Small Radiator Leak

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Amarilu84

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I have a 2008 Dodge RAM 1500 TRX4 Quad Cab V8 5.7L. I received this truck back in 2018 to which it was owned by a single owner as a farm vehicle. I regularly maintain the vehicle. This year, it occurred to me the radiator fluid is quite old (~140,000 mi). It is unknown to me if that was the original coolant or not, and I couldn't verify that with the previous owner.

I decided to drain and flush the coolant, and then replace it. If I remember correctly, the previous coolant was an orange color. It is entirely possible that this coolant had been changed before, and the previous owner might have forgotten or been unaware. I drained the radiator, and flushed out the system with distilled water. I kept flushing it out until the water coming out of the radiator petcock was mostly clear. I then replaced the coolant with Prestone "All Vehicles" Antifreeze. I properly cut it with distilled water and topped everything off. I also burped the system to get all the air out.

About a month later, I developed a pin-sized radiator leak on the radiator itself near the top-center in one of the small pipes behind the fins. Is this something I did wrong? I thought I looked thoroughly into what types of antifreeze to not mix together, and how to completely flush a system out when replacing it with a different kind, etc. Is this perhaps a coincidence?

It's been 3 months, I have had to use 3 bottles of Barr's Stop-Leak which temporarily stopped it but it obviously began leaking again. I know it needs to be replaced. Now P0128 is going off with the thermostat and the engine is running too cool. The coolant level is fine, it's not low. I'll probably have to replace the thermostat, too, now. The nasty brown color from the stop-leak looked harmful, after 3 applications, so I drained and flushed out the system again and put clean coolant in it. The pin-hole leak hasn't gotten much bigger, but it's definitely not getting any better. I can't afford to replace the radiator just yet.

Did I mess something up from the beginning? And what can I do to stretch this thing out for 2 more months? Thanks for your help.
 
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06 Dodge

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If you used a chemical flush that could of cleaned scale away for a weak point the in the Rad, the 3 bottles of bars leak was too much and could of caused T stat to stick open thus run to cool... With using that much bars leak I would have the shop Rod the Radiator core..
 
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Amarilu84

Amarilu84

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I suppose I can look forward to having that done, too. Just for clarification, I used those 3 bottles of stop-leak once every 40 days or so, not all three at once. That probably doesn't make any difference though, considering how the product works.

I didn't use any acid flush to my knowledge. I followed an extensive guide detailing how to flush the system with distilled water while letting the engine run, slightly accelerating for 10-15 seconds, and turning the heater on full blast for about 15 minutes. I assumed this would work the distilled water through the heater core and water pump at that time.

I am not entirely knowledgeable about this stuff, but had a 'gut feeling' I should flush it out again after the 120-day mark, seeing as how I had used 3 bottles of stop-leak. Periodically, I would have to add fresh coolant/water mixture due to the leakage. It just looked dirty and I was concerned what it might do to the rest of the system.
 

chopperman1

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3 bottles? Damn, gonna plug up your radiator and your heater core. Doesn't matter that is was 40 days or 4yrs. Way too much in the system. You need to get that crap out of there, back flush your heater core multiple times and replace your radiator to stop the leak..
 

06 Dodge

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I suppose I can look forward to having that done, too. Just for clarification, I used those 3 bottles of stop-leak once every 40 days or so, not all three at once. That probably doesn't make any difference though, considering how the product works.

I didn't use any acid flush to my knowledge. I followed an extensive guide detailing how to flush the system with distilled water while letting the engine run, slightly accelerating for 10-15 seconds, and turning the heater on full blast for about 15 minutes. I assumed this would work the distilled water through the heater core and water pump at that time.

