coolant disappearing 2001 Astro

[dhspring]

On my 2001 Astro, I've notice my antifreeze/coolant slowing disappearing from the reservoir tank, we just took a 2000 mile trip and sure enough, it was a quart low after that trip over a week. There are no visible signs of the leak, I'm thinking it's going out the engine through a bad head gasket. The van only has 64,000 miles, has anyone else seen this problem? It's going to the dealer soon for a check, the dealer says they've seen head gasket problems in the 80-100k mile range. Just great! This motor has been around a long time and they can't get past a simple problem like a head gasket to last at least 150-200k miles?? No wonder everyone is buying Jap vehicles!

[Blue Bowtie]

The van only has 64,000 miles, has anyone else seen this problem?

Do you mean, like this?



No. Never.

[richtazz]

Intake manifold gaskets are a known problem on these vans (and every other GM vehicle post 96)that cause mysterious loss of coolant.

[strunch]

"If I'm tooling along at the speed of light, and turn my high-beams on, does anything happen?"

I'm pretty sure your lights would work normally and I don't think you could ever reach the speed of light but only get infinitely close.

[Blue Bowtie]

Do weak batteries in a flashlight make the light travel more slowly?

[Blue Bowtie]

I'll second the notion that the intake needs to be investigated first. This is not uncommon:




Notice how the pattern impressed on the iron surface by the nitrile "seal" portion of the gasket is interrupted around the coolant port, and the telltale area of rust just beyond that gap in the "seal" area?

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by dhspring

On my 2001 Astro, I've notice my antifreeze/coolant slowing disappearing from the reservoir tank, we just took a 2000 mile trip and sure enough, it was a quart low after that trip over a week. There are no visible signs of the leak, I'm thinking it's going out the engine through a bad head gasket. The van only has 64,000 miles, has anyone else seen this problem? It's going to the dealer soon for a check, the dealer says they've seen head gasket problems in the 80-100k mile range. Just great! This motor has been around a long time and they can't get past a simple problem like a head gasket to last at least 150-200k miles?? No wonder everyone is buying Jap vehicles!

Best way to find out is to have it checked out.
Start with a good old pressure test and see if it squirts out any where.
And if that does not work post back. I know of some more test and ways to find out what it is.
MT

[ejaguar]

The intake manifold gaskets crack and allow coolant to run along the lower edge of the manifold.

Some of the newer ones, the coolant gets into the valve/cam valley and eventually destroys the engine.

GM has am upgraded gasket for this 5+ hour job.

Mine was just done at 107,000 miles and luckily it was discovered that the pulley on the pelt tensioner was about to come off as the center of the pully had cracked. Left untouched the pulley could have come off and damaged the radiator and other parts in front of the engine.

This pulley is a porblem on all the vans and worth checking.

Bob M

[ejaguar]

I just had the intake manifold gasket changed on my '98 Astro at 107,000 miles.. Coolant was leaking down one side next to the head. This is a 5+ hour job.

This is a probem on all the 4.3's. If left alone the gasket can continue to disentigrate and coolant can get into the valve valley and eventually destroy the engine.

GM has made a new and improved gasket for the intake manifold.

While this job was being done it was luckily discovered that the pulley on the spring loaded belt tensioner was about to come off it's retaining bolt. The center of the pulley was cracking and when far enough along the pulley would have fallen off, probably hitting the radiator and doing other damage.

This pulley should be check from time to time. Bob M