WOW. Yes, it could take that long for the coolant to leak enough out to the
point of being too low like you are now. As for the overflow reservoir, if
there isn't enough coolant in your system to keep you from overheating, then
the system isn't going to recirculate properly and the fluid in the
reservoir won't be sucked into the engine. Especially since it all leaked
out when the cap was loose, thus not building up any pressure.
Don't add just anti-freeze/coolant either. Personally, I'd just top it off
with water for now, then when doing the "bleed" procedure from the FSM, use
coolant. If you are going to wait until the local shop opens up to buy
stuff, then get the 50/50 pre-mixed stuff, and you will probably need at
least two gallons.
When you opened the hood and saw fluid all over the engine, that should have
been the first sign that you might need to top off the coolant system. Then
when you noticed there was no water in the radiator hose when you replaced
the radiator cap, that should have been the next sign that you might be low
on coolant. Then the first time you overheated, and you said the upper hose
felt cool, then once again, here's your sign. If there's not enough water
in the block to let the water touch the thermostat, then the thermostat
isn't going to open.
brian cropp
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net
[mailto:owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net] On Behalf Of
jherrman@zoominternet.net
Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:55 PM
To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
Subject: Re: DML: coolant troubles
On Sat, 31 May 2008 21:22:26 -0400, Terrible Tom
<silvereightynine@aol.com> wrote:
> well first thing first - did you add any coolant to it at all since this
> all started? I get the feeling you have not. Thats the first thing you
> need to do before you drive it anymore. It sounds like you're driving
> with it very low on coolant. You will cause lots of not-nice damage if
> coolant is not added and you continue to drive.
Thanks for the help.
I haven't added any coolant, because the overflow tank still shows
full. But I'm not driving it until I do. Once the local supply store
opens on Monday (the only place within walking distance), I will top
off the radiator and follow the FSM procedure for purging air. Then
maybe I can drive to a shop, instead of having it towed.
What I don't get is how the temp gauge would read fine for 75 miles,
presumably with a loose radiator cap (unless somehow the cap came
loose itself a day later) and then all of these overheating symptoms
appear a day later. Is it conceivable that it took that long to boil
out enough coolant to cause a problem?
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12:25 PM
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