truck issue (NON CHEVY)

[hammermachine]

I know its a lot to ask, but you guys have given me good advice before of other issues. Last month I traded my Dodge Magnum for a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. Everything has been fine BUT there is very little heat, and with the temp stuck around 19 to 28 daily its getting a little old. I took it to a mechanic I know, he found that the truck has been going through about a gallon of coolant every two weeks. (I had the truck there two weeks ago for a different issue). I couldn't leave it DD but what does this problem sound like? I don't see any leaks where I park at work or at home. What possible problem am I looking at and how much $$? Any advice (useful please) would be helpful.

 

[Fordum]

You would be surprised how many ways it could be losing coolant and not show it.
Low heat is probably due to low coolant.

First pull the oil filler cap and look for white stuff.
If you see it, odds are you are looking at bad head gasket, cracked head or cracked block.

I assume that you do not smell antifreeze when you turn on the heat. If so, heater core.
If none of the above, get a good bright light, and do a careful exam of anything that touches coolant.
Weep hole in the water pump, all hoses and fittings, if you have a plastic end cap radiator, look real close for a hairline crack close to the top.

You are not looking for coolant as much as stains.

You have some kind of leak that only leaks when you are up to temp and moving so that it blows away and never leaves a puddle.

A leak on the top part of the rad will let steam and hot water out, when you are going, but not leak when it cools off and the water level falls below the top.

If all that fails, and the rad cap is good, then you need to take it to a radiator shop. They can fill the system all the way to the top, and then pressurize it to find the leak.

 

[1BEATK5]

look for pink, 2002 SHOULD have red coolant, which looks pink when it drys, 4.7 v8s like to have leaky timing chain covers. not the gasket, but the cover will leak due to a porus casting. normally they leak right under the thermostat. (the t-stat is in the black plastic connector at the engine side of the lower radiator hose) also trucks seem to eat radiators, and its hard to see the dried pink trail where the tank crimp is.

crawl under the dash on the passenger's side and look for pink trails down the firewall, or anywhere around the heater box.

its possible that its head gaskets, while not real common, i have seen it. usually due to warped heads. the gasket is mls. so it doesnt "blow" due to the metal, but they will leak coolant into the cylinders.

first go over it with a bright flashlight. engine bay and under dash. then do a block test. a good shop will know what it is, and have the tool to do it. if it fails, then head gaskets and head surfacing will likely be in your future.

 

[hammermachine]

pic

I looked this morning and sofar around the coolant tank there is some stains, like it leaked from around the cap. I also openned the oil refil cap and saw white in the oil. (see pic). Does anyone have any idea how much in repairs this kinda thing will run. (I know prices vary around the country. I need to know how much best case and worst case).

 

[Indy4x4Fab]

first have ur coolant system pressure checked, most shops will charge may be 20 dollars for doing it. the white or yellowish crap on the oil cap could be a resalt of the truck sitting forr to long of a time before u bought it. (bought a 1990 ford (dont ask) ranger about 10 years ago and had the same crap under the cap to but the heads and head gaskets where fine truck had been sitting for 2 years never driven) if the truck sat for a year or so and was never driven or if the truck gets driven to work and back home but never has a chance to completely warm up then the yellowish crap will build up naturaly, simply because the the engines oil will gather up all the water vaper in to the oil as it pumps threw ur engine and when the engine comes up to full temp the water vapor will usally evaprate out of the oil. but if it never gets to that point then it will never go away.

change ur oil ur self look for any jind of film that may be laying on top of the oil in the drain pan. also watch the oil as it comes out of the drain hole. u can usally see the coolant in the oil if u have a blown head gasket or water/coolant getting in to the oil.

second replace ur radator cap its only 10 or 15 dollar. if the caps gasket is cracked or flattened then it will not seal up right and give mixed signs that may lead u to make small misgiuded concousions.

these r a couple things that r keep that could save u a couple hundred dollars in the long run. start simple then work to $$$.

 

[hammermachine]

solutions

I'll try to find a replacement radiator cap this weekend. I might have to drop her off at the mechanics next week.

 

[1BEATK5]

thats normal on a 4.7. unless its driven alot on the freeway. but otherwise pretty normal. replace the rad cap, and do a block test if that doesnt fix it.
that little fill tube adapter just doesnt get hot enough to get the condensation out, if you take the valve cover off it will NOT look like that inside the rest of the engine.

 

[hammermachine]

Update

Since last time I have changed the coolant tank (the old one was leaking), and the cap. I no longer have coolant stains anywhere visible in the engine bay. I have changed the oil every 3K (or had it done) I even had the oil flushed. I noticed two days ago the level was low in the coolant tank and added some to it. That is now gone... the level is back low again. WTF? I also now hear fluid noises in the dash board, especially when I turn corners. I have not noticed any leaks anywhere. I took off the oil cap and noticed chunky coffee colored oil inside.


I know this is bad... JUST HOW BAD????

