Towing ability of 2004 Suburban 5.3L, 4.10, 4WD

Jeremiah, I find myself thinking about that day a lot. I had the burb geared down locked in 2nd pulling the camper up that brutal west-east grade. I always keep an eye on the tach but that day I had to get around the big rigs with their flashers on and my eyes were off the tach for a few seconds. From the sound of the engine (that I was very used to after several years of owing it) I don't think I ever got over 4K rpm, but maybe that was enough. When we first acquired that burb there was a leak from the rear of the intake. When the engine blew years later my Chevy tech friend remembered that intake leak and he said that if any coolant got into the crankcase from that intake leak that the bearings could have been compromized by that leak and the final trip up hill could possibly have spun the bearing due to load plus damaged bearings. He said he had seen damaged bearings from coolant leaks before.

BurbMan, thanks for the explanation and info. My 5.7 with the hd towing pkg does send the oil through the radiator. I hadn't planned on replacing that. It has been flushed well by the Chevy dealer. I think we've already replaced the radiator but not positive at the moment. If not I guess radiator and external oil cooler will need to go (carringb did mention scope creep didn't he). I think I'll call the local dealer and ask about GM crate motor issues if they didn't install it.

Thanks to all,
MartyW