Weird radiator cap problem

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David Vandercook

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Well, I haven't run my truck in a couple weeks, today was the first day above freezing we've had for a while, so I ran my truck for a bit. It started with some persuasion and 3 batteries lol, but once it started I saw coolant dripping out the radiator cap. I pulled the cap off, and there were no bubbles, just coolant coming out slowly. I cleaned it up, dried it off, and put it back on and no more problems. Why would it be leaking in the first place? All I can think of is Change of air pressure since it's ungodly cold for Arkansas, is that even possible though?
 

rzr6-4

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1) What is "ungodly cold"? Below freezing?

2) Are you using anti-freeze or just straight water?

Any pressure diff from the temperature swing would normally backfill into the overflow tank. Your situation (depending on your responses to the above) has me wondering if things started to freeze and couldn't back flow correctly.
 

Wild one

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Well, I haven't run my truck in a couple weeks, today was the first day above freezing we've had for a while, so I ran my truck for a bit. It started with some persuasion and 3 batteries lol, but once it started I saw coolant dripping out the radiator cap. I pulled the cap off, and there were no bubbles, just coolant coming out slowly. I cleaned it up, dried it off, and put it back on and no more problems. Why would it be leaking in the first place? All I can think of is Change of air pressure since it's ungodly cold for Arkansas, is that even possible though?
Look for leaks, if the coolant started to freeze,it can cause issues with things like the rad /hoses/heater core etc. leaking
Sounds like your anti-freeze was a bit on the weak side and it started to gel/freeze and as RZR says it couldn't flow through the rad properly
 
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David Vandercook

David Vandercook

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Thanks, my coolant is probably right at 50 50 or a bit higher on water, it stayed below freezing for five days and got as low as 15 degrees, so I guess I might have got a bit of freezing. It did backflow a good deal into the overflow tank and was circulating just fine once it got up to 100 or so.
 

Wild one

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Thanks, my coolant is probably right at 50 50 or a bit higher on water, it stayed below freezing for five days and got as low as 15 degrees, so I guess I might have got a bit of freezing. It did backflow a good deal into the overflow tank and was circulating just fine once it got up to 100 or so.
Sounds like it'd started to gel,i'd test the antifreezes strength David.
 

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Thanks, my coolant is probably right at 50 50 or a bit higher on water, it stayed below freezing for five days and got as low as 15 degrees, so I guess I might have got a bit of freezing. It did backflow a good deal into the overflow tank and was circulating just fine once it got up to 100 or so.
Who ever thought you folks down south would be enjoying a mid-west winter? I'm sure your vehicle isn't the only one down there having issues this week. Hopefully you were lucky enough to escape the snow.
 
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David Vandercook

David Vandercook

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Who ever thought you folks down south would be enjoying a mid-west winter? I'm sure your vehicle isn't the only one down there having issues this week. Hopefully you were lucky enough to escape the snow.
Lol nope, we got 10 inches of snow, almost a record for AR. No snowplows and steep mountain roads too. I feel real sorry for the folks in Louisiana though lol
 

rzr6-4

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Who ever thought you folks down south would be enjoying a mid-west winter? I'm sure your vehicle isn't the only one down there having issues this week. Hopefully you were lucky enough to escape the snow.
Lol nope, we got 10 inches of snow, almost a record for AR. No snowplows and steep mountain roads too. I feel real sorry for the folks in Louisiana though lol

One of my Nebraska friends took a trip to Florida this week. He's sending me videos of it snowing while he is sitting in a hot tub. I'm sure that's not what he was expecting when he booked the trip.
 

Scott06HEMI

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Lol nope, we got 10 inches of snow, almost a record for AR. No snowplows and steep mountain roads too. I feel real sorry for the folks in Louisiana though lol
I live in New Orleans. We got 12" of snow at my house. Kids loved it but it shut the city down from Monday night til Friday afternoon. It was CRAZY.

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David Vandercook

David Vandercook

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I live in New Orleans. We got 12" of snow at my house. Kids loved it but it shut the city down from Monday night til Friday afternoon. It was CRAZY.

Dang! 12 inches the one time it decided to snow there. That's more than we got here
 

turkeybird56

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Thanks, my coolant is probably right at 50 50 or a bit higher on water, it stayed below freezing for five days and got as low as 15 degrees, so I guess I might have got a bit of freezing. It did backflow a good deal into the overflow tank and was circulating just fine once it got up to 100 or so.
U talking about your 85/6 Dodge w/318?

Check rad cap U may need new.

Get on that coolant mix. Being under 50/50 no bueno. U need be 50/50 to 60/40.

U prob had some freezing going on so get that coolant mix back to where it needs to be.

Check over system insure no leaks and check system operation: like heated hoses, rad cap and thermostat op.

All above IMHO.
 

Hardracer

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One of my Nebraska friends took a trip to Florida this week. He's sending me videos of it snowing while he is sitting in a hot tub. I'm sure that's not what he was expecting when he booked the trip.

Yep..little while back news said it snowed on the gulf side(other side)of my county....wasn't that cold.upper 30s here for a brief spell.
 

TJP440

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One of my Nebraska friends took a trip to Florida this week. He's sending me videos of it snowing while he is sitting in a hot tub. I'm sure that's not what he was expecting when he booked the trip.
 

TJP440

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And we have had near ZERO snow (knock on wood) which is unheard of. Not to mention our temps have been pretty mild in comparison to years past. We had one cold snap that lasted about a week. Fine by me
 
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