I have a '96 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5.9L V8. I have traced down the coolant leak to be a slow drip that is coming out from between the engine and transmission on the bottom of the engine, right next to the starter. The coolant will leak whether the engine is warm and running, or cold and been sitting for a week.

Is there a seal that joins the engine and transmission? What could be the issue?

 

Also, is there a risk of the coolant getting into the transmission?

 

There are freeze plugs on the back of the engine.
The transmission needs to come out to change them.
Replace them with brass freeze plugs.
You're looking at a half a days work to change a 1$ part.

The coolant can get all over the flywheel and starter but it can't get into the transmission from there.

If you let it go to long then the freeze plug in question could start pouring out all your coolant and that isn't good.

Read through this https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...e-clarify.html. There is a link to a picture of the freeze plugs in there.

 

^ +1 on all that.
some people will disagree with me, maybe many, but i'd try some stop leak before dropping the trans.

 

Just say no to stop leak for a simple (relatively) problem like this. While you have the tranny out replace all freeze plugs back there and the rest of them in the block. When you fill it back up to check for leaks run pure distiller water. It's cheaper than antifreeze and you won't waste $40 bucks if it leaks again. If all is well, drain the radiator and add pure antifreeze. Top it off as necessary.

 

Thanks guys, having someone look at it. I'll let you know how it turns out. I'm not quite ambitious enough to take out the tranny myself... :-)

 

As a general rule, I replace the rear main seal if it's more than a few years old whenever the back of the block is exposed. And of course the one time I didn't I ended up going back in two weeks later when the darn thing started leaking.

 

+1 on the stop leak, for something small like this a bottle of stop leak will probably do the job and alot easier and cheaper than taking the tranny off.

 

the only way the rear main can be changed on these trucks is by droppin the oil pan

 

I also had this happen on my 00 with the 5.9. I went in, ready to pull the tranny and found that the rear freeze plug on the passenger side of the block was corroded and leaking. I was having it drip down, and appeared as if it was coming between the engine and tranny also, but luckily it wasnt.

Replaced it with a brass plug and havent had a leak since...