No heat and coolant loss

[kmcdonough]

About 2 weeks ago I had the dealer do the EGR valve and cooler service (live in NY and its on them). 2 days ago on the drive to work I noticed I wasn't getting any heat. When I got to work I saw a little steam coming from hood. Popped the hood and saw the reservoir was empty and there was evidence of coolant on the engine in the area of the reservoir. After work, I filled the reservoir and drove home. No heat on the way home but the reservoir was still full. The truck didn't overheat. The temp gauge fluctuated (more then usual) around 200. I got under the truck and saw evidence of coolant sprayed over the undercarriage, to the rear of the engine. I read other posts that indicate the water pump can go and leak through the weep hole but the front of the engine is bone dry, including the water pump area (assuming I am looking at the water pump). The wet area seems to be back toward the reservoir and underneath behind the engine. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Kevin

 

[DonFitzwater]

Yep, start where the dealer was working last. I suspect you have a leaking EGR cooler or one of it's connections.

 

[Alan Reagan]

Sounds like the rear EGR cooler line didn't seat properly. It just snaps in to the coolant supply fitting on the passenger side at the rear of the engine.

 

[NIsaacs]

If you have no heat your radiator is way low. Filling the overflow bottle will not fill the radiator while you drive, only on shutdown/cool down. I would pull the cap and check it.

Nick

 

[mwilson]

Probably going to have to burp/bleed it as well using the vent at the top of the cooler plumbing, right???

 

[kmcdonough]

Thanks for all the input. I looked around some more and sure enough, the tech didn't tighten down a bolt that connects a cooler line to the block. I tightened that down, checked the radiator and added a gallon of coolant, and no more leaks and plenty of heat. Not sure about bleeding the system. Where is the vent and what needs to be done? Thanks again.

 

[DonFitzwater]

If you look at the tope of the engine, near the front and passenger side, there may be a fitting the looks sort of like a small post protruding from a coolant hard pipe. It has an allen type plug in the top. It will even be labeled with a decal (if it's still there). The idea is to loosen that as you are filling the system and air will be allowed to escape.

 

[kmcdonough]

Found the bleeder and checked. All good. Thanks again for the help.

 

[Tuan K. Beatty]

this thread is very nice and full of good info indeed