That sweet scary smell

[S1nemesis1s]

Hey Guys,

You all have been great helping to get my 04 Tahoe in shape. I am having an issue. I am smelling antifreeze when I am around the front of the car. I do not smell it all on the inside, and my heat is good. Anything typical with these trucks that leaks or I should be aware of. I have looked it over and cannot see a leak. I am not losing fluid, and my oil is clean.

 

[YukonandtheHOE]

I bet the water pump gasket is seeping and evaporating on the block!

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Water pump could be toast. Is it coming from the weep hole on the waterpump? I never noticed fluid loss as it was slow until I was very low on fluid suddenly.


Its a pretty easy job if so. Cost me $100 for a gates pump, lower belt, lower hose, and thermostat.


The belt hose and thermo were not required, but might as well do em while your in there.

 

[Rivieraracing]

Just like mentioned, bet if you go under the truck and look at the bottom of your water pump there should be a small weep hole at the front just under the pulley shaft and probably leaking a bit! Eventually it will fail and it will be easy to spot, happened the same way for me!

 

[iamdub]

Look for white chalky traces. You may not see actual coolant cuz it evaporates off the hot engine, but you'll see the remains.

 

[rockola1971]

The weep hole on the water pump is to show that there is a failure of the mechanical seal.

 

[S1nemesis1s]

Does the radiator have to be removed to do this? Thank you guys so much. I will check into this weekend.

 

[rockola1971]

You might also check the area below the radiator for evidence of coolant. Its not out of the ordinary for you to get a very small leak at the oring seals of the radiator side tanks. The tanks are crimped onto a flange of the radiator core and an oring (huge) is in between. Poor design if you ask me.

 

[iamdub]

Does the radiator have to be removed to do this? Thank you guys so much. I will check into this weekend.

Nope.

 

[S1nemesis1s]

Okay Gurus, thank you! The part is original and I am going to do a coolant flush anyways so I ordered a new one online, let me ask you this: I see that it comes with gaskets. Do I still need to RTV them or should I just install with the plain gaskets?