04 Silverado

[91XJBUBBA]

Any suggestions:
2004 Chevy Silverado 5.3L 4x4

Issue:
Burning oil and losing coolant.
No visible leaks anywhere, nothing out of radiator, waterpump, hoses..Fearing the worse...Possible Head Gasket...

Any Advise??

 

[joe_peters]

Have the oil tested, compression test, test the coolant for combustion gasses.

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

Any suggestions:
2004 Chevy Silverado 5.3L 4x4

Issue:
Burning oil and losing coolant.
No visible leaks anywhere, nothing out of radiator, waterpump, hoses..Fearing the worse...Possible Head Gasket...

Any Advise??

Had the exact same problems with our old 2004 Silverado, also with the 5.3L. Problems began around 70-75K and then by 124K it was done. For the amount of coolant we were losing (a gallon or so every 3-4 weeks) I couldn't find it anywhere. I could smell it after you ran the truck and shut it off like it was an external leak but couldn't see it anywhere. Also didn't see it in the oil or transmission fluid. Truck saw 70-100 highway miles every day and was babied. I even tried the water pump as many on the chevy truck forum suggested that they like to leak from the pump (replaced the pump and used metal felpro gaskets)....still no luck.

I did some researching and it turns out there was an issue with some of the 5.3's around that time having cracked heads. I never did tear into it to figure out what was wrong. Eventually we started losing oil pressure (had to run 20W-50 to keep the pressure up). We had planned to keep the truck and get a new motor for it, so I went ahead and did a transmission service at 120K. 4K later the tranny started slipping (knew I shouldn't have touched it after 100K!). We drove it to the Toyota dealer in September of 2008 and drove home with a new Tundra.

I ran a carfax on the Silverado shortly after we traded it and they did a complete transmission flush. Haven't done one in a while...would be interesting to see if it shows a new motor.

 

[CherBear]

Sounds exactly like the 0331 head problems with the 4.0, I would put my money on the head.

You can send your used oil to a few companies, they will test it for coolant and a few other factors as well to help you diagnose other problems.

 

[91XJBUBBA]

Guys this is very disturbing. I replaced the water pump this weekend..It was time a little leak out the bottom I couldn't see. Just so happens my buddy has been having the same issue with his truck and found out to be a cracked head this weekend...Then this morning went to start the truck and it sounds like a lifter is out...once oil pressure goes up the tick goes away...I am going to send my oil out this week and hope for the best...but not looking good...thanks for all your input..

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

Guys this is very disturbing. I replaced the water pump this weekend..It was time a little leak out the bottom I couldn't see. Just so happens my buddy has been having the same issue with his truck and found out to be a cracked head this weekend...Then this morning went to start the truck and it sounds like a lifter is out...once oil pressure goes up the tick goes away...I am going to send my oil out this week and hope for the best...but not looking good...thanks for all your input..

Good point...forgot about the sticking lifter...we had that problem too. Used to take up to 10 minutes or so for the ticking to go away even though the oil pressure came up quickly. Was mainly a problem on cold starts.

 

[warwagon98xj]

correct me if im wrong but isnt the 5.3 ohc?

 

[Johnnie Walker]

correct me if im wrong but isnt the 5.3 ohc?

NEGO. Uses pushrods.

Sounds like a headgasket to me.

 

[JXPEEJ]

might be leaking coolant at the intake gaskets into the manifold.