 

[4X4HIGH]

The heads on those engines are VERY PRONE to cracking and i'll bet they are cracked and the water/coolant is being burned so that is why your water level is getting low and when the water level gets low the heater won't blow hot air and the noises you hear under the dash is the air pockets in the hearter system.

 

[1BEATK5]

Since last time I have changed the coolant tank (the old one was leaking), and the cap. I no longer have coolant stains anywhere visible in the engine bay. I have changed the oil every 3K (or had it done) I even had the oil flushed. I noticed two days ago the level was low in the coolant tank and added some to it. That is now gone... the level is back low again. WTF? I also now hear fluid noises in the dash board, especially when I turn corners. I have not noticed any leaks anywhere. I took off the oil cap and noticed chunky coffee colored oil inside.


I know this is bad... JUST HOW BAD????

Read my last post. That crap on the oil cap is normal. I work on these every day.

Only 99'-00' had heads that crack. It needs a block test to see if the gasket is blown. If it fails the block test, the heads are likely just warped.

 

[hammermachine]

Test

Read my last post. That crap on the oil cap is normal. I work on these every day.

Only 99'-00' had heads that crack. It needs a block test to see if the gasket is blown. If it fails the block test, the heads are likely just warped.

Thanks if I keep it (possible trade in) I'll have it tested.

 

[sweetk30]

i also noticed that style oil filler neck is big time prone to getting moisture buildup from the big area on top but tiny hole to the head.

didnt care much for that series engines from mopar. that was a stupid design and if i recall its the mix match combo of when the other company started pushing there ideas in .

 

[Stomis]

Read my last post. That crap on the oil cap is normal. I work on these every day.

Only 99'-00' had heads that crack. It needs a block test to see if the gasket is blown. If it fails the block test, the heads are likely just warped.

Are you serious?! That motor is so prone to condensation that it builds up water foam in the oil to THAT extent!?

Im not doubting you I just find that unacceptable. Call me hasty but if I found that in one of my vehicles I would have called bad headgasket/ warped or cracked head a long time ago.

 

[BoondocK5]

Are you serious?! That motor is so prone to condensation that it builds up water foam in the oil to THAT extent!?

I"m not doubting you I just find that unacceptable. Call me hasty but if I found that in one of my vehicles I would have called bad headgasket/ warped or cracked head a long time ago.

I had a 327 SBC that did that all the time. Engine ran great, and maybe even a little warm, around 205 degrees. Many leak down tests, even dye in the coolant. No leaks ever found, just condensation. Turned out being a miss-routed PCV valve vacuum hose.

 

[Richcz28]

Lemon law? Looks like the oil in my first car. Jeep wrangler 4.2l. Had a cracked block and had to bring it back. You can't sell a car in mass with problems like that idk about where your from.

 

[tmmby119]

I had 2004 Dakota with 4.7 V8....had the same problem. The milky crap is normal on those engines - kid you not. If you do lots of stop and go driving, the condensation will just keep on building up in the filer tube and cap. It is not a coolant, just condensation. I did have warped heads thou. Lots of posts on any Dodge forum on this problem. Due to aluminum construction there is electric corrosion that will eventually eat up enough material and cause head gasket leak. Mine was between two cylinders.....
Also had air stuck in the coolant system and thermostat stuck open and firmly corroded to its housing....fricking nightmare. Ended up selling the truck and went back to old chevys and never looked back....

.....Head jobs are expensive as hell due to the SOHC. If I remember correctly, the cheapest quote I've got was around $900 each side

 

[63chevyll]

Are you serious?! That motor is so prone to condensation that it builds up water foam in the oil to THAT extent!?

Im not doubting you I just find that unacceptable. Call me hasty but if I found that in one of my vehicles I would have called bad headgasket/ warped or cracked head a long time ago.

I agree, seems way to much. If that amount is normal then they are all junk IMO.

 

[tmmby119]

think that was Dodge excuse not to recall bad engine/gasket /head design....had you running around with minor leak and hoping that by the time it blows up you will be out of warranty

 

[1BEATK5]

Are you serious?! That motor is so prone to condensation that it builds up water foam in the oil to THAT extent!?

Im not doubting you I just find that unacceptable. Call me hasty but if I found that in one of my vehicles I would have called bad headgasket/ warped or cracked head a long time ago.

Its just in the filler neck. If you take the valve cover off, it will look fine.

Those heads are a little expensive, mostly because you normally just replace the valves and machine them flat.

Sometimes they have electrolysis that eats the coolant passages out. Mostly though they are just warped. I had one at work with 12k on it that blew the gaskets due to warped heads.


All on all its a good engine though. As long as the oil is changed regularly and kept full. Most of the bottom end failures are due to low engine oil levels.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Read my last post. That crap on the oil cap is normal. I work on these every day.

Only 99'-00' had heads that crack. It needs a block test to see if the gasket is blown. If it fails the block test, the heads are likely just warped.

Not true, I was an automotive machinist for 22 years and i've seen many dodge heads cracked that were up into the mid 2000's model. ALL of the magnum heads are very prone to cracking (1992-2003).