That was close!

[2013megacab]

Friday afternoon we pulled into a campground after being on the road for over two weeks. At a fuel stop about 25 miles back I thought I smelled coolant. I looked under the truck and under the hood and didn't see anything out of the ordinary so we continued to the campground, where I smelled it again. After unhitching and pulling the truck around to the rear of the trailer, I spotted a small leak, just drops, from the front end. As we stood there, it started getting worse. After several minutes, it was a serious leak. In about ten minutes the overflow tank was empty.

Luckily I have the Ram service contract, so I called the roadside assistance number and they dispatched a flatbed. When the truck arrived, I started the truck to pull it out so he could load it. When I put it in gear and started moving I discovered I had no power steering and no power brakes. I was able to stop without hitting the trailer behind me and with a great deal of effort I got the truck lined up to tow. My wife was standing in front of the truck and when I got out she told me she heard a bang. When I looked at the front end I noticed a serpentine belt hanging down. My best guess is the water pump had completely frozen up and either the shaft broke or the belt hopped off the pulley.

If this had happened on the road towing a 9000# trailer at 60 mph I can't imagine the consequences. I have had several vehicles loose water pumps, but they went out over a period of months, not minutes, and not one of them failed so catastrophically. I don't know if this is common, but if you think you have a water pump going out, don't waste any time getting it fixed.


Al

 

[gsbrockman]

If this had happened on the road towing a 9000# trailer at 60 mph I can't imagine the consequences. I have had several vehicles loose water pumps, but they went out over a period of months, not minutes, and not one of them failed so catastrophically. I don't know if this is common, but if you think you have a water pump going out, don't waste any time getting it fixed.


Al

Happened to me pulling a 37' gooseneck horse trailer in Huntsville, AL. I understand EXACTLY where you're coming from. I was able to get the rig stopped fairly easily due to Tow/Haul, exhaust brake, and thankfully----little traffic.

 

[tp0d]

Lost water pumps every 60k miles in my old 2010. traded it in before the 3rd one started acting up..

good rule of thumb, 60k miles, new pump.. will be doing this schedule with my 2016

-j

 

[NIsaacs]

Lost water pumps every 60k miles in my old 2010. traded it in before the 3rd one started acting up..

good rule of thumb, 60k miles, new pump.. will be doing this schedule with my 2016

-j

I guess Cummins don't make them like they used to. My '01 lasted 250k, '91 is on the original at 316k and my Ford Cummins is at 160k with oem.

To the OP, Your overflow bottle was empty when you stopped, probably at your last over night shutdown or before. When your engine is hot they don't feed your cooling system.

Nick

 

[2013megacab]

I guess Cummins don't make them like they used to. My '01 lasted 250k, '91 is on the original at 316k and my Ford Cummins is at 160k with oem.

To the OP, Your overflow bottle was empty when you stopped, probably at your last over night shutdown or before. When your engine is hot they don't feed your cooling system.

Nick

Maybe under normal circumstances, but I watched it go from half full to empty. Every one I know about will put fluid back into the engine when the pressure drops. The pressure dropped because of the leak.


Al

 

[Ozymandias]

I had the same many years ago on my Jeep, with engine running the water just dropped out, with stopped engine it flowed away within minutes.
Drove home with it, filled water every 100Km. Worked fine. The Jeep had a level in it that chimed when the water in the overflow tank was low. I miss that feature in the Dodge.

 

[NIsaacs]

Maybe under normal circumstances, but I watched it go from half full to empty. Every one I know about will put fluid back into the engine when the pressure drops. The pressure dropped because of the leak.


Al

I guess with a huge leak like you experienced it is possible, especially since you caught it before the water level dropped enough for the system to be over heated and build excess pressure. Let us know what the shop finds.

Nick

 

[Cummins12V98]

My RED 98 has 400k on original pump. Problem no matter where you buy the new pumps from they are all Made in China!

 

[K9Kodi]

Yea I don't think it's Rams or cummins fault, I don't recall them making the water pump.

 

[NIsaacs]

Yea I don't think it's Rams or cummins fault, I don't recall them making the water pump.

It may not be their fault but it is their responsibility, especially Cummins. If they out source the water pump, they need to find a higher quality supplier. I see more and more newer trucks with the water pump failing. Something as simple as a water pump should go 100k plus miles. The good news is, they are cheap and easy to install

Nick

 

[K9Kodi]

I agree 100%. But I'm sorry to say I believe they are picking high quality parts, I just don't think the parts are being built to the same level of high quality. High quality today seems like mid at best of yesteryear

 

[Newsa]

Weird that the OAT coolant is supposed to last 100,000 miles..... and the water pump typically doesn't?

 

[gsbrockman]

Weird that the OAT coolant is supposed to last 100,000 miles..... and the water pump typically doesn't?

Actually....it's 150,000 miles for the OAT. Speaking of which.....I'll need to change mine in about another 7k miles :-laf

 

[Newsa]

Actually....it's 150,000 miles for the OAT. Speaking of which.....I'll need to change mine in about another 7k miles :-laf

Or, maybe they changed the OAT when the water pump was replaced?

 

[Newsa]

If you do it (change the OAT), let us know the cost. Sounds expensive if it lasts that long.

 

[gsbrockman]

Or, maybe they changed the OAT when the water pump was replaced?

They only replaced what was lost due to the pump being changed.

If you do it (change the OAT), let us know the cost. Sounds expensive if it lasts that long.

It lists for $24.95/gal for the concentrate.
http://www.moparpartssource.com/p/Chrysler__/ANTIFREEZE-US-Coolant-Gallon/42449182/68163848AA.html

 

[2013megacab]

I guess with a huge leak like you experienced it is possible, especially since you caught it before the water level dropped enough for the system to be over heated and build excess pressure. Let us know what the shop finds.

Nick

Unfortunately I didn't get any more information from the service rep about the failure. I was curious about how the belt came off, whether it threw the belt or the pump shaft failed. He didn't know and I was in a hurry to get on the road.

Al