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...it sounds as though the coolant loss might be indicative of a head gasket problem. Do a cylinder leak-down test.


I'm thinking along the same lines. The truck has 195k on it, I was hoping to make it to 200k and then rebuild the shortblock, likely over this next winter. During the winter, even with 20w50 I get a lower end rattle until the pressure gets built up, then it goes away. I've been hoping to get a 2.6 and rebuild it, that way I can swap it out in a weekend after I get the engine rebuilt.