Coolant in Combustion Chamber

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2019 GMC Savana 3500, 2019 GMC Savana 2500, 2019 Chevrolet Express 3500, and 2019 Chevrolet Express 2500. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Special Tools

EN-48974 EGR Cooler Pressure Tester Adapter Set
J-46901-1 Charge air Cooler Tester

Inspection	Action
DEFINITION: Excessive white smoke and/or coolant type odor coming from the exhaust pipe may indicate coolant in the combustion chamber. Low coolant levels, an inoperative cooling fan, or a faulty thermostat may lead to an "overtemperature" condition which may cause engine component damage.
Preliminary Inspection	Verify that there are no external coolant leaks. Refer to Loss of Coolant .
Isolate Affected Cylinders	Cylinder balance test with scan tool Cooling system pressurization Inspection of glow plugs Compression test Cylinder leakdown test
EGR System Inspection	Inspect EGR cooler using J-46901-1 tester and EN-48974-1 and EN-48974-2 adapters. Replace the EGR cooler if any problem is found.
Cylinder Head Gasket Leakage	Remove cylinder heads of the affected cylinder bank and inspect for damage. Replace components as necessary.
Cylinder Head or Engine Block Damage	Inspect the cylinder heads for cracks and warpage. Inspect the cylinder block for damage. Inspect the cylinder block to head mating surface for straightness. Replace components as necessary.