Bel, whet engine do you have?

 

Hey Greg, it's a 2001 burb 2wd with the 5.3L.

I'll pressure test it when I get back in town.

 

Ok, good. I was worried you had the 8.1. It’s a blessing and a curse. I will be posting my radiator woes with my 8.1.

 

Heater core plastic hose connector at the firewall for the cheap win!!!

 

Sounds like it. That was my issue on the last coolant leak I had. Fairly slow leak that started off adding water once a week and then progressing to having to add more almost everyday before I finally fixed it. I didn't see it right away either because it was running down the hose to the back side of the motor and dripping on the rear passenger side coil pack assembly. And it would almost turn completely to steam when it came out too which made it harder to spot. The time before that it was my water pump leaking. I'm due for a radiator next

 

Jake’s x2. Water pump would be leaking down the front of the block, although you’re probably due for another one soon.

 

Things to do to be prepared. Go to the help isle at any auto parts store and get an extra or even two extra inlet or outlet couplers that go to your heater core. I have a 2001 2500HD 6.0 and my radiator was leaking right where one of the hoses go into it. It is usually a very small and slow leak until it starts to crack more. Must of the time it will be the inlet couplers. I would definitely check your water pump. I have replaced mine once before. It cracks then leaks from it's seals. It will drive for awhile but replacement asap if you can.

 

Thank you for the advice.

I know I have a complete set of hoses and plastic fittings I bought a few years back and had planned on replacing the original ones but never got around doing it. I have to find them though and they are in a box some place in the attic. I hope they are not dry rotted. 😒
Won't be able to work on it til next two weeks.

 

Ahhh... If they are dry rotten then they are very cheap! I literally have an extra one I have thrown in my glove compartment with a drive belt in one of the back seat pockets. They will break more frequently if you drive through a lot of flooded roads. You have hot coolant on the inside and cold water on the outside then Crackle snap pop you have coolant everywhere.

 

Dealt with a similar issue on my old 06 Z71 before it was totaled. Gonna say it’s your water pump weep hole, all of the coolant would seep down and drip behind the pan. Literally just had this job done 3 months ago (2 weeks before my wreck...) change out the water pump ($110 on Amazon & $200 in labor if you don’t do it yourself) and you should be good.

Hope this helps man!

 

Everything helps, thanks.
I'm still out of town and can't get to it until last week of May.

 

Bel, if it's coming down the back of the engine, I'd be suspicious of a leaking freeze plug.

 

Thanks Ray
I'll update when I get back in town last week of May.

 

Is there a metal option for the hose connection (GMC part)? I seem to recall changing mine out ~20 years ago.

 

Second water pump failed on gasket at only 123k miles. First one leaked at 167k miles.

Done. No rusted or broken water pump bolts.
New water pump and thermostat, all new hoses and heater plastic fittings and new AC compressor belt.
Added a little more silicon gasket maker around the metal gaskets for better sealing.
Filled it up with 60% Dexcool and 40% distilled water.

Good for another 100k miles? I will find out if the 5.3L engine and 4L60e holds up.

 

Hey Bel, glad to see you got her fixed up. Happy to see I was able to help out and it turned out to be something simple like the pump. With that completely new set up from pump to hoses you should be good to go. Hopefully she’s still running like a champ with no issues on the new pump. (Hopefully you’ll get more than 300 miles out of it like mine had before my crash in February!) Alas, you’re not leaking like a sieve! All the best!

 

Yeah still running smooth at 290k miles.
Thanks @Brenden16 .

 

I have a coolant leak again!
I wonder where?

 

Damn Bazar... that’s a bummer man. First thing I would do is look on the block and see if you can find where it’s dripping from. Check that water pump again too, could easily be one of those passenger seals again if not the weep hole. At least you managed to get about 10K on her in the meantime between the last leak. You sure do drive a lot lol, in the last 9 months I’ve only put about 4K miles on my 05, but I’m not like most.

 

It's not getting driven much because I got a 3.0L sprinter lately.
I don't see any wet spot in the engine compartment.
It's going to sit a while.

 

Very cool. - Yeah, just let it sit a while and see where it ends up dripping from, that’s how that one goes typically. Let us know what you find. If it’s not water pump related the next thing I’d go to are the coolant lines/connector lines.

 

I just looked under. There's a lot of coolant drops in the steering link and on the AC compressor bottom. All hoses are new.
It must be the water pump gaskets again.

 

Yep, sounds like it man. Time for a new water pump and a full set of brand new gaskets. I think it’s 2 on passenger and 2 on driver side. Amazon probably has the pump for $110 and then the gaskets shouldn’t run you more than $10.

 

May not need a new wp. Just the gaskets. I'll know more later when I start removing fan clutch and shroud.

 

I just changed my hoses on my 2003 suburban LS like you did. Ever since I changed my water pump a while back once in a while I get a very, very slight smell of dex through heating vent. It's been like that for years. No leaks or low fluid but maybe my pump seals, old hoses(original) or core. Thanks for all the info will follow and see how it goes. My ac compressor is shot and will replace this year but that should not affect it. Disconnected belt.

 

Apparently this never posted...

The one I'm tackling today on the 04 Burb is the water pump gasket. Pump less than a year old, so user (me) error.

Update: Turned out to actually be the water pump... Installed new gaskets. Leak was more visible with truck on incline. New water pump and another set of gaskets. 🤦‍♀️

Other update: Original pump. Had changed my own on the Silverado, not the Suburban.

 

Thank you. Great pictures also.

 

My new water pump only logged 9k miles so it must be the rusty block surface which I sanded down or a bad gasket.

 

I need to fix this 2001 Suburban for my business.
So I worked on it today, removed the air intake, fan shroud and fan clutch.
The 1 year old new AC Delco water pump is leaking at the front seal.
What a POS. Made in Mexico? Not sure. RockAuto sold it. April 29, 2021.
I have to call and find out if covered by warranty.

Traces of coolant

Underside of intake snorkel.

Underside of water pump casing and fan pulley.

 

Update:

I filed a warranty claim from RockAuto. But I have to buy a new one and return the old one and file a refund.

AC Delco replacement parts has a 1 year or 12k mile warranty on general items like the water pump.

 

The Duralast Gold I just installed was Lifetime and new, not remanufactured.

 

Thanks Jacob.
No more RA.
Only local auto parts store from now on for easy replacement of defective parts like this.
Can't trust ACDelco brand anymore.

 

Only local auto parts store from now on for easy replacement of defective parts like this.

I got burned on sway bar bushings that came in a kit with new end links and some other things. They had the wrong diameter hole... By the time I figured it out, I couldn't send it back to RA. Ordered some new ones. 🤷‍♂️

 

Bummer sorry to hear that. I try to go to oem online if I can afford it.