2002 Chevrolet Tahoe Logo
Setsuna Xiax Posted on Jan 26, 2009
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I keep having to refill my coolant tank what do i need to do

I know this its a slow leak and I know that I dont have a crack in the tank. I've ran the tahoe for 1 hour parked and no leak and drove through the neighborhood and highway 1 hours. turned it off in my drive way, checked it every 10 minutes see if anything leaked from it for 2 hours and nothing appeared to leak from it.

ALSO I know it is a leak because i filled the tank to the marker and 3 days later the low coolant light came on. i checked to see if I cross threaded the cap and it wasn't. there was roughly about a quarter left of coolant in the tank.

The brand of coolant i use in the Tahoe is: Peak 50/50 Antifreeze and Coolant. (Blue Bottle) if it helps any to know the brand i use.

  • 2 more comments 
  • Setsuna Xiax
    Setsuna Xiax Jan 27, 2009

    right now where I'm at i dont have to worry about my Tahoe overheating since its been cold outside lately. I did follow your Instructions CCN7 but i dont smell anything ooh i did probably forgot to mention it but i leaks onto my driveway sometime. And i know its coolant because of the smell but i dont know where its coming.

  • Setsuna Xiax
    Setsuna Xiax Jan 28, 2009

    how much could leak out if its the intake?



    And from what i can tell it's partial the right-center but i cant tell.



    just a question what if the puddle was in the behind the engine

  • Setsuna Xiax
    Setsuna Xiax Jan 29, 2009

    Tripleauto could you also tell me were the hoses from the tank go to and the hoses that lead from and through the water pump I think Im begining to get an idea where its leaking at but i just want it confirmed before i mention it

  • dkessel64 Feb 09, 2009

    Is the trans fliud right or is it off colored? Also, check the oil and make sure it's not a different color. Mine was intake gasket, thermostat, water pump. GHave someone do a pressure check on the radiator. If it's good, Change the thermostat first, then the water pump, then the intake gasket. If it stop-s getting in the oil, chances are you have solved the problem. The intake work costs about $1100.00 It's frustrating, but start with the least cost first.

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  • Posted on Jan 26, 2009
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CHECK YOUR oil and see if it is milky there have been some issues with heads cracking on these. another option is to have dye added to cooling system and drive a few days then have checked with a blacklight the dye will glow this can help spot a small leak

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  • Anonymous Jan 27, 2009

    INTAKES DONT LEAK ON THESE MODELS this was true of 99 back with 5.7. since you say it leaks on ground i would suspect water pump is starting to leak. look down below where head bolts to block you should see the water pump housing where it mates to block look for a puddle of coolant rt there or some white powdery residue

  • Anonymous Jan 28, 2009

    your intake does not have coolant passages so this is not the problem. assuming yours is an 02 tahoe like stated. if it is towards back could be a freeze plug leaking or head gasket seaping some.

  • Anonymous Jan 29, 2009

    from coolant tank the lower hose on it goes to water pump assembly and there is one hose that goes to radiator this is a smaller hose on top. and you also have the overflow hose that just hangs down. both radiator hoses hook to pump assembly and so do heater hoses. so all your hoses basically hook to the pump assembly and thermostat is on here. the gaskets at pump/block will leak and pump itself will leak.i am a chevrolet technician GM certified and ASE certified I promise you it is not intake there are only two small hoses hooked to the throttle body that is only coolant related part on intake on 5.3 liter

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I gotta disagree that these model's dont leak as i have replaced about 20 of them in my lifetime, so they do leak, but if he sees nothing hitting the floor, or nothing smoking from under the hood, somehow or another the cars eating the engine coolant, weather it be head gasket or pouring out the overflow when hes driving, but that would cause an immediate overheat, i would pull a plug and check to see if you see any discoloration on it and itll let you know if your buring the coolant

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Has there ever been a time it ran hot like during the summer? Worst case senero, (and i mean worst case) could have blown head gasget, at a spot where it runs into a combustion chamber and going out the exhaust, very small and most likely won't overheat in this kind of weather (if you live in a cold climent) but might show up when summer comes. if you know what antifreeze smells like, let it idle and walk around to the back of car by exhaust pipe and smell for any hint of antifreeze. now if you don't smell anything witch you may or may not, let it set all night and in the morning before you start it open hood and look in front of engine where the intake meets the head and block, they have been known to leak coolant there, it can leak in the back of engine, but most generaly it will be in the front where i said, also after you have chk. under hood. start it up and then go behind car and smell, if your going to smell anything thats when you will smell it because it sat all night and if its leking into cyl.it had all night to do it. the reason you don't see any thing on the floor, is its such a small leak engine heat will evaporates it before it reaches the floor. hope this gives you an idea what to look for. OLD.SCHOOL.

  • Anonymous Jan 27, 2009

    well it all depends ware the puddle is up by radiator or ware, i'am gussing water pump. but still could be intake. contrary to what someone else said, they still leak there as i just chg. one 2 weeks ago.

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Anonymous

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  • Posted on May 28, 2009

SOURCE: I keep having to refill my coolant tank what do i need to do

There is a small hole under the extension behind where the pulley is mounted, most times barely visible. If you see any coolant there the pump seal is leaking. Many times it will show up better with the cap off, as internal pressure can sometimes push the seal against the shaft and temporarily stop the leak. If any coolant is found there,(sometimes it will run down the lower hose and appear like a bad hose or clamp) the pump needs to be changed. No, it is in no way related to a manifold gasket leak.

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Anonymous

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  • Posted on Jan 18, 2009

SOURCE: chevy tahoe 2002 low coolant light is on. where do you add it

Chevy as most GM cars usually needs Dex-cool antefreeze
But Peak is OK as it can be used to top-off any color of automotive antifreeze including green, yellow, orange, fuschia, blue and red
More info here
http://www.peakantifreeze.com/peak_global_lifetime_5050.html
Also check the system for leaks. If you need to add coolant at least once a month there is a leak.
Good Luck

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There is a small hole under the extension behind where the pulley is mounted, most times barely visible. If you see any coolant there the pump seal is leaking. Many times it will show up better with the cap off, as internal pressure can sometimes push the seal against the shaft and temporarily stop the leak. If any coolant is found there,(sometimes it will run down the lower hose and appear like a bad hose or clamp) the pump needs to be changed. No, it is in no way related to a manifold gasket leak.
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