Antifreeze disappearing

[Vinniety]

I get the low coolant light on every other day and i cant see any leaks. Tonight i plan to double check everything but im feeling its a water pump. My brother had same issues with low coolant light coming on last week and it ended up being his water pump.

Anyway just preparing myself and the question I have is what brand of water pump is good and WHY does some of the descriptions on these part stores say if i go with this specific water pump i need to buy another item or two. Either its a different bolt size or gasket change i really don't know. Planning to make some phone calls today but thought i post up this thread to start off. thanks in advance for the help!!

 

[bkboatnsleds]

Best case- bad water pump.

Worst case "google" or search the phrase "Castech Heads" and start looking for a 6.0 motor

---------- Post added at 07:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:54 AM ----------

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/Bluegorilla/2008-12-05_142924_Coolant_loss_5.3.pdf

 

[Vinniety]

Best case- bad water pump.

Worst case "google" or search the phrase "Castech Heads" and start looking for a 6.0 motor

---------- Post added at 07:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:54 AM ----------

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/Bluegorilla/2008-12-05_142924_Coolant_loss_5.3.pdf

Thanks for the heads up I will determine tonight what it could be. Almost sure its a water pump but hey you never know.

Thanks!

 

[doylee4693]

that link says "with 4.8L or 5.3L VORTEC® GEN III, GEN IV V8 Engine (VINs V, T, M, B, Z - - RPOs LR4, LM7, LH6, L33, L59" What exactly does that mean?Does the vehicles with that problem have vins start with one of those letters?

 

[MDJR]

I believe the "8th" digit in the VIN is what you are looking for as far as that goes.

 

[doylee4693]

of course I got "t" as my 8th digit,really makes my day!!

 

[bottomline2000]

I've found another option. Check your heater hoses running to the firewall. The connections get brittle over time. I was leaking coolant on the rear coil pack. Be careful when you handle them or they can break. Pita to get connectors off without the right tool. I just broke mine off.

They also say these are dealer only parts, but I found a connector from O'Reillys for a F150/350 that fit.

Sent from my marble slab!

 

[bkboatnsleds]

that link says "with 4.8L or 5.3L VORTEC® GEN III, GEN IV V8 Engine (VINs V, T, M, B, Z - - RPOs LR4, LM7, LH6, L33, L59" What exactly does that mean?Does the vehicles with that problem have vins start with one of those letters?

Yes 8th vin - or look for that RPO code on the sticker in your glovebox.

 

[coolchuck]

If its the water pump, you can get a new one from Advance Auto for $119. But search for the best online coupon code and you can probably knock $30 off of that. The new one includes the gaskets too.

 

[doylee4693]

I have rp0 "lm7",I had a tough time finding a tahoe that DIDNT have one of those letters as the eigth number in the vin.Everyone I looked at had it.Now I kind of wish I knew about this before I bought my tahoe last week,I wont feel comfortable driving this truck knowing these future problems could happen.I may bring this to mechanic to check the head and look for the casting logo,is there anything I should tell them to look for besides the logo?