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Coolant Leak?

Tiny
SAMSON10
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE
I was on a road trip and my low coolant engine light came on, well I figured Id better grab some coolant and add it to my Tahoe. The store I stopped at did not have DEX Cool Coolant so I bought the green kind and added it. Well it worked great for that trip but when I got back and kept driving with that coolant it messed up pretty bad. Now my car will not hold coolant and I am stumped. What happened when I added the wrong coolant and how pricey will this repair be. I would like to fix this myself and would appreciate any input from you guys.

Thank you for your Time
Sam Gonzalez
Austin, TX
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Tuesday, August 14th, 2007 AT 4:44 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Hey Sam,

Mixing the coolant should only lower the life span of the coolant to 2 years/24,000 miles. This is not a concern to worry about. There is a more serious problem that you need to find why there is a leak. That is why the coolant was low in the first place. It is leaking internally or externally. Get it filled back up and look for leaks

Here is a guide that will help you

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-is-leaking-coolant

The last time I seen this problem it was the water pump that was leaking only when they people drove it.

Here is a guide that will give you an idea of what you are in for when doing the job.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/water-pump-replacement

hopefully you see it. If not get back and we will go from there. Is it overheating?

Here is the water pump on Amazon for $75.00 AC Delco

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001KSG24Y/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=2carprcom-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B001KSG24Y&linkId=ea673af253219d13f9df53f3146c390d

Please let us know what happens so it will help others.

Cheers
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Tuesday, August 14th, 2007 AT 7:46 PM
Tiny
JDMIDDLETON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thanks for the information I followed the guide and sure enough the water pump was leaking. Thanks for the links and the parts they worked great and a good price as well. Bravo!
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Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 AT 1:06 PM
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
There have been design issues with the GM motors, not fluid issues. If it came with dexcool, I keep it that way and have had no ill effects. The one exception that" MAY" be contreived that way is the 3.8 intake manifold that is plastic. Due to poor design and heat issues the DEXCOOL will eat away the plastic. But no more than the old standard Green coolant would do.

Good to hear you got it fixed though, please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.

Cheers
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Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 AT 7:13 PM
Tiny
DARILYN
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE
  • 125,000 MILES
Hello, my problem is my coolant/antifreeze, saturday I got and oil changed and a transmission flush on my 2002 chevy tahoe 5.3L 4x4. Everything seems to be working great. Sunday my family and I went for a cruise and on our way back home the coolant low light came one. With vehicle on and fan spinning coolant was shooting to the right side towards the fuse box out from under or I could be wrong but somewhere around or beneath where the fan was spinning.
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Saturday, September 23rd, 2017 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
Check the water pump. There is a weep hole under it that will leak if the seal or bearing goes bad in the pump.
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Saturday, September 23rd, 2017 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DARILYN
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
You're right, I just had my vehicle cheked again from another mechanic and he said exactly the same, that it could be the bearing from the water pump and that ill have too purchase a new one. Is that true? Do I have to buy a new water pump? If it was the seal, could that be repairable?
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Saturday, September 23rd, 2017 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
Both the seal and bearing are internal and non-repairable. If it is the pump, it needs replaced.

Let me know if you have other questions.
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Saturday, September 23rd, 2017 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DARILYN
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thank you :)
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Saturday, September 23rd, 2017 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
Glad to help. Let me know if you run into other questions or problems.

Joe
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Saturday, September 23rd, 2017 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CMB70
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE
  • 5.3L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,000 MILES
I have a leak coming from left side about even with the front of the tire.
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Saturday, September 23rd, 2017 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
You are going to have to pressure test the system and follow the leak to its source. You can probably borrow/rent a pressure tester from a local parts store.
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Saturday, September 23rd, 2017 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)

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