bigred318
Junior Member
hey everyone, this is my frist post so don't hate...please.
i have a 98 1500 with a 5.2 and recently ive been losing coolant slowly but surely. i noticed some will drip out of the exhaust and from time to time will get white smoke. its not a huge white cloud, but occasially i will get some white smoke/ steam/ whatever it is. the truck does not idle rough, maybe a little high? (i dont have a tach). its not overheating, and again, its losing coolant slowly not dramatically. my question is, is it a blown head gasket or plenum gasket? cracked head? its always started, but every now and then it will sound like its going to bog and shut down but it always ends up starting. ive heard of something called blue devil, its suppose to 'stop coolant leaks'. its about $60 and im not sure if i should beleive it. i read up on it and replacing the plenum seems straight forward but time consuimng, i would replace the valve cover gaskets as well. i heard the head gasket is really what takes time (unless the plenum and head gasket are the same thing??) dont know. well, im looking for some advice on what could be the problem, how to fix it and what the parts would cost or a reputable place to order them from? thanks guys - shaw
i have a 98 1500 with a 5.2 and recently ive been losing coolant slowly but surely. i noticed some will drip out of the exhaust and from time to time will get white smoke. its not a huge white cloud, but occasially i will get some white smoke/ steam/ whatever it is. the truck does not idle rough, maybe a little high? (i dont have a tach). its not overheating, and again, its losing coolant slowly not dramatically. my question is, is it a blown head gasket or plenum gasket? cracked head? its always started, but every now and then it will sound like its going to bog and shut down but it always ends up starting. ive heard of something called blue devil, its suppose to 'stop coolant leaks'. its about $60 and im not sure if i should beleive it. i read up on it and replacing the plenum seems straight forward but time consuimng, i would replace the valve cover gaskets as well. i heard the head gasket is really what takes time (unless the plenum and head gasket are the same thing??) dont know. well, im looking for some advice on what could be the problem, how to fix it and what the parts would cost or a reputable place to order them from? thanks guys - shaw
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