Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Antifreeze consumption

[TBarrett]

Anyone have this problem? It is not leaking outside anywhere. Over 2 gals used and is in the shop. They stated they did a pressure test and was OK. The Cummins daeler stated maybe a head gasket or a cracked head. How does this get found out? Help!

 

[A Johnson]

If I couldn't see any leaks and suspected a cracked head or head gasket, this would be my approach.



1- Have an oil analysis done to confirm that there is or isn't coolant in the oil. If it was positive it's definately an engine problem.



2- Apply regulated air pressure of no more than15 psi to the radiator,and have some sort of saftey popoff rigged up so you can't blow up the radiator, let it sit overnight if need be, and check for cold water leaks on the ground or a big piece of cardboard that you have parked over.



3- If no leaks loosen the exhaust manifold and move it back. (Leave the turbo oil supply and drain connected) Start the engine and see if any coolant comes out the exhaust. Rev it up and verify no cold water leaks with the engine running.



I assume that the overflow bottle is not excessively overfull possibly indicating a bad radiator cap, or compression in the coolant.



Just some ideas, maybe some one will jump in with more ideas.



A Johnson

 

[NETim]

Me too

I bought my rig used with about 17K on it. It now has about 19K on it. I've had to add antifreeze to the reservoir 2X since I brought it home. Houston, we have a problem.



I looked it over this morning before I took it anywhere and could find no trace of a leak on the hoses, freeze plugs or water pump. The block is clean and dry. No evidence of antifreeze spraying around anywhere. Oil on the dipstick looks OK.



Took it to the local diesel shop this AM and they pressure checked the radiator cap. It was then we noticed that there is some "gunk" on the cap. Diesel tech sez "That looks like the stuff you get when there's a bad head gasket. "



Immediately took it down to the dealer for an appointment. I'll find out Wednesday I guess.



Fortunately she's still in warranty.



Tim

 

[Bandit1]

i have the same exact problem, cant find where it is going but it is going somewhere, about 1/2 gal every 1500-2000 miles.

 

[LSMITH]

Holy cow you guys:--) :--)













That much coolant consumption and you still drive it? WOW!!!!



Get the OIL analized YESTERDAY!!!! Find out how bad it is so you know how to proceed. With a small leak you may be able to just change the oil every 1500 miles until you can take it down, but it sounds like these rigs need parked until they are repaired. The alternative to repairing them ASAP is having the coolant destroy the oil, and that will prevent particle suspension and proper lubrication. Both are deadly to an engine.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by LSMITH

Holy cow you guys:--) :--)













That much coolant consumption and you still drive it? WOW!!!!



Get the OIL analized YESTERDAY!!!! Find out how bad it is so you know how to proceed. With a small leak you may be able to just change the oil every 1500 miles until you can take it down, but it sounds like these rigs need parked until they are repaired. The alternative to repairing them ASAP is having the coolant destroy the oil, and that will prevent particle suspension and proper lubrication. Both are deadly to an engine.

Ditto. With that 5 year 100K mile engine warranty the first one I would contact would be the dealer to get a ticket showing the loss of coolant and no external sign of leak. Next step would be to ask for a new engine. Antifreeze ruins pistons, etc. etc. Hope it ends up being something simple and cheap.

 

[scotty1]

Had the sam problem

When my head gasket finally puked oil out the front I pulled the head... I found that I had two cracks in the head gasket to the water galleys on 4 and 5. Now I know why I never saw a leak and the overflow bottle was always empty. I was blaming the slime on my engine on the oil bottle at the front too. Now I know it was a combo of engine oil from the breather and coolant from the over flow being blown out under load.

I also had two cracks between cylinder 3 and 4.



I think I had a bad head gasket either from new or right after I put my DD-3's in. I gained 4 psi of boost by fixing the head gasket and o-ringing the head. That also dropped my EGT another 100F.



Makes me wonder if porting and polishing would net me more or if the pooched head gakset and proper repair is giving me most of the claimed return on all that head work. Wish I was keeping my 01 to do the porting and polshing to prove my thoughts/findings one way or the other.



Now I have an overflow bottle that does not empty.

 

[NETim]

Well in my defense....

When I brought the rig home in March, about a week later I noticed the reservoir needed topping off. Having no sense of history on the new-to-me truck I topped off the coolant and went about my business, chalking it up to poor maintainence on the previous owner's part.



Last Friday night, (5/23/03) I noticed it needed to be topped off again. Added about a pint. Saturday morning (5/24) I made a trip to my favorite diesel mechanic and immediately went to the dealer. The truck has been parked since.



I really didn't expect this problem to occur on a Cummins engine. When I bought the truck I didn't even look at the coolant reservoir. Heck, with only 17K on it, who woulda thunk it?



Anyways, I am glad that I finally caught on to this situation before I took the rig to WY to pick up my Lance and before I made my 1800 mile round trip to my annual Canadian fishing adventure and Muskie Festival.





Who knows how long this problem has existed on the truck. I noticed Saturday at home that the reservoir has a lot of dark "gunK" in the bottom.



The oil on the dipstick looks OK with 2K on it.



I guess I'll find out how good my dealer is.



Tim

 

[Pit Bull]

Tim that is a bad deal. Bet your glad your not bombed and your own warranty station. I would want to know it that antifreeze got into the oil. Take a sample and get it checked. If it did I would insist on a new engine.

 

[Sticks]

So, what is this, 4 out of 15000 member trucks? I'll panic just a little.



I had to top mine off when I bought it in Sept of '02, and everything is still fine.

 

[NETim]

YEP!!

Yeah PitBull, I am glad I haven't put anything into the Cummins. I don't think the previous owner did either. It was a real working truck in its' previous life. Now it's just a toy.



I've done a fair amount of little things to the rig, DSS, Ranchos, MagHytec, that sort of thing, but no performance mods.



And yes, I think that an oil sample would be in order just to cover my bets. I am counting on a minimum of 200K out of this truck.



Tim

 

[HBarlow]

My truck lost small amounts of coolant for the first several thousand miles. I finally became concerned and asked a mechanic friend about the problem. He pressure tested the OEM radiator cap and found it wouldn't hold the required pressure. I bought and installed a new cap from NAPA and have never added another drop of coolant.



Hopefully your coolant loss problem can be corrected as cheaply and easily as mine.



Harvey

 

[NETim]

Update #1

I checked on my truck yesterday afternoon. (Wed). We left the rig at the dealer Tuesday afternoon and they set up a pressure test on the cooling system. By Wed AM it had dropped from 18 to about 9 PSI. They could see no leaks on the block. (No surprises there) The truck started and ran fine. The service manager seems to be expecting the truck to miss and idle rough if there is an internal leak.



They told me that they were going to replace the hose clamps and run the test again last night. I questioned this because there were no visible leaks resulting from the original test. He just told me that air will leak before water. Yeah, I guess but still I would expect to see coolant if any of the hose clamps were bad.



Anyway, I asked him again why there was oily dirty deposits on the radiator cap and he told me he didn't look at it. Jeez, I told him about that when I brought it in!



I still think the head gasket is going bad and I am getting the run around here.



Oh well, today I'll find out more. Eventually these guys are going to have to lift the head IMHO.



Tim

 

[crobertson1]

NETim,

Can you give us an update?

Craig