What causes a coolant leak in a Duramax engine?

What causes a coolant leak in a Duramax engine?

Failure to inspect the EGR cooler for leaks may lead to a misdiagnosis for coolant entering the combustion chamber. Previously, An EGR cooler pressure tester adapter set, EN-48974, was shipped essential to dealers in December 2007 to diagnose EGR cooler engine coolant leaks on all Duramax™ engines equipped with an EGR system.

What happens if you lose antifreeze with no apparent leak?

Losing Antifreeze With No Apparent Leak. Whenever a vehicle loses antifreeze, also known as coolant, the usual expectation leads the owner to check for evidence of leaks at all the coolant connections and components. Obvious coolant leaks can usually be found in the form of puddles left on the pavement.

What causes coolant to enter the overflow reservoir?

Overflow Reservoir. When a vehicle overheats, or after the engine has been turned off after a long ride, an expansion valve opens inside the radiator cap to allow pressurized coolant to enter the overflow reservoir. If the expansion valve becomes stuck open, it allows a constant flow of pressurized coolant to enter the reservoir,…

Where does the coolant go when the expansion valve is stuck?

If the expansion valve becomes stuck open, it allows a constant flow of pressurized coolant to enter the reservoir, where it turns to steam. The steam, which has coolant in it, is forced out of the the reservoir cap vent hole or loosens the cap. Steam and coolant are released into the engine compartment.

What happens if the coolant cap is stuck?

If the cap is stuck, it will cause a collapsed hose when cool. If any doubt replace the cap. I don’t think you have a head gasket problem. The reason for the pressure– is to raise the boiling point of the coolant –to operate the engine at a higher temperature for emissions, engine life, and economy.

What causes a car’s coolant reservoir to overflow?

Be sure you have the proper level of coolant in your vehicle. Overfilling may cause overflowing. Cheap and easy to replace, this is the first thing to check. Your problem may simply be a loose or damaged cap not keeping coolant where it needs to be. The radiator cap is designed to allow access to fluids in a ‘closed’ system.

Why does my water pump keep overflowing?

Water pumps either work properly or go bad in a hurry. There is no “keeping an eye on it” for validation. If the cap, thermostat and water pump are all fine, the reservoir is overflowing most likely because of a radiator problem. In older automobiles, the radiator was made of copper and aluminum.

Are there any problems with the Duramax engine?

The failure is most common in higher horsepower engines, but can still occur in moderately modified and even stock power plants. Not specific to one version of Duramax in particular (ex: LB7, LLY, LBZ, LMM or LML), the problem exists across all generations.

What causes a transmission line to leak in a Duramax?

LMM Leaking Transmission Line Symptoms 1 Overheating transmission temps 2 Red fluid dripping underneath the car 3 Hard shifting

What causes the crankshaft on a Duramax to crack?

Or how about the fact that the rods in the LB7 and LLY engines can bend with added power and the LBZ and LMM mills are notorious for cracking pistons? Discover the worst failure point (s) of your Duramax in the article that follows, along with how to address it. 1. Snapped Crankshaft

The failure is most common in higher horsepower engines, but can still occur in moderately modified and even stock power plants. Not specific to one version of Duramax in particular (ex: LB7, LLY, LBZ, LMM or LML), the problem exists across all generations.

What causes the injector on a Duramax to leak?

Leaking Injectors—LB7 One thing the ’01-’04 LB7 Duramax is notorious for is injector failure. The two primary failure points of the factory injectors are internal cracking of the injector body itself and corrosion-induced failure of the internal ball seat.

Or how about the fact that the rods in the LB7 and LLY engines can bend with added power and the LBZ and LMM mills are notorious for cracking pistons? Discover the worst failure point (s) of your Duramax in the article that follows, along with how to address it. 1. Snapped Crankshaft

What are the problems with the Duramax LB7?

One thing the ’01-’04 LB7 Duramax is notorious for is injector failure. The two primary failure points of the factory injectors are internal cracking of the injector body itself and corrosion-induced failure of the internal ball seat.

Can a overheating engine cause a coolant leak?

An overheating engine can cause more problems especially if you let it go too long and end end up cracking your block. Chances are you have either a radiator cap leak, internal coolant leak or an external coolant leak. The longer you wait the higher the coolant leak repair cost will be.

What causes antifreeze to leak from the radiator?

Antifreeze Leak Causes. Listed here are common causes for your coolant to be leaking: If the radiator cap doesn’t no longer fits as it initially did or if it is weak and wore out it can cause loss of your systems coolant by way of the overflow tube, and it will happen every time you run the engine very long.

How can you tell if your car coolant is leaking?

Another sign of a leak would be if your vehicles engine suddenly overheats, sometimes there can even be a coolant smell if it is leaking. Finding out the type of leak your coolant system has is not that difficult, however, locating it can be more of a challenge.

What are common causes of coolant leaks?

Common sources of a coolant leak are: The Radiator. The radiator is pressurized, but is exposed to the stones, vibrations, shocks, and airflow that enter the front of the vehicle. Because of this, the metal on the radiator can rust or suffer metal fatigue, causing a coolant leak.

What is causing my coolant leak?

3 Causes of Coolant Leaks External Leaks. As explained above, coolant liquid moves to the engine to pick up heat and is sent to the radiator for cooling before being sent back to the engine. Radiator Cap Leaks. The water pump may be tasked with moving the liquid coolant through the network of tubes and passageways in the car coolant system, but it is the Internal Leaks.

Do I have a coolant leak?

To locate a coolant leak, first look for puddles of coolant beneath your vehicle. If you see any, you probably have fluid dripping from somewhere in the system. With the car’s engine running, look under the hood to see if you notice any fluid flowing out. If you do, trace the fluid to its source.

Why does the radiator reservoir leak?

A common coolant leak can be traced to the radiator coolant reservoir which will continuously cause the cooling system to lose coolant. Because the coolant reservoir is made of plastic it can crack allowing the leak as the radiator pushes expanding coolant into it.