Txwelder

I figure I have a blown head gasket but there is no water in the oil or oil in the water. I also dont smell burning oil or burning coolant and nothing coming out the tail pipe out of the ordinary. Not sure what to do other than keep pouring more fluids in it to keep it running. Any thoughts?

kthiemann

You might run a compression test to confirm the issue or run down to your local parts house/tool store and get a combustion leak tester, those are very accurate in finding head gasket issues or a warped head that a compression test might not show, if I remember right something else these things used to be bad for is the intake gasket would sometimes crack and allow oil/coolant to get sucked in but it's been a while so my memory could be faulty.

chaikwa

There were some Chevy motors that, for awhile, were prone to losing their intake manifold gaskets. They even made replacement gaskets that they called 'problem solvers', or something to that effect. Not sure if yours is in this group, but it's a lot easier than head gaskets if it is!

Tacomaman87

Most common problem is the lower intake gaskets as chaikwa said. Seen tons of them at the dealer. Get a good light and look at the front and back of the lower intake manifold I would almost bet you'll find your issue.

Fronty Owner

thats not normal on chevys?
everyone Ive had with more than 100K on the clock, I had to add a quart of oil and about a 1/2 gallon of coolant every tank of fuel.

Txwelder

I assume I would see coolant running down the block someplace if the intake gasket was the case. I can say that it doesnt leak on the ground so it has to be burning it. I refuse to accept 1/2 gallon of coolant and a quart of oil at every tank of fuel. Id never have to change the oil, just the filter.

chaikwa

That's Chevy's comprehensive maintenance plan!

SIXSLUG

My 97 Tahoe loses coolant and for the life of me I can't figure out where. 139K and runs like a top. Uses about 1/2 qt. of oil every 3500miles and about a qt of coolant.

The 5.3 is the newer vortec so it probably is the intakes as suggested.

cbrahs

GM's have a problem child heater hose nipple on the intake. it will crust over but not show any signs of actuall leaking. it will break off (have replaced many). break it off, take a hack saw blade and by hand and cut in 3 places. take a chissel and knock out the pieces NOT KILLIN YOUR THREADS ... install new nipple and intake gaskets (as said above) and you should be fine.

SIXSLUG

Cbrahs, are you talking about the quick disconnect on the upper fwd pass side of the intake above #2?

cbrahs

yes sir. they originally came with a POS pot metal QD nipple. They get rotted out purty fast and leak (used to work for GM and fixed many of them).

cbrahs

DON"T FORGET TO MARK THE DISTRIBUTOR! Even a fraction of an inch off it will set a check engine light!

klx650a2

I had the exact same truck and motor. For the antifreeze, the issue is the intake gasket. Needs to be replaced about every 65,000 miles. Aluminum and plastic intake on an iron block . You won't find a leak because its such a small amount it evaporates before it gets a chance to hit the ground.

SIXSLUG

Great. I'll check that out. Thanks KLX650a2.