Losin a little coolant.

[Okie-Go]

Going to Oklahoma in the am. and noticed yesterday the water reservoir was empty. I put about half a quart in the radiator and about two quarts in the overflow tank. Is it normal to lose a little water. Long trip tomorrow and just kinda concerned. I will have a trailer and loaded pretty heavy coming home with wood. I park in the garage and no spots on the floor. It has never ran hot. Any ideas?

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2001 quadcab slt 2500 HO 6spd. LWB,2wd,dk garnett red, trailer tow package,camper special, anti spin 3. 54 axle, speed liner,oversized stainless steel chicken slide,66 gallon in bed aux. tank,K&N air filter,Reese 20k hitch, Terry 2000 EX 30ft. double slide 5er, 2000 20ft gooseneck for haulin jeep, firewood and huntin stuff. 5X12 tagalong for haulin the 4 wheeler. Okie Newton

 

[Archive]

Do a visual inspection of the water pump and then run your fingers along the bottom all of the hoses and clamps. The hose from the radiator to the surge tank needs to be double checked. If no coolant is discovered during this examination slowly remove the radiator cap (cold engine) and inspect the seals and filler neck for cuts or debris. If that checks out the cooling system and cap need to be pressure tested. (15 PSI. ) Also, do you smell antifreeze with the heater on? Pull the dipstick and examine the condition of the lubricant. If the unexplained coolant loss continues, change the crankcase oil and send in a sample for laboratory analysis. I hope this helps out and that it turns out to be a minor problem.

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1999 White SLT Dually Auto 4:10 Posi. NOT BOMBED... ... ... ... (very much) 28,000 miles

 

[Guest00]

I had 3 thermostats that would leak with engine warm and only over 2500rpm. Would leak and run back on the hot head and evaporate. It would not leak cold and under pressure. I noticed that I was low on coolant while in Seattle. Went to cummins shop and they pressure tested cooling system. Water temp 190* @18lbs it would just dribble a little. They did not have a new t stat so I watched the coolant level on the trip home, used a gallon. It took 2 more t stats to finally get one that would not leak and it does not hold engine temp for poop. constant fluctuation between 160 to 190 even under load.
FYI

[This message has been edited by JNutter (edited 03-10-2001). ]

 

[jmeehan]

You probably put more miles on your rig then I do, so this may not be of any use.
A while back I noticed my 300 c. i. ford was loosing coolant. It wasn't until I got it out on the road (24 hours straight of driving at highway speeds) that I saw where the coolant was evaporating on the block. Until then it never got hot enough to leave a trail that I could see.
Turned out I had a broken head bolt, but you know that ford put up with 5,000 miles of 70+mph like that.
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ex Ford tech, now driving '01. 5 2500 4X4 QC LB ETH/DEE SLT 3. 54, Patriot Blue

[This message has been edited by 85CJ (edited 03-10-2001). ]

 

[DennyDay]

Had the same problem at about 15K miles -- cap looked good, but that was problem

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Denny
'99 2500 4X4 White short Q cab to much added to put here

 

[CWade]

We are working on an ISB powered Freightliner ambulance at work with a cracked block. When we called "Rapid Serve" (a neccessity if a Cummins dealer want's to get paid for a warranty claim) they told us that was the 8th one they had heard of. The crack on this one is along the ridge on right side of the block below the freeze plugs and behind the block heater. Causes an external water leak. Hopefully Dodge didn't get any of the bad ones.

Charlie

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2001. 5 3500 Quad Cab 4X2
HO, 6 spd, 3. 55AS, Jacob's brake, patriot blue, 22K Reese 5th wheel,Reese digital brake controller, Isspro pyro & boost gauges, Snap-On tool box

 

[John]

Okie-Go, it may be prudent to have an oil analysis done... if it was some sort of internal leak it would show up in the analysis.

 

[maint.man]

Just a quick point, When mine started loosing coolant, I found it in the crankcase. The first place I noticed it was on the oil fill cap in the form of condensation. DC did put in a short block so problem solved , just thought I'd pitch in my undervalved . 02

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1996 3500, slt,club cab, Cummins, auto,3. 54 posi, straight pipe,A-pillar boost,trans temp,pyro ,stock plate and afc slid all the way forward, K&N, DTT VB

6 IN A ROW AND BUILT TO TOW

 

[TomGolden]

Okie-Go,

I experienced the same thing about 1000 miles ago, now at 10700 miles on truck. For about a month, when I checked every weekend, the resevoir bottle was almost empty. Added maybe 1/2 gallon total, has been stable ever since. Never noticed any leaks or any problem from 0 - 9000 miles, then suddenly started getting low. I posted this same question here in January I think. Some suggested I check the weep hole in water pump, loose radiator hoses, etc. . Someone else suggested that if I hadn't used the heater much yet, there may have just been air in the cab heater section of hoses. Have used the heater quite a bit since then, now no more missing coolant.

FWIW

Tom

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Tom Golden
Godzilla: Patriot Blue 2001 2500 SLT QC 4X4 LWB ETH/DEE, Tow & Camper packages, 3. 54 Ltd. Slip, 4 wheel disc ABS, Isspro EGT/boost gauges, black SmittyBilt nerf bars, K&N RE-0880 & pre-filter, no silencer ring, TDR decal, Jack holiday antenna ball

NRA Life/CRPA/El Dorado #26 F. &A. M. of California

 

[Okie-Go]

Just got back with 10,000 lbs of wood and 5x12 with the 4 wheeler. Everything looked dry. Will buy a cap for the radiator just for fun. Thanks, Okie

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2001 quadcab slt 2500 HO 6spd. LWB,2wd,dk garnett red, trailer tow package,camper special, anti spin 3. 54 axle, speed liner,oversized stainless steel chicken slide,66 gallon in bed aux. tank,K&N air filter,Reese 20k hitch, Terry 2000 EX 30ft. double slide 5er, 2000 20ft gooseneck for haulin jeep, firewood and huntin stuff. 5X12 tagalong for haulin the 4 wheeler. Okie Newton

 

[Runaway]

While installing pyro/boost gauges toaday I decided to check intercooler clamps. Found traces of anti freeze under truck, but not on ground. resovoir down to the add mark. Looked like the lower radiator hose on radiator side may have seeped some. Will monitor over the next week or so be fore taking in.

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"01" Forest Green QC/LB ETH/DEE,4x4, 3. 54LSD, VDO (boost, pyro) Westin SS Nerf Bars and Grill Gaurd, Delta tool box, K&N.
00 28' Jayco 5th Wheel, 86 "Classic 16" Alumacraft, 00 Honda Rancher