Smell Antifreeze 98 Suburban

[doofan1]

Antifreeze

Guys

Thanks for the advise. I put a water pump and t-stat in it about 10K ago. It still has the Dexcool in it. I have heard several people complain about this stuff. I have also heard that switching to green make some of the problems go away.

When it's cold I smell antifreeze open the oil filler cap and it almost dies. I'm guessing that the intake is out of it. I was also told to use Felpro Gaskest when replacing

 

[yamahauler]

intake manifold gasket

The question is it an internal leak or external leak. If internal...you could have bigger issues, if external no big deal.

Chevy actually lost a huge class action lawsuit for the use of dexcool and not doing a recall on intake manifold gaskets that wouldn't hold up to it. I took part and gladly accepted some money back for the repair bills ($850 per time). I went through 2 in 1 yr. Finally the mechanic decided the 3rd time that he would fork over an extra $50 (since it was under his warranty) and put in a nice stainless steel one with a good vitol or hdpm o-ring. Been a few years, no problems.

 

[doofan1]

Leak

I think it's internal i do not see anything running down the block anywhere. the oil looks good though. I have not driven it since I smelt antifreeze last week. I think I pull off the intake this weekend and hopefully see something ovbious. I'm hoping it's not a head gasket. No overheating it just misses and runs like crap. According to ny buddies scanner it a P304, P402 and P404 code. 3 cylinders missing. I'm guessing its sucking antifreeze in multiple cylinders

 

[ohning1971]

P304 is a miss fire on number 4, P402 and P404 EGR related --So potientionaly you have a piece of carbon stuck under the pintle of the egr or the commanded egr position is not the actual. The pintle stuck open is a huge vacuum leak and will make it run like poop. Pull off the EGR valve flip in over and see if theres a chunk of carbon holding it open remove if it is--start truck with valve removed to blow any other chunks out and reinstall and see how it runs. P301-P308 should be your missfire codes for each cyl. P300 is random missfire. Does your buddies scanner clear codes also?

 

[ezra]

your prob gives me an Idea for the winter trip with the boys prank pull a plug wire and a w rag with antifreeze pushed in the floor vent of a buds new 40k + truck will be good.we will see if he receives as good as he gives

 

[doofan1]

Intake

I took it apart last night. The intake gasket was not blown out but there was a gap between the rubber and the side of the gasket in #3 cyl and #2 cyl. Both sides looked oblong around these two ports. I managed to get it all back together last night but have not started it. I lost or misplaced one of the upper plenum bolts so I have not fired it up yet. I need to run for parts.

My buddy works for a GM dealer and brought home a Tech 2 scanner. He did not reset the codes and told me it was missing and the other code which must be EGR related. The EGR valve looks good. The upper plenum did have carbon in it but not bad. After I replace the bolt I plan to run it for a while then reset the codes. Not sure if the timing will be right on or not The dist went back in real good but I did not mark where the base of the dist was in reference to the rotor. I'm not sure even how critical this is with this motor.

 

[doofan1]

back running

Got it back together. The SES light had gone out. Drove is about 75 miles and the light came back on. Will need to get a scanner to see what it thinks is wrong. Not smelling antifrzze any more though.

 

[ohning1971]

Sounds like its running OK then from your post, thats great- If I remember correctly your timing can only be off +/- 2 deg or it will set the SES light. If it is your timing you will probably only have to loosen hold down and move slightly with scanner on. Sounds like your on the right track-good luck !!