Missing coolant

[granduer]

I was checking under the hood today when I noticed that my radiator coolant was not in the over flow container. I do not have any leaks anywhere that I can find. No coolant in oil, or transmission. Anyone have any ideas as to where this stuff is going? 2006 3500 5. 9l auto with 26678 miles

 

[Bill Weber]

My 97 and 04 use to loose coolant. No spots on drive. I changed coolant and hoses on both and had no leaks I could see. One cold morning I noticed a drip on the drive. It was coming from the lower radiator hose. During warm weather - no leak but when the weather got cold - drips. Tightened clamp while it was cold & no more leaks. Hope this helps.
Bill

 

[Prairie Dog]

Heater supply lines at the firewall on the passenger side are known to leak on 06's.
Sometimes just tightening them will work but many of them had the wrong type of clamp on them. It's the common style clamp which isn't supposed to be used on silicone hoses like those. If tightening doesn't stop it then get some continuous-band type hose clamps. They don't have the little slots in them and they apply equal pressure all the way around.

 

[DBurdett]

Check the hose clamp just behind the turbo. I had the same thing happen to me. I think it evaporates quickly because of the turbo heat. When I found the leak just tightened the clamp a few turns no more problem.

 

[rbattelle]

How long has it been since you last refilled the overflow bottle? I ask because if it's been a long time maybe the coolant simply evaporated.

-Ryan

 

[granduer]

Sorry for taking so long to answer back rbattlle, Have been out of town for past month... ... ... . but it has been only a few weeks and the truck is not driven much at all. So i suppose it could evaporate but I wouldn't think so just sitting in driveway.





Also I have checked all the hoses and they are tight and no leaks can be seen.

 

[AH64ID]

Check the hose clamp just behind the turbo. I had the same thing happen to me. I think it evaporates quickly because of the turbo heat. When I found the leak just tightened the clamp a few turns no more problem.

This is very common on 06 trucks...

 

[Bob4x4]

Look at the hose behind the Turbo,you will most likely see the orange crusty residue from coolant seeping. In many low mileage cases you can retorque the clamps. The permanet fix is to replace the hose,a bit of a pain but the replacement hose is a slightly smaller id and will never seep.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Look at the hose behind the Turbo,you will most likely see the orange crusty residue from coolant seeping. In many low mileage cases you can retorque the clamps. The permanet fix is to replace the hose,a bit of a pain but the replacement hose is a slightly smaller id and will never seep.

For more information and a photo of the leaking hose see TDR Issue 71, page 41.



Bill