Hello all. I have a 2002 Dodge Durango 5.9, and here is the problem. Within about 5 minutes after starting, steam slowly begins to come out from looks like under the radiator cap. The longer it runs, the more steam is coming out. The interior gauge indicates that it's running a bit hot, as it goes past the halfway Mark, which is when I shut it down.

Couple of things that may or may not be important. I just replaced 3 freeze plugs. And the radiator cap is only 6 months old.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

There was another member that had problems with the parts store radiator caps being too short, and not sealing properly...... You probably don't have the original any more??

 

Even if a part is new it can be defective. I would try another new cap. I'm sure you already know there are a couple of stages for putting a cap on which includes pushing down as you turn it. Have you also checked the thermostat to see that it is working properly?

 

I am curious as to why you replaced 3 freeze plugs?
Also when running does hot air come out of heater or just cold/cool?
May sound funny but i had a 318 had a small crack in head to where the coolant would not leak into cylinder but the compression would slowly fill the colling system and it woudl do same similar thing id get cold air from heater and it would try to push water out temp gauge would go a bit over 212 then if I ran it at fast idle or started driving it would all of a sudden push enough water/heat to open thermostat then gage woudl drop to normal and heat would start coming out of heater took me a while to finally figure out why, I replaced thermostat, radiator cap etc. one day I shut it of then when I started it it was not firing on one cylinder for a few seconds then cleared up and I found crack when I went to replace head gaskets as I thought that was the issue..