leak

[chevyguy3766]

I have a 97 4x4 4dr tahoe with the 5.7 engine. for the past couple of days i noticed there was some kind of fluid leaking underneath the engine. i thought it was just water from the a/c but i put a paper towel on it and it looks like water with a pinkish tint to it. i checked my engine coolant and it is bone dry. is it anti-freeze thats leaking and where is it comming from? if it is, what kind do i get and how much to put in?

 

[Sepiroth]

You mention the leak was underneath, but you dont mention where underneath.

Either way your best bet is to have the coolant system pressure tested. This should be done on a cold as well as hot engine. More than likely this will determine where your leak is.

 

[DJTricky]

slight issue, you said its pinkish in color, the only auto maker that i can think of that uses pink coolant is toyota, i have an feeling that its tranny fluid, might wanna check that before you leak to much out and start messin stuff up

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

dexcool.

if you've lost that much check you hoses, and the radiator for leaks. could also be intake gasket.

fill it up to the top of the radiator and fill the bottle up to the cool mark.

 

[DJTricky]

true, never mind, i drained all my dexcool about 5 years ago lol, i have had green from then on

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

still been debating that green or yellow swap. trucks got 174K on it with the dex... no ill effects with the green swap?

 

[99COOP]

still been debating that green or yellow swap. trucks got 174K on it with the dex... no ill effects with the green swap?

As long as you get the majority out/flushed its ok. Dexcool is nothing but problems, i changed over to green long ago and im pushing 216,000 strong on the clock.

 

[blueflamed03]

if it's slick, it could be tranny or radiator. Radiator has a distinct smell....tranny fluid will smell more like motor oil.

 

[chevyguy3766]

in the "engine coolant" box near the windsheild, thats where the anti-freeze should be right? i unscrewed the top and looked inside and its dry as it can be, but my thermostate is saying the engine temp is fine. also, if i am leaking transmission fluid, shouldnt it be leaking under the transmission. the leak is like directly under the engine and it feels just like water but has a slight pink tint to it.

 

[blueflamed03]

could even be PS fluid...

your probably seeing the overflow tank...if the truck is cold, pop radiator cap and see if your low, and then start truck, check tranny fluid.