2012 Yukon/Possible sign of bad head gasket?

Ceauxkneauxs00 · Feb 6, 2025

I’ve had to add coolant twice in 2 months. Due to it being winter time it’s difficult to see if there’s anything on the ground after it’s been sitting. Just hoping it’s something less expensive than replacing the head gasket.
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Miami-Dade · Feb 6, 2025

@Ceauxkneauxs00 Please post your vehicle information. Year-Model etc. Thank You

Welcome from Miami&NYC!

Ceauxkneauxs00 · Feb 6, 2025

Miami-Dade said:
@Ceauxkneauxs00 Please post your vehicle information. Year-Model etc. Thank You

Welcome from Miami&NYC!

2012 Yukon

lspann3525 · Feb 6, 2025

head gasket will cause the oil to look similar to a milk-shake. Disappearing coolant could be heater core but you will usually smell it

Ceauxkneauxs00 · Feb 6, 2025

lspann3525 said:
head gasket will cause the oil to look similar to a milk-shake. Disappearing coolant could be heater core but you will usually smell it

Would I check the dipstick? What type of smell? The smell would be bad heater core or gasket?

Marky Dissod · Feb 6, 2025

Ceauxkneauxs00 said:
Would I check the dipstick?

Dipstick, as well as the oil cap.
You may also eventually notice oil pressure that creeps lower and lower, as more coolant seeps into oil system.
More coolant in oil = less oil pressure.

Ceauxkneauxs00 said:
What type of smell? The smell would be bad heater core or gasket?

Smells like your coolant. I don't know what your coolant smells like. Mine smells like a sweetener I would want to avoid at all costs.
Some coolant has bittering agents to prevent dogs from committing *sewisyde* by lapping up too much of it.

You can't tell where the leak is leaking by smelling it. Look for where the drips are coming from.
My favorite reason for using RMI-25 in my coolant is because coolant leaks show up under blue light easily.

Ceauxkneauxs00 · Feb 6, 2025

Marky Dissod said:
Dipstick, as well as the oil cap.
You may also eventually notice oil pressure that creeps lower and lower, as more coolant seeps into oil system.
More coolant in oil = less oil pressure.Smells like your coolant. I don't know what your coolant smells like. Mine smells like a sweetener I would want to avoid at all costs.
Some coolant has bittering agents to prevent dogs from committing *sewisyde* by lapping up too much of it.

You can't tell where the leak is leaking by smelling it. Look for where the drips are coming from.
My favorite reason for using RMI-25 in my coolant is because coolant leaks show up under blue light easily.

Thanks Marky for the helpful info. I’ll check it after work.

rdezs · Feb 6, 2025

I would pressure check the cooling system, both with the engine cold and warmed up. If you're set up to vacuum fill the cooling system, you can also pull the vacuum and see if it holds. I would do both to have a definitive answer before I started searching all over for a pinhole leak, slightly loose clamp, worn out reservoir cap, etc

solli5pack · Feb 6, 2025

If it's leaking from somewhere it has to eventually make it to the ground. Or I guess the passenger side floor if the heater core fails. Park over some cardboard, let it run and see if it shows up somewhere. There's coolant pipes running to the back of the truck for rear heat so you gotta check them also. If it doesn't show up anywhere than it's going into the engine. Either the combustion chamber or the oil. Look for white smoke out of the tail pipe or a milk shake on the oil dip stick.

rdezs · Feb 6, 2025

I've seen a pinhole leak that only allows steam out. And that took forever to find. No drips to see. Pressurize it or pull a vacuum, and see if it holds for 30 minutes. Lol, or spend hours and never being completely sure

2012 Yukon/Possible sign of bad head gasket?

Ceauxkneauxs00

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Miami-Dade

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lspann3525

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Ceauxkneauxs00

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Marky Dissod

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