My buddy says swap it, my wallet says fix it, for now.

I have a 2000 escalade, has the L31, 187k miles, not a bad rig considering i only paid $1200 for it with only a few cosmetic issues and no mechanical issues, until now.

Leaking coolant and i cant figure out where from, getting ready to pull the fan shroud and fan to inspect the water pump. The guy i bought it from says he replaced the intake manifold gaskets. I also don't feel like paying $50-100 for a garage to tell me something i could figured out on my own.

How it happened, my idler pulley seized, snapped my belt, limped it home, temp reached 240-250. Replaced belt and pulley, ran fine for about 100 miles now its making a "clacking" or "sucking" sound, really awful sound.

Facebook <---That's a video i took earlier today. My buddy says to put a LM7 in it, he could do it in an afternoon.

What do you guys think?

 

Prob a water pump. I don't see 250 frying a head, but it is very possible. Could have warped it enough to push coolen. As for swapping a late model LS in, your buddy is not savy on the swap. It will take more then a day. PCm, harness ect all need to be swapped.

 

Also, i don't know if this helps with investigating the problem, but my water temp stays at 150, might go up to 170, then drops back to 150, never goes any higher, this is after i put a new thermostat in it.

 

Popular coolant leaks on that engine are:

Intake manifold gaskets, engine block heater, heater hose quick-connect fittings, water pump, rear heater hoses, rear heater hose "tee", and intake manifold gaskets. (I know I said intake manifold gaskets twice, they just leak so often that it's worth looking at again).

Good luck on the fix. I wouldn't give up on it just yet.

 

Oh I'm not giving up on it, not in the least bit, my buddy was just toying with the idea. I was about to change the oil until i realized i didnt have a oil filter removal tool, and noticed coolant all over the front end of the block, my guess is the water pump. I would investigate it tomorrow, later today, but to my luck, it's going to snow about a 12 damn inches. Oh joy. I do appreciate the help.

 

No reason for a oil wrench, crank the oil filter on hand TIGHT. I don't think I have used a filter tool in 10 years.

 

Big channel-locks for filter removal, 3/4 turn past touching for filter install.