Two issues, coolant res level falling and ps rack leaking...

[olliec420]

Hey guys back at it. 09 Yukon LC9 5.3, 202k miles. Two problems today, for a while my coolant surge tank level has dropped an inch or two with every 500 miles or so. Haven't noticed any leaks but haven't worried about it because it was slow and I keep an eye on it. Day before yesterday I checked on everything because its getting bitter cold here in FL starting last night (40°). Surge tank was almost totally empty! I carry coolant in the car so I filled it up. I assumed the water pump was failing due to miles/age and I have a water pump and a thermostat in my cart on rock auto but I haven't ordered it yet.

Last time I had it on the lift it looked like there was PS fluid coming from the right hand side of the steering rack. So I thought I'd keep an eye on that. I check it a couple times since then and the level doesn't appear to be dropping. I saw a small few drops on the concrete at the office the other day and assumed it was PS fluid. It was up in the front. So last night it occurred to me that makes be slow coolant leak isn't a weeping water pump but maybe a leak up front from the radiator area. But that may be wrong. When its only a few drops they could appear to be similar in color. What should I look for up from there? PS would have an oily residue, yeah? And dried coolant leak, would it leave a trail of something to look for on plastic and rubber hoses?

Worst part is a I have a 900 mile trip I must go on this Wednesday. Im going to get it on the lift tomorrow but its so cold I need to know what I'm looking at before I start piddling around in the cold! Any suggestions appreciated. If I have to just keep topping off I will but I don't want a major failure on the road obviously. Happy thanksgiving!

 

[Doubeleive]

Hey guys back at it. 09 Yukon LC9 5.3, 202k miles. Two problems today, for a while my coolant surge tank level has dropped an inch or two with every 500 miles or so. Haven't noticed any leaks but haven't worried about it because it was slow and I keep an eye on it. Day before yesterday I checked on everything because its getting bitter cold here in FL starting last night (40°). Surge tank was almost totally empty! I carry coolant in the car so I filled it up. I assumed the water pump was failing due to miles/age and I have a water pump and a thermostat in my cart on rock auto but I haven't ordered it yet.

Last time I had it on the lift it looked like there was PS fluid coming from the right hand side of the steering rack. So I thought I'd keep an eye on that. I check it a couple times since then and the level doesn't appear to be dropping. I saw a small few drops on the concrete at the office the other day and assumed it was PS fluid. It was up in the front. So last night it occurred to me that makes be slow coolant leak isn't a weeping water pump but maybe a leak up front from the radiator area. But that may be wrong. When its only a few drops they could appear to be similar in color. What should I look for up from there? PS would have an oily residue, yeah? And dried coolant leak, would it leave a trail of something to look for on plastic and rubber hoses?

Worst part is a I have a 900 mile trip I must go on this Wednesday. Im going to get it on the lift tomorrow but its so cold I need to know what I'm looking at before I start piddling around in the cold! Any suggestions appreciated. If I have to just keep topping off I will but I don't want a major failure on the road obviously. Happy thanksgiving!

Well my advice is first clean it all up with engine degreaser and a pressure wash, then you should be able to see where the fresh fluid is coming from, use a flashlight. You can do a pressure test of the cooling system and see what that shows and even a block test if you cannot find a coolant leak anywhere.

 

[olliec420]

Well my advice is first clean it all up with engine degreaser and a pressure wash, then you should be able to see where the fresh fluid is coming from, use a flashlight. You can do a pressure test of the cooling system and see what that shows and even a block test if you cannot find a coolant leak anywhere.

If I freeze to death, I'm holding you responsible! haha

 

[Fless]

If I freeze to death, I'm holding you responsible! haha

He's a hard guy to catch, especially from 6 feet under.

 

[Doubeleive]

If I freeze to death, I'm holding you responsible! haha

Just go to one of those self car wash places with the pressure wand and use some purple power or whatever you can find. The wand you can stick under the truck pretty easily just hit it from many angles. Wear a rain suit and boots you'll survive lol

 

[Fless]

Just go to one of those self car wash places with the pressure wand and use some purple power or whatever you can find. The wand you can stick under the truck pretty easily just hit it from many angles. Wear a rain suit and boots you'll survive lol

Sounds like prophylactic measures are in order.

 

[Doubeleive]

He's a hard guy to catch, especially from 6 feet under.

That's the truth

 

[j91z28d1]

honestly.. it's got 200k. Just order the denso radiator everyone here uses, put your water pump on and new fire wall T's in before the trip. even if that's not 100% the problem they are well past time to do them. and the rack leak if you're not seeing the pump run dry should last till you get back from the trip.

the craziest thing about these trucks is how the parts that fail, fail like clock work. the guys can tell you at what mileage each part will fail withing 10k or so.


funny I remember those 40* Florida days.. it was bone chilling cold, homeless people and pets dropping dead. where 40deg in the rest of the country is a nice day. it was 43 in tx this morning and I almost didn't even grab a jacket on the way out. in Florida I'd have had ski gear on and still mad at the world. haha


on a side note, just wait till 11am. if it's 40 in the morning it will be 70 by noon. hahw

 

[wjburken]

40° is bitter cold? Our high today won’t get over 30°. Guess it’s all what you’re used to. I agree with the suggestions above.

I guarantee you won’t freeze to death. I replaced a lower intake manifold gasket on my sons truck a couple years ago and the highs were 4°.

 

[olliec420]

Found it. Its this thing. I haven't driven it since wednesday. It was wet when I started looking with the flashlight. Dried it off with a rag, immediately wet again under no pressure. Started engine and it ran down in a thin little stream and saw it drip off the bottom. The steering rack is close below it, that's got to be what I saw on there since my PS fluid level hasn't seemed to move lower at all.

Does anyone know what this piece is called/number? The hose goes to one of the heater core in/out. The one on the right hand side looking at the front of the firewall. I wonder if its the plastic piece or the hose. Id assume the plastic piece. Any name or part number that I can start deep diving on finding I'd appreciate it!