| From | Message |
JimB
GenIII
1/28/2002
07:39:10
|
 Subject: Opinions on Coolant Loss Please......
IP: Logged
Message:
Just about every 30 days, I check the reserve tank of my 99 Durango (5.9) and it’s down about a half a gallon. No leaks on the ground. No “puddles” in the engine area, although there is a slight build-up of crud around the thermostat. My neighbor (who seems to know everything about everything), says it sounds to him like a blown head gasket. Jeeschk! I am hoping this isn’t the case – and I hope someone could shed some light on this phenomenon for me. What could be causing this? - Jim
99 SY 3.9 Dakota Sport
99 PB 5.9 Durango SLT
|
Todd W
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/28/2002
09:39:56
|  RE: Opinions on Coolant Loss Please......
IP: Logged
Message:
Check the oil to see if there is any water in it... if there is, then it's a blown headgasket. Another indicator is a lot of 'foaming' of the oil and/or actual coolent.
|
JimB
GenIII
1/28/2002
13:08:57
| RE: Opinions on Coolant Loss Please......
IP: Logged
Message:
No water in the oil that I can tell, also no foaming of any sort noted.
99 SY 3.9 Dakota Sport
99 PB 5.9 Durango SLT
|
Dave Mitchell
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/28/2002
19:51:21
| RE: Opinions on Coolant Loss Please......
IP: Logged
Message:
Does the exhaust steam (white, not blue) alot more than usual and have a sweet smell to it? If so, the water is making it into the cylinder(s).
Are the 5.9 intake manifolds a wet manifold (i.e., coolant goes through it for warmup)?
Perhaps a bad intake gasket, if so.
Cracked head is a possibility, I believe these are still cast iron, are they not?
Cracked cylinder wall?
I would think a tremendous overheat would have had to happen for the cracked head or cylinder wall/water jacket.
I have seen head gaskets go bad and allow the coolant to enter a cylinder without getting in the oil.
|
Mark P.
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/28/2002
20:06:23
| RE: Opinions on Coolant Loss Please......
IP: Logged
Message:
I have a 99 Dakota with the 5.2L. I've been experiencing the same thing. The area around the thermostat housing is all crusty and sometimes I can smell the coolant. So far the dealership has replaced the Thermostat gasket and the housing, but it is leaking again. Last week the mechanic admited that this has been a problem. A new gasket is available and was suppose to fix the problem. I'm back to the dealer again this week.
|
Do it yerself
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/29/2002
03:27:14
|  RE: Opinions on Coolant Loss Please......
IP: Logged
Message:
My wife's Durango had the same sludge around the thermostat. Only found a very slight drip every day or so on the floor. Most likely due to the travel distance for the slight antifreeze leak.
I swapped out the thermostat (180) and I used some gasket sealer along with the new gasket. (Dad always recommended it)
Looks like that cleared up the leak.
|
JimB
GenIII
1/29/2002
07:19:16
| RE: Opinions on Coolant Loss Please......
IP: Logged
Message:
Mark P -- your description above is closest to my symptoms so far. Every now and then, I do smell antifreeze. I bought a new thermo a couple of weeks back, haven't installed it. Doesn't seem like that tough of a job. It did not come with a gasket (strange). Are you saying there is a "new" gasket available now?
Dave -- no smoke/steam from the exhaust. - Jim
99 SY 3.9 Dakota Sport
99 PB 5.9 Durango SLT
|
Mark P.
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/29/2002
08:22:08
| RE: Opinions on Coolant Loss Please......
IP: Logged
Message:
The dealer is telling me that they changed the design of the gasket to solve this problem, so I would guess it should be available. I'm still under warranty, so the dealer has been doing the work, so I've had to take their word on it.
|
Daddy-D
*GenIII*
1/29/2002
09:15:22
| RE: Opinions on Coolant Loss Please......
IP: Logged
Message:
I experienced the same perplexing coolant
accumulation around the thermostat pipe
base. I ended up replacing the pipe (the old
one had been ground down by the PO). It still
wouldn't seal with repeated new gaskets
(from local auto parts store). I finally used a
thin smear of RTV on both sides of the gasket,
clamped it down snug, waited about 30
minutes to dry, finished tightening it - then it
pretty much stopped leaking.
The thermostat pipe is a bad design, at best; I
haven't found a better replacement yet; a solid,
billet piece would do nicely.
'98 DakSport C/C 3.9 2WD A/T
|
| | P 1 |
|
Post a reply to this message:
Username Registration: Optional
All visitors are allowed to post messages
|
