Should you ever have to add coolant to an LB7? I have an 02 that I bought from my father-in-law in April and have noticed (only after reading about head gasket problems here) that my coolant level is slowly dropping. It has dropped about 3/4 inch in the reservoir in about 3 months (5000 miles). Is this normal for summer driving?

Thats a bit to add, but that little bit could be just a varience in level based on temp or something. Looking for a pattern of having to add coolant. Maybe a small mark on the tank and a note on engine temp at time of checking to compare next time? Also, watch for excess pressure build up in the jug

Yeah, when it gets like mine where I was adding about a gallon a week, then you have a problem.

My light was coming on every 2000 or so miles when I had a cracked head.

35K miles and haven't had to add a drop, coolant level hasn't moved

My new heads have been run a while now (about 17K miles) and no problems with coolant level at all.

I'd probably start with the cap then move to a pressure test to see if there is a coolant system leak then move on to worry about more serious things.

This is where mine ended up....
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33209&page=3

Mine was leaking out the front of the motor around the water pump,then just quit.:confused: I assume it was the water pump seal and it resealed itself,but it was leaking quite a bit for abuot 2 weeks.

When mine did this I had a cracked block in the #6 cylinder.

I double checked under full operating temp. I am not sure that it has really gone down.

How many miles on the truck? I had to add about 1/2 gallon at 67000 miles because the low coolant light came on. Do you guys think this is normal? I cant find any leaks, and my hoses dont feel too hard after it has been running.

I have added about 1/2 a gallon of coolant over the past 5 years, but I only 40K miles on the truck. I've done it 3 times and it requires just a bit about once a year. Hope I'm OK?!
JP