This is my first diesel, 07.5 LMM 2500, and this morning shortly after leaving for work this morning I get the LOW COOLANT LEVEL message on the DIC. I turned around and went back home and raised the hood and much to my surprise there is no radiator cap so I get the owners manuel out and find that coolant is added to the expansion tank. I look at the expansion tank and the coolant level is about half way between the FULL line and the bottom of the tank. The manuel says only use a 50/50 mix and of course I have none so I have to wait until the parts houses open up. On the way to the parts house the message does not come back on but I go ahead and buy a gallon of DexCool 50/50. When I raise the hood to add the coolant to the expansion tank the level is just a hair below the FULL mark.
What's up with that?

TB

You have a full cold and a full hot mark. Coolant expands as it changes temperature.

Not a bad idea to have some anti-freeze on hand anyway...

Sounds like you have the same low coolant issue....

Mines done it before and it was full. Think its just the sensor, cause my dash tells me that I need to add windshield wiper fluid all the time. Pretty much since I bought the truck.

jtaylor11,

What does the dealer say? I can't stand that "ding" when the DIC has something to say...

jtaylor11,

What does the dealer say? I can't stand that "ding" when the DIC has something to say...
Havent took it to the dealer. I think you can turn it off on the DIC somewhere. Im out of town and didnt bring my truck with me this time or I would look.

Mine was full beyond the translucent tank and was above the black part when I picked it up (when hot). It's still there and I've not once had the DIC go off.

Ask the dealer about an update for the coolant level sensor software. Read #5 here http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=218278&highlight=coolant+level+sensor

My truck will be at the dealership at 8am tomorrow because mine really HAS been using coolant, about a quart every 800 miles. When I changed the oil last week I sent a sample to Blackstone Labs for analysis, mainly to find our how the engine was wearing in. One of their analysts actually took the time to phone me on Thursday to say that they were worried that coolant was getting into the oil because the phosphorus and sodium levels were too high. I'll post the results of the investigation by the dealership once I know, but I suspect it is the "ruptured exhaust gas recirculation cooler" problem on my truck.

I have tried to chime in to every coolant thread I have seen because I have been going through these problems since september. The dealerships have not been able to figure out the problem until recently with over 8 visits now and 17 days in the shop after today. They said the engine would need new heads/head gaskets. It is a 27 Hour install time after they have torn the engine out and apart to find what parts to order. They have told me that GM claims an average of 2 trucks a month have been coming back with this problem. I am and have been in the process of trying to get my truck bought back from General Motors. They have been no help at all an I am currently waiting for a court date to be set so that I may get all my money back or my truck replaced. I hope my experience can help some folks find what to look for. I found other threads on this site that helped me out and helped the dealerships out... Go figure.

Anyone is welcome to PM me if they have any questions. I would love to help anyone if I can. I know how hard of a process it can be. I've been on the phone with someone from GM almost every day since the middle of February trying to convince them with no luck. Some folks on here have had their dealership help with good luck but for me thats a whole other can of worms.

Mudflap6.6

So I took my truck to the GM dealer this morning, along with the Blackstone oil analysis showing the possible presence of coolant in the oil.

Heard nothing back from them until 4pm when the service advisor called to say that they had "downloaded a bunch of data" from the truck and had sent the data to GM for analysis, whatever that means. I questioned the service advisor as to what data could there be that would be related to the problem and he said he didn't know.

He said I could pick up the truck and drive it locally for 48 hours while they await further instructions from GM.

What happens next is anyone's guess.

So is your truck stock. See if you can find out what all they can look for. Some of us need info on how to hide our stuff:D

there's another twist also! my heater core was leaking like hell. took it in for warranty and they said the truck was abused, changed the damn thing myself. those tv commercials with GMC trucks working are a joke, they void warranty overy anything

there's another twist also! my heater core was leaking like hell. took it in for warranty and they said the truck was abused, changed the damn thing myself. those tv commercials with GMC trucks working are a joke, they void warranty overy anything

Lawyer Up........Start talking bout law suit and go through the dealership telling customers how you have been treated and they will start singing a different tone.:D

The truck is stock, and it's a little premature to start walking through the dealership warning people, or threatening lawsuits. However, I have been very successful in the past with such tactics, so I won't hesitate to use them if I need to. I'll post more info as I get it, but I suspect nothing will happen before the weekend.

there's another twist also! my heater core was leaking like hell. took it in for warranty and they said the truck was abused, changed the damn thing myself. those tv commercials with GMC trucks working are a joke, they void warranty overy anything

Apparently I missed the commercial that had the GMC with suncoast stage 5 & converter, mprb straight pipe, NO DPF, PPE RACE tune, edelbrock 1792, H2's with 285 bfgs......

:o::p::rolleyes::D

;)

Sorry, had to say it.

I do believe it's BS that they refused a heater core warranty for those mods though.
The only way I could see it is if you damaged it during the transmission removal (did that on my 80 K20 by accident when trying to get the top two bellhousing bolts out I leaned on the heater hose lines which seperated the solder joint on the heater core outlet), so it's not out of the realm of possibilities...but they would have to prove it to me first before denying my claim.

So, it's close to 115 hours since the dealership sent all the truck data to GM and there's still no response from GM. So much for their 48 hour decision system !!!! The Service Manager hinted today that if they don;t have a response from GM by tomorrow they will just go ahead and replace the EGR cooler. The saga continues.

Well, it's just over a week since the dealership said they needed 48 hours for GM engineering to advise what should be done about the problem with my truck losing coolant. So today I went down to the dealership to bring the situation to a head.

During discussions, which were very civil, the Service Manager revealed, for the first time, that the reason they downloaded the data from the truck computer and sent the data to GM is because "the programming has been changed on your truck, it has been modified aftermarket".

I made it clear that this was impossible because I have owned the truck since new and I know for a fact that it is stock. Nobody has ever been near it to reprogram it.

He has committed to try again tomorrow to get a response from GM Engineering, but now I'm worried that some inexplicable "change" to the programming on my truck could cause me a huge headache. How do I prove that I have never had anything done to it?

This one has all the signs of turning into a nasty battle, but I'll keep you updated.

Mid-morning today I had a call from the service advisor at the dealership. In a subdued voice he told me that GM Engineering had advised them that the programming had NOT been tampered with so they had authority to pressure test the EGR Cooler and to do whatever else is required to isolate the problem. All covered under warranty.

I'm happy again - the truck goes in on Tuesday.

Pretty sure there was a PI issued advising dealers that some vehicles were low on coolant from the factory. The change in fluid level hot vs. cold is significant, so the recommendation was to slightly overfill the coolant level above the cold level (when cold).

Apparently I missed the commercial that had the GMC with suncoast stage 5 & converter, mprb straight pipe, NO DPF, PPE RACE tune, edelbrock 1792, H2's with 285 bfgs......

:o::p::rolleyes::D

;)

Sorry, had to say it.

I do believe it's BS that they refused a heater core warranty for those mods though.
The only way I could see it is if you damaged it during the transmission removal (did that on my 80 K20 by accident when trying to get the top two bellhousing bolts out I leaned on the heater hose lines which seperated the solder joint on the heater core outlet), so it's not out of the realm of possibilities...but they would have to prove it to me first before denying my claim.

TRUCK LEAKED COOLANT WHEN STOCK STILL

The local dealer has now confirmed that the Exhaust Gas Recirculation Cooler (EGR) failed the pressure test. They have ordered a new one.