P0380 Code and Slight Coolant Odor?

[ckkevin]

I just purchased my first diesel an 02 Silverado Duramax with 128,000. I have been getting a slight coolant odor. I think it is coming from the engine area but I am not sure. I can't see any sign of a leak but I lost some coolant on a 200 mile tow last weekend.

I also started getting a Glow Plug Circuit Performance error (P0380) The truck seems to start fine.

Any advise on finding the coolant leak or solving the P0380 problem would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping that I didn't buy someone else's problem:(

[BozDMAX]

I believe the CA trucks will throw a P0380 for a single failed glowplug. Federal trucks take a few more.

I just had injectors replaced under the 200K warranty and I had them do glow plugs at the same time for the P0380 code. They are only about $15 each, but the labor getting to them can hurt if that is the only reason you are in there.

Do a search on LB7 Glow Plugs for a good thread

[Mark Rinker]

When the waterpumps fail, they don't always leak noticeably. I'd check the waterpump for seal failure, watch carefully for coolant loss, and replace your resevoir tank cap as it is theorized that they can fail over time and cause the system to overpressurize. I just replaced both of my Dmax caps today in fact.

[Kennedy]

Check the water pump as well as the aluminum tube from the heater. These tubes often had pinhole leaks in them where the support bracket was welded on.

[ckkevin]

Thanks for the info. I am getting the coolant system pressure tested today. If my mechanic can't find the leak, he said they could put a die in the coolant that shows under a black lite.

I was really concerned about a head gasket or something serious but I think it just a minor thing. The truck seems to run okay.

Thanks again

[ckkevin]

Okay, the mechanic didn't have the correct fitting for the pressure tester so he wasn't able to pressurize the system. I did refill the reservoir to the mark on the side. I have probably put in a gallon of fluid over the last 500 miles which seems like a lot to me. 400 of the miles were towing a 9,000 lbs trailer. If I am not seeing signs of a leak could I be loosing that much through the cap?

[DmaxMaverick]

Okay, the mechanic didn't have the correct fitting for the pressure tester so he wasn't able to pressurize the system. I did refill the reservoir to the mark on the side. I have probably put in a gallon of fluid over the last 500 miles which seems like a lot to me. 400 of the miles were towing a 9,000 lbs trailer. If I am not seeing signs of a leak could I be loosing that much through the cap?
The coolant is not going "through the cap". A failed cap can prevent pressure venting, creating an overpressure in the system. An overpressure will force coolant past seals, including internals. Internals include the water pump, oil cooler and even head gaskets and bolt threads. I've seen head gaskets blown from coolant passages into oil passages on systems building up to 100 PSI. I thought it strange a hose, fitting or radiator didn't blow first, but it did, more than once.

If you are not seeing an obvious sign of coolant in the oil, change it now and have it analysed, informing the tester service of possible coolant (they will look closer for it). You are losing a lot of coolant to not see it.

[ckkevin]

I think I have the coolant issue solved. I found a small leak around the hose from the bottom of the radiator to the engine block. The clamp on the engine side was pretty loose and there was signs of coolant. I also found a pin hole leak and crack on the small hose that goes across the top of the engine. Hopefully this will stop my coolant loss.

Now on to the glow plugs. Thank for the help.

Kevin

[BozDMAX]

Kevin - How did you find the leak. I've thought I been losing a small amount of coolant and have had the truck up on the lift a couple times with some panels off looking for a leak but no joy yet. Did you use any leak detector and a black light or just a really good visual?

John

[ckkevin]

Kevin - How did you find the leak. I've thought I been losing a small amount of coolant and have had the truck up on the lift a couple times with some panels off looking for a leak but no joy yet. Did you use any leak detector and a black light or just a really good visual?

John

John,

A friend of mine and I started looking really close after I had driven it for about 10 miles. We started pushing around on hoses and looking for signs of coolant. My friend actually spotted the pin hole when he moved the hose. When the hose is in its natural position it doesn't seem to leak much but when he moved it, it starts to release pressure.

Unfortunately, we found some coolant coming out of the weep hole on the water pump today so an easy cheap fix suddenly became an expensive one. At least it was found in the garage as opposed to 500 miles from home.