Coolant Leak Magnum 5.9L

[joepizuro]

Hello. Let's start off with that fact that I have general knowledge of vehicles but can't name much under my hood.

I have a 5.9L Ram 1500 and it's got 190k miles. I use it for hauling hay and my horses. Usually 50 bails in the bed and 60+ on the flatbed. Or just a trailer with two horses.

The other day I went down to someone's house to give them a ride because they got their truck stuck up in the hills and as I was pulling in my hood was smoking because it overheated so I jumped out popped the hood and noticed my coolant was bone dry. I filled it up and noticed it's spraying out on the right side of the engine somewhere and it's spraying it out whenever I step on the gas. I couldn't tell you what the part is that it's spraying from but I suppose tomorrow I can take a video for you guys. Everyone tells me it could be a pump gasket. I love this truck and want to at least drive it to 250k miles.

The coolant could've went dry in the past two days and I didn't notice because I never check but it was the first time it overheated for sure.

 

[SmokedRam]

When you say the right side of the engine, do you literally mean the right side of the engine or somewhere on the front, on the right?

 

[joepizuro]

Beside the oil cap. So more to the front I guess.

 

[joepizuro]

This isn't my truck but it looks the same so i circled where I mean.

Found it on Google. Mine's much dirtier haha

It's spraying somewhere out of there..

 

[SmokedRam]

Sounds like your bypass hose is blown bud.

 

[joepizuro]

Can I fix er on my own? My gas tank is already held up with Ratchet straps so aslong as it holds I'll do it.

 

[SmokedRam]

Yeah, you'll have to pull off the AC compressor and bracket to get to it...might as well replace the water pump while you're there.


Do you seriously have your fuel tank held in by ratchet straps? Thats dangerous as hell bud...get that fixed ASAP.

 

[joepizuro]

They been holding it up for 2 years. Two in the front and two in the back. They each are rated at a 500lb. I only keep my gas tank half full anyway. Um is the hose going to be cracked somewhere or what? If I have to do this I wanna make sure it's the hose.

 

[SmokedRam]

Yes, it will be

 

[joepizuro]

So I couldn't use some kind of sealant on the hose then tape it up?

 

[SmokedRam]

No, you need to replace the hose bud...replacing the hose is gonna be cheaper...don't half ass it man.

 

[joepizuro]

Do I need any special tools for taking these hoses off and ****?

 

[SmokedRam]

Just a socket set or wrenches...pliers for the hose clamps.

 

[joepizuro]

Will give er a shot tomorrow. Out here n west virginia I gotta go over to Ohio for a damn auto zone.

 

[SmokedRam]

If it is for sure the bypass hose cracked, you will want part#A71651 from Autozone...hope ya get it all fixed up.

 

[joepizuro]

I'll pull it into Auto zone's parking lot and take it apart before I go in.

 

[Hotroder383]

LOL I'm sorry but reading this reminded me of my little brother and all his "fix's". Not that hard of a job, bit bigger pain if you do water pump.

 

[Mopar1973Man]

Not a hard job... Did mine when I pulled the manifold off to redo gaskets. Everyone is correct you need to pull both the alternator and A/C compressor and the get the bracket out of the way.

 

[joepizuro]

I ran some Bar Stop Leak stuff through it before I took anything apart because a guy that works on trucks for a livin told me it wasn't the bypass hose he guaranteed it. So now it doesn't leak anymore. Going to flush half out tomorrow and put more anti freeze in it since it's running on water.

 

[SmokedRam]

You'll never get all that stop leak stuff out...it will hurt your cooling system in the long run. It's your truck though...