Uh oh, I've got a lil problem... Coolant Leak when plugged in

CoreyPerez · 03-01-2002, 05:51 PM

Here is the situation folks,

3 Days ago I plugged in the truck for the first time (for me) and I seem to have developed a little problem (I think)...

I plugged in the truck at about 8p and the weather was about 50-55deg but was supposed to get cold that night. It ended up only dropping about 10 deg that night and when I got out in the morning there was about 2 - 3 quarts of fluid on the ground under the truck! I had no idea just what it was at the time, I looked under the truck, no visible leaks, and when the hood was open, there wasn't any thing around where I thought the leaks would be coming from. I had just changed the fuel filter the night before & I thought that could be the problem, only the leak area was P/S Front, vs. D/S Rear of the engine. Well everything looked all right, but I did hear a "boiling noise" which I figured was from the heater heating the coolant or oil.

Next morning, same thing, just a smaller puddle, and when I parked the truck the next night (last night) there was a small puddle where it was before I re-located it into the drive way. This time I crawled into the engine compartment because this had to be coming from SOMEWHERE! And this time I seen that it was anti-freeze. Well I found it, there is a small hose / pipe that comes out of the radiator hose/block connection on the P/S front of the engine. It looks like the hose that leads up behind the oil filter may be leaking, this hose leads into the heater core. Now my question:

This isn't some sort of "Over pressurization" thingie, or boil off valve in this area is there? I've never had a problem until the night I plugged this in, and there doesn't seem to be a problem unless the truck is plugged in. Also notable, this truck leaks less and less each day that I plug it in, but its also been getting colder.

Repair Options: Although just a length of 5/8 or 3/4 heater hose (about 4") and some new clamps may fix the problem (Good time to change the coolant & put in some new additive huh?) I'm wondering if there is more to this than what it looks like. Is this a special part from Dodge/Cummins? I'm thinking that the 45 degree elbow right next to this leak may be a special part...

Thanks for any suggestions,

Signed:
Lost & Leaking

(Corey)