2003 Duramax Smoke/Low Coolant/Hard Start
 

So I posted this here: https://www.dieselbombers.com/diesel...ard-start.html
but maybe people in this forum will know more...

Hello all,

I have a 2003 Duramax, currently at 172k, all stock drivetrain 4" lift with 35s. I had Injectors replaced around 150k 2 months before warranty expired, that was 2 years ago now.

I am currently having a couple problems but let me go back a bit... I was having a problem with low coolant occasionally, so I kept adding some until it got to the point where it was every other day to get to work and back (30 miles round trip). I replaced the water pump and it went back to the every few months adding it. It is getting a little more often again every few weeks I have to top it off, never a light just the warning message low coolant message.

Over the last few months I have started to have a bit of white smoke at startup until it warms up but never seemed much worse than the other cars steam on the road...

I noticed it was starting to get a little harder to start a few months ago probably around the same time as the white smoke. 3 weeks ago I rented a trailer from uhaul and it drained my batteries... Killed them. So I replaced the factory batteries. It was time...

Anyway now when I try to start it when its cold it starts to crank and sometimes suddenly stops after a few turns like it hit something solid... maybe a full cylinder ? Bad starter?

This only happens in the morning or after sitting for a full day at work etc. Anyway about 2 weeks ago right after replacing the batters the temperature dropped into the 30s and the white smoke got bad, a solid cloud for say 3-5 miles on the freeway doing 80... each morning it does this now until it clears w/e out and warms up but seems to run perfectly, no engine codes etc...

I let it sit for about 5 days over the break and went to start it and it did the usual rough start but died, had to re-prime the fuel filter. this happened to me once before randomly at the grocery store, tried to leave and it started up for about 10 seconds then died, had to prime fuel filter to restart it.

Today it was in the 60s this morning and still left a major smoke cloud for ~2 miles and on top of all of that for the first time today I noticed a lack of power getting on the freeway this morning, the first time i stepped on the gas hard, this was about 1/2 mile from my house. I was stepping on it and the rpms were increasing but in the low 2ks it seemed to have a sudden lack of power so I basically backed off the throttle, waited for it to shift and got back on it a bit and everything seemed fine for the rest of the day.

I was at work for 1.5 hours then had to run an errand and it started fine, no smoke, no power problems...

At this point im half afraid its a head gasket and injector combination but please chime in... I will check the condition of fluids tonight, I know I am well overdue for a fuel filter change and I poured in fuel injector cleaner about 3 weeks ago when I was replacing batteries. I am down to a 1/4 tank from that tank.

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So I checked the upper radiator hose before I went home and it wasn't rock hard.

When I got home I noticed that I could hear the radiator was venting pressure, I could hear it from in the cab when I turned it off, it lasted for 10 seconds?

I picked up a fuel filter on my way home and changed it and topped off the radiator (Though the fluid looked like orange coolant and some rust mixxed and there was some black specks coating the inside of the resevoir, im sure it needs a flush but? The Oil seemed ok, not sure how to really tell if there is fuel in it...

This morning it started fine and no smoke.

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I guess yesterday was a fluke. Last night I filled up and added fuel injector cleaner again... This morning the truck is already showing low coolant, and it smoked again like it was for a good 3-5 miles on the freeway and had a hesitation cranking again...

So I topped the coolant off again last night and bought a new resevoir cap, I let it run with the cap off to see if it dropped again. It kept filling up, overflowing, dropping, then fill up, overflow and drop way down and repeat. It spit just about everything I put in out... So I put the cap on and turned it off. Of course the low coolant came back on this morning... but less smoke this morning, so it seems it doesnt smoke if I release the pressure to the tank at night... What do you guys think?

Pull the glow plugs out and do a compression test. If that looks good, do a leak down test.

Hello,
I have a 2003 Duramax also and while towing my camper had to refill the coolant resevoir every 300-500 miles. The low coolant warning comes on but the guages seem ok and no smoke. I've had to have the injectors replaced twice (last about 10,000 miles ago). I have not found a leak and will get a pressure test. Mechanic says if can't find the leak, it's in the engine and is VERY expensive to fix (gasket). Any suggestions? Thanks,
bikerjames

Hydro lock, a very dagerous situation. puts a lot of stress on pistons, rods and gasket/head. i wouldn't keep running it like this if you want to eleminate posible costly engine damage.


sounds like an air leak on the fuel supply. check the blead screw and hoses for craacks, etc. fuel filter housing may need a rebuild kit

Complete Duramax Filter Head Rebuild Kit

Likely the engine was still warm and provented the coolant from acumilating in the cylerder.

Your injectors are probably ok but i'm pritty sure you got head gasket issues

drip a small amount of oil on a white paper towel and look for a distinct ring to form. diesel will worm a lighter ring around the dark drip

Fuel in Oil.. paper towel trick picture?? - Chevy and GMC Duramax Diesel Forum


hope this helps

i agree, head gasket(s). as for losing prime, merchant-automotive makes a fuel filter head rebuild kit. It's relatively easy to install. i get them from alligator performance.Their about $20+shipping. I would also replace the fuel lines going to and from the filter head, they tend to weather crack over time.