Coolant leaking

[magothy1]

Hello folks, been awhile since I've been here, which is a good thing, no problems, til now.



I have a 2003 3500 HO, 218,000 miles. I see coolant running down the front of the engine, if I was to guess it's coming from behind the fan. I had thought it was the upper radiator hose at the engine end, but I put another clamp on and it still leaks. There's a drip there but I think it's being slung onto the hose by the belt. Anyone been thru this, any diagnostic ideas ?



Thanks,

Steve

 

[goodguys75]

did you check the water pump... coolant can go anywhere and it can be a wild goose chase...

 

[Alaskaskiff]

Water pump is likely. That was how mine was leaking. It was masked for a while because it was raining so water from the road was washing away the coolant under the vehicle.

 

[seafish]

218k is not bad at all for a water pump... unfortunately the new ones, even from Cummins, don't be seem to lasting even half that long.

 

[NGuzik]

Sounds like a water pump

 

[magothy1]

Thanks, guys, I'll be trying to get it fixed this next week. That was my guess, but I'm no automotive mechanic. Changed pumps on the old 855's many a time, but vehicle stuff is not my cup of tea. All those wires and hoses and no room make me nervous.

Bad news on the replacement life, tho, but that's how it goes nowadays.

 

[DennyDay]

Water pump is easy to replace - - only 2 bolts - - - and you don't have to repmove the fan - - just take fan belt off the idler pulley to make more hand room and fish it out. Geno's has em in stock, you'll have in a couple of days - - and Geno's has a sheet that comes with the pump with hints for making replacement easier. with 218K miles the water pump was on borrowed time. The replacement pump is small enough to carry under the drivers seat and you will always have a spare!

 

[Cosmo]

If it's not the water pump, and you haven't done a good job of keeping up on your coolant, there's a freeze plug located behind the idler pulley bracket.

The Cummins water pump is probably the easiest water pump in the history of the world to replace.

 

[TGVET]

Water pump is easy to replace - - only 2 bolts - - - and you don't have to repmove the fan - - just take fan belt off the idler pulley to make more hand room and fish it out. Geno's has em in stock, you'll have in a couple of days - - and Geno's has a sheet that comes with the pump with hints for making replacement easier. with 218K miles the water pump was on borrowed time. The replacement pump is small enough to carry under the drivers seat and you will always have a spare!

I got over 246K on mine. I don't know why some last longer than others. Could the quality of lubrication/maintenance have an influence ?