I am not entirely knowledgeable about this stuff, but had a 'gut feeling' I should flush it out again after the 120-day mark, seeing as how I had used 3 bottles of stop-leak. Periodically, I would have to add fresh coolant/water mixture due to the leakage. It just looked dirty and I was concerned what it might do to the rest of the system.
I'm glad to read that you used Distilled water as listed in owners manual, not sure if you flushed out tap the water with distilled before you filled it but that is how I was taught to do it that way you get 99% of tap water out of the coolant system, I agree with chopperman1 to make sure you flush out the heater core a few times being that is a place for gunk to hide. BTW only use a Cummins T stat I've read about owners who have had problems with aftermarket T stats failing within a year or were bad out of the box... If you ever need to change out the water pump buy a Cummins water pump they last a lot longer then aftermarket including Gates brand, but be sure to shop many places to get the best price you would be surprised how much $$$ you can save by taking the time to look at many web sites...
 
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Amarilu84

Amarilu84

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3 bottles? Damn, gonna plug up your radiator and your heater core. Doesn't matter that is was 40 days or 4yrs. Way too much in the system. You need to get that crap out of there, back flush your heater core multiple times and replace your radiator to stop the leak..
I know, I didn't have much of a choice. Well, I could have learned more about the usage of stop-leak, but alas here I am. I would replace the radiator myself, but the TRX4 is slightly different than all the regular '08 1500 videos I can find for replacing it. It's cold outside and I don't have a garage to work in. I also just beat cancer and am partially disabled, and I can't afford the downtime on the truck to do it myself. Not a sob story - just background info. I just need two more months out of it 'till I can get it replaced. I am driving it super easy like grandma's lasagna casserole was on her lap without a lid in her Sunday church outfit, in the backseat.
 
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Amarilu84

Amarilu84

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I'm glad to read that you used Distilled water as listed in owners manual
Yes, thank you - I went crazy and used only distilled water. Many, many gallons of distilled water. We save the water that comes out of our dehumidifier, and I just pour it through some cheesecloth stuff into clean storage tanks. I was probably overzealous about not wanting impurities from regular water in the system. I'm going to research back flushing the heater core and see if its feasible for me to do in the meantime. I am learning valuable lessons along the way here.
 

06 Dodge

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Yes, thank you - I went crazy and used only distilled water. Many, many gallons of distilled water. We save the water that comes out of our dehumidifier, and I just pour it through some cheesecloth stuff into clean storage tanks. I was probably overzealous about not wanting impurities from regular water in the system. I'm going to research back flushing the heater core and see if its feasible for me to do in the meantime. I am learning valuable lessons along the way here.
When they did my 06 they poured 22 gallons of distilled water into the system to flush out the tap water then added 4 gallons of 100% anti freeze then topped off with distilled, I like my coolant mix at 60/40 so that its protected to a around -54 below zero, that mix also give you great boil over protection when towing :)
 
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Amarilu84

Amarilu84

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When they did my 06 they poured 22 gallons of distilled water into the system to flush out the tap water then added 4 gallons of 100% anti freeze then topped off with distilled, I like my coolant mix at 60/40 so that its protected to a around -54 below zero, that mix also give you great boil over protection when towing :)
That's a good deal, that's what my father suggested, also. It never gets below zero here where I live, but my truck has a towing package and a 5th wheel - although I never use it. I noticed there's a separate radiator in the front just for the transmission. I wasn't sure if that was a TRX4 package or what.
 

Dodge 1500 4X4

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Your year ram takes HOAT type coolant purchase it from the dealer and get the concentrated type, that prestone crap does not belong in your truck, you need to flush that stuff out of your cooling system, a tablespoon of ground black pepper in a cold radiator(remove cap and pour into radiator) It should stop the leak if it still leaks add more, not a sure fix but will help.
 
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Amarilu84

Amarilu84

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Quick update folks: I flushed out the entire system several times. The thermostat is stuck open, probably because of all that stop-leak sludge. I reverse-flushed the heater core until it was clear water and flowing strong. Heater works great as long as your driving down the highway (because of the thermostat issue). Replaced coolant and good to go. I drove it all evening and it hasn't leaked yet. Thank you all for the help and lessons learned. I just bought a thermostat for $22 that opens up at 203F. Will either drain coolant into a clean bucket and re-use it or just clamp the hose when I swap out the T-stat.
 
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