Tired of this truck!!

[Bambito]

Have a 97 sierra half ton. I have put lots of money in to this thing and it seems like one thing right after the other. Anyways, She is swallowing antifreeze. Every now and then when I start it up she sputters pretty good. Also can hear swishing of the coolant when I turn or take off from a stop light. She heats up fine and doesn't overheat. Any ideas what this might be??? Head gasket? Intake gasket? Flat out POS???!!! Thanks guys! rough cost in order to have it fixed too???

[Macgyver55]

Intake gasket! Do it yourself.....50 to 75 in parts.

Have it done....probably 400 to 500?

Verify where the coolant is going before doing anything.

[Bambito]

Magyver you truly are a huge help! Thank you. Now don't laugh but how hard is it to replace for a guy who isn't that great with mechanical stuff. I know I have YouTube to look at I guess! Lol

[Macgyver55]

I'm not quite sure that a novice should take on a job like this without having some prior experience, but if you are patient and take the time to watch some videos and do some reading, I think it's something you possibly could do yourself if you really are determined.

There are no special tools needed, just hand tools, but the hardest part for someone who isn't familiar with it would probably be the removal and reinstallation of the distributor. If you carefully mark the position of the rotor and the distributor base before taking it out and then make sure to put it back in exactly the same that would be the biggest hurdle. I don't want to make it sound too easy and have you get in over your head, but I don't want to make it sound so difficult that you are discouraged from trying.

Make sure to read up, watch some YouTube, and most importantly verify the problem before you dive in.

[BoxMN]

I did this myselfr but with the help of my nneighbor who knows his stuff. Also it was a 6 cylinder 3.0 liter, but similar process. Key thing that I recall is just knowing what the parts are EGR, etc., visually as the AllData steps don't tell you what it looks like, just when to remove it, and when to replace it.

Get the alldata steps printed from the library, and watch some videos. Also make sure to keep the pushrods (?) in order, we used an egg carton to keep them organized, just stick them through the paper.

Anyway, we took it apart one evening, went out and had dinner with wives, then put it back together the next morning. The only mistake I made was not getting a coolant line properly connected, one of the last steps, I was starting to get into a hurry. Its been fine now for about 5-6 or so years, and I in't no mechanic but had a good neighbor.

Good luck!

[Macgyver55]

Box, if I remember correctly you did a 3.1 in a Malibu right? The 5.7 v8 is actually less involved than the one you did. There is no messing with push rods and such so it probably takes half the time yours did.

[leech~~]

Have you pulling out your oil dip stick and look at it or smelled it yet? If it looks a little milky or smells like antifreeze you know where it's going to.

[CaptainMusky]

Yeah, check your dipstick or remove the oil fill cap and look for a milky substance. That to me would be the easiest and fastest way to tell if you have coolant getting into the wrong places.

Or, it could be leaking at the heater core or just some hose clamp that is lose.

You are not seeing any coolant puddle up anywhere? I almost wonder if it isnt possibly a water pump seal going bad, but Macgyver probably sent you down the right path because head gaskets were known to be an issue over time, but I would try and rule out everything else first.

[delcecchi]

Would pressurizing the cooling system and letting it stand then looking for antifreeze have a chance of showing any non-internal leaks? Just asking for my own curiosity.

[Macgyver55]

Would pressurizing the cooling system and letting it stand then looking for antifreeze have a chance of showing any non-internal leaks? Just asking for my own curiosity.

Absolutely! Cold winter days exacerbate hose leaks by contracting the rubber hose but can seal up as the system warms.

[leech~~]

Would pressurizing the cooling system and letting it stand then looking for antifreeze have a chance of showing any non-internal leaks? Just asking for my own curiosity.

Isn't a cooling system under pressure ever time it heats up? That's why you don't open the radiator cap when it's hot.

[delcecchi]

My thought is that it could sit for an extended period pressurized (and cold if that matters) without the engine running, making it easier and safer to look for signs of leakage.

[BoxMN]

Box, if I remember correctly you did a 3.1 in a Malibu right? The 5.7 v8 is actually less involved than the one you did. There is no messing with push rods and such so it probably takes half the time yours did.

Doh, yep, 3.1 not 3.0.

If you don't have to mess with pushrods then it would be pretty easy. They weren't that bad, but kind of confusing for me, and the torquing, etc. I did get that lifter tool and it helped, but only worked on 4 of the 6 due to different positions.

BTW I also have a 98 k1500 5.7 and had the intake done (not by me) just out of warranty. So maybe at 50k miles, I was mad. But it has been tight ever since, knock on wood and now at 200k and going strong.