Radiator issue?

[treefrogwade]

After I got home the other day I parked my trucked and as soon as I turned it off and stepped out I saw all of my coolant coming from under the truck. Any idears what the problem is? My truck wasn't overheating on the way home.

 

[dodge dude94]

Well, were you able to see where it's coming from?

The weep hole in the water pumps likes to let go when the engine has been shut off.

 

[treefrogwade]

No I didn't. I flushed out the rest of the fluid and filled it with water just to see if anything would leak out and it didn't. So is my water pump bad?

 

[treefrogwade]

One of my friends suggested that my coolant was low and overheated and came out of the resevoir (which didn't have a cap). Is that possible?

 

[dodge dude94]

First of all, do a complete flush and get all the straight water out. That's a great way to ***** your cooling system. Ask me why I know how.....lol

Second, your friend COULD be right, but usually when these things overheat they pop the top on the radiator and the temp gauge would have let you know it overheated. I have seen radiators fail only when they're hot though, so that's not entirely out of the equation.

Start looking for leaks in the radiator on the edges where the aluminum meets the plastic. Look at the front of the engine as well, see if you can see anywhere where it ran down.

 

[treefrogwade]

Ah well I will be sure and get all of the water out then haha. Would the radiator flush fluids make sure the systems clean or would that just be a waste of money?

For the sake of not having a big repair I hope thats what it is lol. Yeah Ill have to get under the truck tomorrow morning and see if I can see any drips. Best I can do I guess.

 

[dodge dude94]

If your radiator is clogged up use a chemical, yeah. But if not I wouldn't. Just start running 50/50 mixture in there and flush the water out.

 

[treefrogwade]

Okay perfect. Thanks for the advice!

 

[dodge dude94]

Find your leaks first. lol

 

[treefrogwade]

Yeah def. Hopefully something will show up so I can find it. Now say there are no leaks. What's my next step to finding out why it did that?

 

[dodge dude94]

There's always a leak, even if there isn't one. SOMETHING was leaking for some reason. You just have to figure out what it is.

 

[treefrogwade]

That is true, unfortunately. Well tomorrow I shall hopefully find the culprit.

 

[dodge dude94]

I hope you do as well.
Be sure to update.

 

[treefrogwade]

I will for sure.

 

[treefrogwade]

Well the answers found me lol. I drove it to work today and about mid way through the dirt road I take I lost my power steering and then got to work and parked it. Before I headed home I opened the hood and checked the power steering fluid which was fine I noticed the serpentine belt had came off. And I checked the fan clutch and its loose. So Idk if that is why I was having problems. But now looks like I gotta lot of work to do

 

[dodge dude94]

If your fan clutch is loose then you need a new water pump.


But I guess you knew that already...

 

[treefrogwade]

Ohh yes lol. I replaced the water pump serpentine belt and thermostat. I just gotta add coolant today and test drive it. What's the best way to add coolant after the water pump replacement?

 

[dodge dude94]

Through the radiator, slowly.
You'll likely need to burp it too.

 

[treefrogwade]

Oh okay so just fill it normal. Hopefully when I test it its back to operation.

 

[dodge dude94]

I wish you luck.

It will take quite a bit of coolant mixture, so fill the radiator then while the truck is running (cap off), allow it to heat up. Any air bubbles will come out and the system will start burping. Make sure you have more coolant mixture handy as it will suck in more and more until it's full.