2004 Dodge Dakota 4.7L V8 Coolant Loss

[jgillott]

My father has a 2004 Dodge Dakota with the 4.7L V8 that is loosing coolant. The truck is in excellent condition and only has just over 50K on it. Currently, it is using/losing 1 cup of antifreeze every 100 miles or so. It is never wet directly under the water pump, but does have a couple of drops hanging on the front crossmember every once in a while.

I have been all over that truck trying to find anything other than the water pump as the culprit. All the hoses are fine, the radiator is dry all around, and there are no signs of leaks around the heater core. It blows no water out of the exhaust, there is no sign of antifreeze in the oil etc. I have had it up on the lift and the entire truck is dry with no signs of antifreeze around the freeze plugs etc. I've pressure tested the cooling system and it held just fine. I also did a compression test and again everything checked out OK.

Am I missing something? All I am seeing externally is a drop or 2 on the front crossmember and again the bottom of the pump is not wet ever when I check it. I have no problem replacing the pump but it kind of bothers me that it is losing that much from the pump without it being wet. Any thoughts?

 

[DonFitzwater]

One of my coworkers has the exact same truck and we ended up replacing the water pump and a couple of other items and the leak still persisted........ultimately ended up being the top radiator hose that houses the radiator cap. We replaced that and the cap and the small leak has disappeared. We had symptoms like yours, small amounts of water when viewed from beneath and that was all.........and a little coolant loss.

 

[jgillott]

Thanks. I'll take a look at it tonight.

 

[jgillott]

Don, did you find a leak on that top hose before you replaced it? The one on my father's truck is dry.

 

[GrantP]

I have the 4.7 in my wifes 2003 Grand Cherokee and feel like I've had considerable experience with this problem. In it's 150k existence I've had to replace the water pump gasket three times. The water pump itself has never failed me but the gasket does. I did put on a new pump last time though. His pump is probably fine and you can get a new gasket from Napa for under 10 bucks, you'll spend more than that on the coolant but it is a cheap and easy fix.

 

[jgillott]

Thanks. I'll look in to that. Between this issue on his and the oil consumption problems I've had with my 1/2 ton, I'm starting to hate these engines.

 

[GrantP]

Mine sucks oil too but at 150k I'm not going to put any money into it. Hopefully it will find a new home soon.

 

[jgillott]

Mine sucks oil too but at 150k I'm not going to put any money into it. Hopefully it will find a new home soon.

Yea, I ended up putting rings in my '10. It's a ticking time bomb at this point (it literally ticks on a regular basis somewhere in the driver's side valvetrain). Next failure is going to be a crate engine. Not rebuilding it again.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Don, did you find a leak on that top hose before you replaced it? The one on my father's truck is dry.

No. Just by chance I noticed a drop of green on the bottom of the hose and figured what the hell and replaced it. Still going strong and I just looked at it yesterday. Still full of coolant.

I gotta say, when a 4.7 is running right they are a zippy little engine but they don't seem to hold up as well as the 5.7's. This has been my experience anyway.

 

[jgillott]

Thanks. He's going to have to nurse it along for another week. I have a few days off between Christmas and New Years and I'll look at it then. Probably going to replace the pump and hoses at the same time.

 

[Wayne M.]

Small coolant leaks are pesky- especially when they evaporate before you can see them. The '14 was sipping coolant and you could smell it from the grille on a hot day. During the fall PM I finally found it- a bit of sweat on the right side rad tank. I'm waiting on a rad now. Warranty.

 

[jgillott]

Yea I know what you are saying. Sometimes they will at least show some signs of deposits where it is evaporating off. This time there is nothing.

Interesting about you Durango. I just read on another site that they had similar issues with V8 Challengers.

 

[Wayne M.]

I see a lot of radiators on new cars. One factor I consider are the conditions of the roads. We have horrible roads. Lots of jostling and twisting.