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Hey everyone! So my precious pavement princess dakota has been having some troubles recently. I looked up the issues and couldnt really find anything on here other than the possibility of blown head gaskets, but i dont believe that to be the case.
For refrence, its a 2001 4.7L Dakota.
It was leaking coolant out the water pump, so i had that replaced. And now it is randomly dumping coolant all over the drivers side of the engine bay. Leaving a puddle and making a mess all over. It appears to be either coming from the overflow reservoir or the cap on the top rad hose. Im not sure which. But it did it one day when i was going home, and parked in the driveway, then it just did it when i stopped for gas, it has been almost 3 days since it did it on my driveway, and its only doing it when I stop and turn the truck off. It just got a new motor and rad along with waterpump. So what could it possibly be? I was thinking it might be the radiator cap but im unsure. Heres some pictures of it covering the whole driver side of the truck
Is this a simple fix or is it time to sell the Dak?
Thanks in advance
have you replaced the upper hose, or is it still factory?
its still the factory one that was on my old motor. Is it a common issue? And if so should I go OEM for a replacement or is there a recommended aftermarket one to get?
I had a coolant leak on my '03 Dakota 4.7 that was very random like yours and it was the upper hose you pictured. It wasn't that severe, but still a leak none the less. I didn't hesitate to buy aftermarket, it's a simple part, and easy to replace if it did fail again quickly.
I also had an '01 Dakota 4.7 (RIP) that had a bad head gasket and when it got a too warm it would spit coolant out the reservoir like a gyser. Hopefully that's not your problem!
You're right in that it's a common leak. The neck has no support for repeated pushing down to remove the cap and it eventually cracks. Shouldn't be hard to spot, esp under pressure. Just use a broomstick etc to push up/move the assembly while hot. Or gently with gloves and goggles That way u dont get spewed with hot coolant. I bought a cheap neck, just the T, and it failed in a year. Got the mopar hose assembly from Advance Auto a few months ago and am now conscious of how hard I push down on the cap.
You're right in that it's a common leak. The neck has no support for repeated pushing down to remove the cap and it eventually cracks. Shouldn't be hard to spot, esp under pressure. Just use a broomstick etc to push up/move the assembly while hot. Or gently with gloves and goggles That way u dont get spewed with hot coolant. I bought a cheap neck, just the T, and it failed in a year. Got the mopar hose assembly from Advance Auto a few months ago and am now conscious of how hard I push down on the cap.
That actually makes so much, sense, with how I have had to put new coolant in after I put the new motor in, after the new radiators, and after the waterpump all within a short span of time!
Thanks for that. I just replaced the piece today and Ill update you all if I have any more issues.
You may while your at it replace the thermostat as well. Might even go with a lower temp one to keep things running cool.
The 4.7 thermostat is down underneath where the lower rad hose meets the block. I don't suggest going with a lower temp thermostat with this engine or running conventional oil. You want water condensation to burn off and avoid sludge.... like the stuff you already see under the oil fill cap.
Coolant leak
