Having some engine issues.

[DatLiftedSS]

got an 03 SSS with 136000 kilometers and i keep having to add coolant every once in a while. The truck runs fine and the oil looks good apart from a little bit of sludge on the drain plug magnet on the last oil change which i believe to be unrelated, if i pull the oil cap off after driving it there's a little bit of smoke that comes out so I'm guessing what I've got on the drain plug is piston ring or bearing material but not sure, anyways that's unrelated, my main question is where could my coolant be going? i have no burnt coolant smells and the truck doesn't smoke, I see no evidence of coolant in the oil although I've read with the GM dexcool its hard to tell when it gets into the oil, and i see no evidence of a exterior leak anywhere. am i missing something here?

[someotherguy]

You can put a cooling system pressure tester on it to see if it's got an external leak anywhere; under normal driving if it's not major it could be blowing away or evaporating before you can see it.

If you don't see an external leak anywhere.. go ahead and borrow/rent the chemical block leak test kit.  Read the instructions closely.  It'll let you know if there's combustion gases in the cooling system, i.e. head gasket failure or cracked head(s).

Richard

[DatLiftedSS]

Thanks Richard,

ill do some testing this weekend and add an update if and when i find something.