It is starting to get hot here in Eastern Oregon. My 08 is starting to use anti-freeze, I checked the waterpump. It is not weeping or dripping, it was replaced at 60,000 miles. I do however have a new noise under the hood. Sounds like a pulley is going out. My main concern is the loss of anti-freeze. The resevoir is now half full when cold. It was not like that a month ago. When I start the truck in the am the exhaust smells different than a diesel should. I am wondering if the head gasket is going bad. The truck has 92,500 miles on it. Anyone have any advice? Is the head gasket covered under the 100,000 mile engine warranty? I appreciate any advice at this point. Thanks

 

Make sure you have a tight connection where the overflow hose comes out of the top of the radiator. I was losing coolant for quite a while before I cut about 1/2 in. off the end of the hose and put a tye wrap on it to keep it tight. As for the pulley noise, take the belt off and check everything that rotates, starting with the water pump.

 

Thanks. I put a tie on the overflow hose a long time ago. I just had a procedure on my back today. Will have a friend come check the pulleys. I am wondering if it is leaking into the cylinder, only I have no white smoke. Its kind of odd the exhaust on start up has a sweet pungent odor to it. Thanks for our advice.

 

depending on when you bought it your warranty may have timed out at 5 years already. also is the EGR cooler still on the truck? it could be responsible????????

 

I got it in 2010 with 28,000 miles on it. I have done no deletes as of yet. I am at 92,000 miles now.

 

You should find out the in service date then go from there to determine warranty.
The EGR coolers do fail.
I am in the midst of a head gasket repair on my truck. Out of warranty.
If this is a head gasket issue, please do not let them simply swap the gasket.
Have the head checked for cracks and warps. Putting the head back on without addressing this could leave you with a bigger bill if you are on warranty now and run out before the possible cracks or warps get you.

I elected to go with a complete rebuild on the head because of the miles...225K miles.
If its the egr cooler, I strongly suggest you delete if before the warranty runs out...it can happen again...just a heads up on what I have been seeing and dealing with.

My truck had burnt coolant 'crystals' on every piston. There where several cracks/leaks...on this gasket...mostly into the cylinders. Not enough to do damage...caught it in time.
I noticed a rise in the coolant overflow as well as a slight gurgling sound at shut down.
After driving for awhile I could see a very slow bubbling of what I assumed was exhaust being pushed back through the coolant for another leak in the head gasket.
I replaced my thermostat first. Then right after that I had water pouring out of the water pump. When I took the pump off, it was a bit stiff to spin.
Both of these items are affordable and easy to change. I also swapped my radiator cap for a new one.

One day soon the truck will be back together.
I did go with head studs and o-ringed the head to address a better seal to the block.