latest saga with the suburban

PST said
Not to alarm you, but in the 99-01 GM trucks with the LS Platform ( Meaning 4.8 and 5.3Litre) These engines have an issue with porous heads. There was a casting defect on the aluminum heads that over time allow finite amount of coolant to leak in to the cylinders. If you do a quick Google search you will find TSB's on the issue. In the TSB will be the serial numbers of the affected heads. The issue will normally become apparent over the 100k mark. I to have a truck that suffers from it. I normally have to top the expansion tank off every few months. It really doesn't affect the performance if anything it is irritating. My truck suffers from the issue ( I verified the casting #) but the runs strong and the odometer now is reading 268K.

As for the water pump you can get away without renting the tool to remove the fan. All you need is an air chisel with a blunt tip. I know this sound cave man like but if you place the blunt tip at the edge of the large nut and give is a quick rap the nut will loosen rite up and just spin it the rest of the way off by hand. Keep in mind it is easier to do this when the serpentine belt is still on the tension help.

Hope this helps, just my 2 cents.

Thanks
James

Hi james

Its not an LS engine. It is indeed a 99 model truck, but it is a vortec V8. Has one coil, and a mechanical drive distributer in the back of the engine. I believe the LS engines all had coil on plug crank fire ignition systems. This truck is not this way. Also the truck was finally dripping antifreeze like mad front center right where the water pump is. The pickups may have changed bodystyle in 99, and were the first recipients of the new at the time LS V8, but the suburban and tahoe kept the 98, and older bodystyle a little longer, and the older vortec V8 as well. This engine is the vortec 350, in my wifes 99 suburban. Hope this clears up any confusion you may have over this.

Thanks for the tech tip on the fan setup. I already have the tool so i am going to use it. But will remember this if i have to ever do another one of these.

Matt