WATER PUMP AND DEX COOL

KENWORTH-1 · December 23, 2004

Just found some dime size reddish leaks under my Silverado Truck, while I was about to do a 30,000 mile maintenance. I traced the leak back to the Water Pump Weep Hole. Does anyone know how long I have until the Pump Fails? This is on an 02, 6.0 HD. From surfing the Internet, it appears that the Dex Cool Coolant is destroying Water Pumps and Seals. Anyone else having problems with the Dex Cool Coolant or Water Pumps?

How easy or hard is it to change a Water Pump? Or, do I need to bring it into the Dealer?

Really could use help on this one..Thanks!

lrymal · December 23, 2004

Sometimes, that seal just gives.... That's just the nature of these things. 30,000 miles? You are still in warranty, right?

Also, please quote your sources on the Dexcool issue. Look for "deathcool" in your google search. These are not substantiated, especially on 1999+ model vehicles that have been designed for Dexcool. The "green" vs "pink" debate has occured so many times on these boards.

One way to kill Dexcool is to let the coolant in the reservoir get too low, ingesting air into the coolant. Another way is to top off with water that is too contaminated with salts, such as many of the tap water sources. Pre-mixed Dexcool/water is the best for topping off. This can be found at most auto supply shops, even Wal-Mart.

Finally, Dexcool has historically excelled in protecting the water pump, totally opposite of your experience. Indeed, protecting the actual engine components was one of the main criteria for Dexcool's development decades ago.

KENWORTH-1 · December 23, 2004

Iryaml,

I have two months left on my Warranty...so, Im lucky about that. Hope your right about the Dexcool, this is the first time I'm aware of any problems with the Dexcool Coolant, until I had this leak. When I did a Google Search it appears that there is to much negative associated with Dexcool. To be safe, Im going to have them flush out the Dexcool and go back to Regular AntiFreeze. Better safe than sorry! Never had a Water Pump ever go at 30,000 miles. Have any idea, how long before the Pump fails, after a seal leaks??

lrymal · December 23, 2004

... Have any idea, how long before the Pump fails, after a seal leaks??

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That one I can't answer. It can vary.... I've been driving since the 1960s and have replaced about 10 water pumps in all those decades. Typically, the 60s and 70s model vehicles would lose a pump at about 40,000 miles, plus or minus several thousand miles. I think the 80s and upwards saw a substantial improvement and in all the ragged out 150,000 mile trucks we still have wallowing on the farm, none have lost a pump. Losing a water pump is very unpredictable.

Regarding the weep hole... it really is an internal failure indicator. You are on borrowed time. As far as I know, it serves no other purpose other than as an indicator.

You might check this site below:

http://www.getahelmet.com/jeeps/maint/dexcool/

496 CUBIC INCHES · December 23, 2004

My 98 Z-71 had Dexcool as the factory fill and the water pump went out at 48K miles. My wifes 99 Blazer had the dexcool as well,at 51K miles the WP went out on hers also. Maybe they were totally unrelated and it was just bad luck,I'm betting it was the Dexcool. I flushed both vehicles and went to the regular green coolant,and never had any other problems. When my HD is out of warranty,I'll be changing it over to the green coolant as well.

banshee42096 · December 23, 2004

just my 2 cents but i had a 97k1500 5.7 with dexcool that

put into it when i sold it it had 125000miles on it never had t

o touch the water pump.i realy dont think its the coolant seals

do go bad no matter what you put in them i personaly would

never go back to the green stuff way outdated.good luck

1BADHD · December 23, 2004

I am experienceing the same thing. I smelled antifreeze for about a month never could find a leak. Finally there was a little drop here and there. So I traced it back to the pump. Got a water pump sitting in my garage thank god! Because this morning when I got to work there was a puddle under my truck! So from the time I smelled it till the time it finally failed, was about 2 months.

TimTim · December 24, 2004

Many folks have issues with Dexcool, Ford put a dexcool type coolant in the 99 cougars and also tested it in other engines, found that it softens gaskets and produced leakage issues????? Toyota and Honda also have a strong opinion."do not use it in our engines". Honda flipped out when GM put it in the Saturn Vue(Honda powered).

I have talked with techs I know and trust, they say Dexcool has its issues. Two of the best GM engines produced for many years, the 5.7 & 3.8, Pre 1995 very little problems that could be traced to coolant, post 1995 alot of gasket & seal issues?

I'm not a chemist so who knows?

Talk to ten people, get ten opinions