Coolant leak - water pump or head gasket??

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Coolant leak - water pump or head gasket?? - 6/4/2004 10:59:29 PM    vtxer   Posts: 1 Joined: 6/4/2004 Status: offline First time here! Great site! I have a massive coolant leak that started about 4 days ago. I had replaced my water pump about three monthes ago and everything went fine. Well, about 3 weeks ago, my 3.9 v6 ran hot to around 230 degrees. Thank god I was home before I noticed. I checked my radiator and it was empty. Alright, so I fill it up thinking that I didn't put enough coolant in when I did the water pump switch and that it just overheated and boiled out. Filled 'er up and was fine until Wednesday of this week.. ugh.. another overheating problem. This time I didn't make it home. It overheated at about the same temp as before but I did manage to make it home after a couple of cool downs. Now-- I can't make it past 25 miles before all the water leaks out.. It trickles out at a pretty good pace when you kill the engine and when it runs- it just blows the water around but at a slower rate. Will a head gasket leak this much to empty a radiator in 25 miles? If it is the water pump, its leaking at the very top and running down the side of the block. Also- there isn't any internal leaking according to the oil dip stick. So, any suggestions? Thanks! Post #: 1

RE: Coolant leak - water pump or head gasket?? - 6/5/2004 12:52:35 PM    DarkHamlet Posts: 109 Joined: 5/2/2004 From: SPS, Honduras Status: offline Maybe a hose is broken, a little cut. As the years passes the hoses turn to get harder and crack. What year is your truck? _____________________________ DarkDays Are Coming (in reply to vtxer) Post #: 2

RE: Coolant leak - water pump or head gasket?? - 6/9/2004 8:00:42 PM    TravR/T   Posts: 20 Joined: 2/11/2004 Status: offline I'm probably off here... but have you checked the freeze plugs? (in reply to DarkHamlet) Post #: 3

RE: Coolant leak - water pump or head gasket?? - 6/9/2004 9:22:16 PM    DarkHamlet Posts: 109 Joined: 5/2/2004 From: SPS, Honduras Status: offline Maybe one of the hoses y not well pluged in it place, check the tips of the hoses. _____________________________ DarkDays Are Coming (in reply to TravR/T) Post #: 4

RE: Coolant leak - water pump or head gasket?? - 6/9/2004 9:48:57 PM    JCswm   Posts: 363 Joined: 5/9/2004 From: Florida Status: offline quote: ORIGINAL: TravR/T I'm probably off here... but have you checked the freeze plugs? Fill her up with water and climb under...... Check the freeze plugs .... Find out where the leak is comming from & let us know!!!! _____________________________ I still fix Dodges, and I'm pretty good at it!!! (in reply to TravR/T) Post #: 5

RE: Coolant leak - water pump or head gasket?? - 6/16/2004 10:53:18 AM    40intrepid   Posts: 132 Joined: 2/2/2004 From: United States Status: offline You might be able rent a cooling system pressure tester from a parts store. You just attach it to the radiator filler neck and pump up the pressure to the PSI on youre truck radiator cap. The pressure will help pinpoint the leak. (in reply to vtxer) Post #: 6

RE: Coolant leak - water pump or head gasket?? - 6/16/2004 9:26:38 PM    RuckstaR   Posts: 103 Joined: 5/29/2004 Status: offline I highly doubt your head gasket is to blame. With a leak of that magnitude into the heads you would be billowing white 'smoke' out of your exhaust. If you are still concerned about the head gasket, pull a few spark plugs and check them out, if you have a serious coolant leak into the heads your plugs will look incredibly clean and polished, they will have no carbon buildup and may also have a green tinge to the electrodes and the ceramics. It seems logical that your water pump is at fault, as this is the only thing in your cooling system that has changed, could be defective seals, or perhaps it just wasnt torqued enough and now its come loose. Whatever the reason, like was previously mentioned fill 'er up, start 'er up, and watch for the waterfall! Good Luck _____________________________ 2004 Ram 1500 SLT Quad Cab, HEMI, 4x4, 3.92 Anti-Spin, Sport Pkg., 20"x9", Infinity. Flowmaster 40 Series (in reply to 40intrepid) Post #: 7

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