# Loosing coolant in Tahoe

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/loosing-coolant-in-tahoe/108086>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** chevrolet, tahoe\
**Created:** [September 25, 2017, 11:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loosing-coolant-in-tahoe/108086 "2017-09-25T23:56:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 11\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kescott1910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/958977/32.png) [@kescott1910](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kescott1910)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 11:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loosing-coolant-in-tahoe/108086/1 "2017-09-25T23:56:00Z")

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2004 Tahoe with 225k, 2wd, rear air and heat. For several months, I’ve had to add a little coolant about every 6-8 weeks. Have never been able to find a leak. Thought coolant concentration Had just gotten to low so I flushed coolant this week end and replaced with GM Dexcool. Loosing coolant faster than ever now. All hoses and area I disconnected are bone dry. Using a small mirror, I see a small hose not connected to anything that’s located just below the A/C dryer. This hose is a constant drip. Doesn’t smell like coolant but could this be it and what is it? Thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 12:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loosing-coolant-in-tahoe/108086/2 "2017-09-26T00:15:21Z")

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AC systems, because they are cold, cause condensation from the atmosphere. that hose is probably for the condensate water.

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**Author:** ![kescott1910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/958977/32.png) [@kescott1910](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kescott1910)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 12:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loosing-coolant-in-tahoe/108086/3 "2017-09-26T00:25:42Z")

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Would this hose still drain if I had full heat on in the Tahoe?

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**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 12:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loosing-coolant-in-tahoe/108086/4 "2017-09-26T00:35:28Z")

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If defroster was on yes.

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**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loosing-coolant-in-tahoe/108086/5 "2017-09-26T00:42:03Z")

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Sounds like your heater hose(s) or the plastic connections are leaking

One of your heater hoses is a shaped hose, the other is a bulk hose.

As for the connections, they’re plastic tees, one black, one white

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**Author:** ![SteveCBT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevecbt/32/3192_2.png) [@SteveCBT](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveCBT)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 1:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loosing-coolant-in-tahoe/108086/6 "2017-09-26T01:25:16Z")

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The little hose is probably the drain for the AC, condensed humidity from the air drops out, normal condition. Check your oil cap for a chocolate milky deposit. That would be a sign of coolant getting into the engine through a head gasket leak.

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 3:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loosing-coolant-in-tahoe/108086/7 "2017-09-26T03:12:00Z")

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Good idea as referenced above to immediately check the engine oil and the automatic transmission fluid to make sure the coolant isn’t going there. Coolant getting into either of those systems could do a lot of expensive damage if allowed for any length of time.

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loosing-coolant-in-tahoe/108086/8 "2017-09-26T21:01:37Z")

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Not that replacing head gaskets will be cheap…

A mechanic I talked to a few years ago said he’d recommend replacing the engine to a customer with a lower mileage used engine rather than doing the head gaskets. He said the cost was similar and you got a 35,000 mile engine. These engines last a long time so low mileage units are really cheap in the salvage yards.

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**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 10:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loosing-coolant-in-tahoe/108086/9 "2017-09-26T22:52:22Z")

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I agree with those that say that this small hose is just the drain for the AVC condenser.

As @SteveCBT & @GeorgeSanJose said, check the oil filler cap for signs that coolant is getting into the oil. That would be bad!!!

Yosemite

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**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loosing-coolant-in-tahoe/108086/10 "2017-09-26T22:56:57Z")

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and they get brittle after time. plastic here is a horrible idea, lol

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**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loosing-coolant-in-tahoe/108086/11 "2017-09-26T23:34:01Z")

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I’ve got a 2008 Yukon w/rear hvac in my bay right now

Both heater hose tees are leaking . . . right onto #8 ignition coil. Coolant level was about 1 gallon low
