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  1. #1

    Question Low mile 03 & 05 GM 6.0's using coolant ?

    2 pick up trucks here with the low coolant alarm coming on every couple hundred miles, adding about a pint each time the light comes on.
    No visible leaks, no coolant smell, no witness marks.

    The 05 has 62k the 03 has 53k and I am guessing the intake gaskets are leaking and consuming the coolant. Thoughts ? Opinions ?

    Heard Fel Pro makes a problem solver metal base gasket for about $100 ?

  2. #2
    Ol' School BAD LS1's Avatar
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    Water pump leaking or head gaskets, the factory MLS gaskets work pretty good, but if there was any issue with the mating surfaces or the rubber sealant on them were somehow botched then yeah its gonna leak into the cylinders.

    GM graphite head gaskets used from 99-01 would be an easy fix too for about $20 a pop in parts.

    Should be part # 12558936 IIRC... You will need a bolt kit for each bank too, cant re use the head bolts.
    Last edited by BAD LS1; 12-07-2009 at 12:29 PM.
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  3. #3
    Horrible news I guess the heads are only another 40 or 50 bolts deep.
    Will replace those TTY ? bolts.

  4. #4
    TRY AGAIN SLOWC5's Avatar
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    no coolant runs in the intake.

    1999 C5 TT street car - 901/881 on pump gas, 10.82@137mph
    2013 Denali Duramax

  5. #5
    No wonder its a head gasket then.
    The real reason GM is in the shape they are in ? 2 trucks ? C'mon.

    What can be done to prevent this ?

  6. #6
    Got Kicked OFF The Track A B4C Z's Avatar
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    Yank the vavle covers off. If it says castech on the cylinder head in a really small area they are prone to leak. You will have to yank the rocker arm support off also. They leak and suck coolant.

    1998 Black on Black Regal
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  7. #7
    RIP Dad 4-29-08 brotherbenn83's Avatar
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    +1 for probably having 1 or both cracked cylinder heads. pull the valve covers off, clean out all the oil and pressure test the cooling system for a few hours. Then watch for the coolant puddles in the heads. $$$$
    GM World Class Certified Technician

  8. #8
    Irish
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    Last edited by Irish; 12-27-2009 at 10:44 AM.

  9. #9
    Unreal, so under pressure where will the coolant be going ? No crankcase milkshake here.

  10. #10
    Ol' School BAD LS1's Avatar
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    leakdown test = bubbles in rad if fire ring is fucked and is creating a path from the combo chamber to the water jacket.
    2012 Cruze ECO M6 - Crystal Red- Just a little more boost than stock!
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  11. #11
    2006 roadking custom. KF 9000 Champion 0TransAm0's Avatar
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    trade them bitches in and buy new

  12. #12
    Yota Or Nissan ?

  13. #13
    2006 roadking custom. KF 9000 Champion 0TransAm0's Avatar
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    yota... tundra...


    lmao @ tags..

  14. #14
    RIP Dad 4-29-08 brotherbenn83's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Windsors 03 Cobra View Post
    Unreal, so under pressure where will the coolant be going ? No crankcase milkshake here.
    Into the cylinder heads, near the valve springs. Check for underside of valve cover milkshake.
    GM World Class Certified Technician

  15. #15
    BCM Cruiser
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    Shouldn't there be white smoke coming out of the tailpipes if there's coolant getting in the cylinders? They sell those pressure testers at napa where you take off the radiator cap, attach the test unit and pressurize the system....even if it is the head gasket, the tester is still a helluva good investment for finding pesky leaks. I use the shit out of mine
    "Kiss me where it smells funny"


  16. #16
    RIP Dad 4-29-08 brotherbenn83's Avatar
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    The head gaskets themselves are multi-layered metal gaskets that usually don't leak. In this case the HEADS themselves are typically CRACKED. The amount of coolant that is being used may or may not be noticeable through the exhaust, it is usually a very small amount.
    GM World Class Certified Technician

  17. #17
    GM has a problem with some of there heads, they can crack around the bolts, or valves.

    Hell, we have on in the shop now with that problem, this one is a 5.3 though.

    Pull the covers off and take a look, as A B4C Z said.

    Chirs

  18. #18
    5.0... It's what's for dinner. GTO RLY?'s Avatar
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    This past summer I had a problem with my GTO barfing coolant in the driveway every once in a great while. Turned out the radiator cap was bad, it allowed coolant to overflow into the tank, but not return.

    05M6 CGM GTO - Svede OTRCAI, Bassani, minus 144lbs, self SD tuned with HPT2.23beta & LC-1

  19. #19
    SBF>LSX BOSS LX's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Poncho Dan View Post
    This past summer I had a problem with my GTO barfing coolant in the driveway every once in a great while. Turned out the radiator cap was bad, it allowed coolant to overflow into the tank, but not return.
    Dude, you should REALLY consider changing your name!

  20. #20
    5.0... It's what's for dinner. GTO RLY?'s Avatar
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    Yeah, I was PMed about that... wtf is the story with that?

    05M6 CGM GTO - Svede OTRCAI, Bassani, minus 144lbs, self SD tuned with HPT2.23beta & LC-1

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