose is rock hard once the truck warms up. I know it’s hot side of the radiator reverse flow, but is this a sign of a possible water pump. Currently nearing the 120,000 mile range. If it’s the pump I have Sunday to do this.

Thanks
Paul
5trmtpr

Sorry to hear that life has dealt you a pretty tough hand lately.

Are you getting any heat out of the vents?

 

[CaptainAmerica1]

With the engine not running... WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING... grab the water pump pulley and see if there’s any play...

 

[OR VietVet]

Yea, what you are smelling and tasting is likely a leak and may be at the water pump weep hole. A mirror and light can look for the corrosion stain there. Or seepage someone where else. Heater hoses at the firewall and tee's area. May need to pressure test system, both cold and warm.

 

[PG01]

Hey guys been a while. With my accident that took me out of commission far longer than I ever wanted. The loss of my wife’s mom and my step son all in a matter of 2 weeks it’s been a rough ride.

ok ok, been driving the Tahoe a lot! Recently starts smelling/tasting coolant outside of the truck when I park it.

Coolant level is constantly at the correct level.

However, the upper hose is rock hard once the truck warms up. I know it’s hot side of the radiator reverse flow, but is this a sign of a possible water pump. Currently nearing the 120,000 mile range. If it’s the pump I have Sunday to do this.

Thanks
Paul
5trmtpr

Hey Paul, my 13 I bought brandy new has the same smell.... probably since new.... I just check the overflow every now and then and top it off if need be.
That said, my radiator drips, not leaks, drips, since new-ish about 20k. Driver side plastic crap tank of radiator, drips onto the frame rail, evaporates and never hits the ground. I had the dealer I bought it from look at it when I brought it in for a new rear shock that was leaking and they claimed no leaks from radiator ..... it was under warranty so that explains that.....I’ve driving it like that since newish and I’ll get the whiff of coolant every few weeks check the over flow and fill if it needs. Just something to look at. Mine is an lt with towing pkg, etc so it should be same as your ssv in that area.

 

[FrankU]

Don't overlook the plastic heater "T" fittings on the firewall , notorious for weeping. Sneaky little suckers.

 

[5strmtrp]

Sorry to hear that life has dealt you a pretty tough hand lately.

Are you getting any heat out of the vents?

plenty of heat into the truck

 

[1BADI5]

Don't overlook the plastic heater "T" fittings on the firewall , notorious for weeping. Sneaky little suckers.

Yup, was exactly what I dealt with about 2 weeks ago. I went to the dealer, bought both of them and got it done in about 45 mins

 

[Geotrash]

Yup, was exactly what I dealt with about 2 weeks ago. I went to the dealer, bought both of them and got it done in about 45 mins

Good call. I went with the billet tees from gruvenparts.com for both rigs and also used the Dorman metal Y to replace the one that sits down by the water pump. It's a good feeling to know I'll never have to deal with that problem again.

 

[FrankU]

Those Gruven T's are sure expensive, but it gives piece of mind that the plastic T's don't.

Link to Gruven parts :

https://www.gruvenparts.com/billet-gm-heater-core-coolant-tees/

 

[5strmtrp]

Thanks all, appreciate the suggestions.

I have plenty of heat inside the truck.

I see that I’m not loosing coolant, IF I am it’s so little it’s not noticeable,yet.

I’ll check the fittings you all are talking about and see if they are leaking. I wish I looked closer to the water pump area and the side tanks of the radiator before the snow and the salt got all over the truck.

 

[PG01]

Thanks all, appreciate the suggestions.

I have plenty of heat inside the truck.

I see that I’m not loosing coolant, IF I am it’s so little it’s not noticeable,yet.

I’ll check the fittings you all are talking about and see if they are leaking. I wish I looked closer to the water pump area and the side tanks of the radiator before the snow and the salt got all over the truck.

Actually that can benefit you, the spot that has no white salt residue will be clean if you have a leak anywhere

 

[1BADI5]

Good call. I went with the billet tees from gruvenparts.com for both rigs and also used the Dorman metal Y to replace the one that sits down by the water pump. It's a good feeling to know I'll never have to deal with that problem again.

Yeah the white one was dripping on to the valve cover and transmission dipstick.......took me a couple minutes to find the source.

I looked at those billet T's........I just couldn't bring myself to spend $160 plus shipping on them.

 

[Doubeleive]

after a good drive, park and get flashlight, look down the sides of the radiator, cracks in the plastic are common, as are the heater fittings on the firewall, bottom of water pump so get under the truck and look up and look along the bottom edge of the radiator area and around coolant reservoir tank
also when you are parked and in for the evening place a large piece of clean cardboard under the engine area and check it in the morning, if there are any wet spots look directly up from there.

 

[FrankU]

"I looked at those billet T's........I just couldn't bring myself to spend $160 plus shipping on them."

I said the same thing. After replacing 2 set's of the one each of GM & Dorman plastic also being worried about getting stranded in the middle of nowheresville , the purchase was worth it for the piece of mind. Or in my case I can't afford to loose another piece of my mind.

Best of luck.

 

[Geotrash]

Yeah the white one was dripping on to the valve cover and transmission dipstick.......took me a couple minutes to find the source.

I looked at those billet T's........I just couldn't bring myself to spend $160 plus shipping on them.

Hats off that you were paying attention and caught it before it left you stranded. That leak is likely from a hairline crack that will lead to failure imminently. I would feel okay replacing them with OEM parts every 5 years or so, and just considering it a maintenance item. The Dorman plastic tees have mixed results with some failing much earlier than expected. As long as you use OEM parts, you should be okay for a while.

 

[1BADI5]

Hats off that you were paying attention and caught it before it left you stranded. That leak is likely from a hairline crack that will lead to failure imminently. I would feel okay replacing them with OEM parts every 5 years or so, and just considering it a maintenance item. The Dorman plastic tees have mixed results with some failing much earlier than expected. As long as you use OEM parts, you should be okay for a while.

Well what spiked my attention was a decent sized puddle of fluid under the truck one morning. It was red'ish; so I knew it was either coolant or DEX6.

But yes, I'm glad I caught it when I did.

 

[retiredsparky]

The kit with a small black light flashlight and fluorescent dye added to the coolant can make the search a little quicker.

 

[Bob D]

Glad someone mentioned the tee's,

btw I pulled mine out and changed the o-rings for under 5 bucks, coolant smell gone.

it drips right on the header pipe below the tee's!

 

[OR VietVet]

If the tee's are leaking, mine were recently, you will get a wet hand when you reach in there and feel under the bottom of each of them. I could see the drops on the ground but could not see the tee's leaking but they were wet. Tee's replaced and now dry.