This might be a silly question: Is the o-ring on the dipstick intact? If it's not, get one on there.

About the only way I can think of to clean the inside of the dipstick tube without risking that some paper or rag might get loose and into the crankcase would be to remove it and take it to the solvent cleaning station or tank. I think I'd just replace the darn thing rather than go to all that bother.

 

Well I have been sitting idle by seeing if I can make it till income tax but today radiator was leaking at bottom opposite of cap. I just replaced it in January of 2011. I was asked if head gaskets were leaking and I told them no since I wasn't a hundred percent if they are and also it would void my warranty. I am taking its a tale sign that they are. Whats so strange is that the water temp may be around 200 degrees at max. I havent even hit the middle point of the gauge at any time or even got hot. Trying to find my wife last paycheck stub to go to H&R Block to get the money in as soon as possible to start the process going. Since its my first time, I am going to buy another truck manual to go step by step. Thankfully I can borrow my father in law truck while I work on it. I have to replace the radiator tomorrow so maybe run with the cap loose? Any ideas will help me make it work till I can do the whole thing. Thanks

 

There is a drain plug on the drivers side of the radiator, make sure it isn't simply leaking from there.

 

I did look there and it didn't look like anything was wrong with it. Im guessing that it may have split right on the bottom seam. It was leaking enough to have a puddle in a few minutes. I am suppose to get my father in law truck to drive till I can it back up. I had to drop my wife off at work this am and like normal temp been staying 200 or less. Either the temp gauge isn't reading correct or I am really getting lucky on not over heating the motor? I mean you can smell that sweet smell but it doesn't seem to be getting hot. Were going to see if H&R Block can do our taxes with the next to last pay stub so I can get the ball rolling on just taking it down to replace all the gaskets and PVC valves, new water pump and thermostat, new radiator. I checked all my freeze plugs. they are fine. I mean other then time, its not that expensive to do the heads and be done with it. If i risk it and loose another radiator. then they will know for sure and void my warranty and that another $147.00 pluse tax to add to cost. dang things are plastic now.

Thanks guys for the help

 

my 99 ram has the same problem, I owned 4 dodge rams, many grand cherokees and a dakota, and a durango. they all had magnum v8's in them and every time I changed my water pump my timing cover would start leaking right afterwords. it always either dripped on the harmonic balancer or would run down the front side of the engine and drip off my steering bars and run down my oil pan along tho pan bolts and drip between pan and transmission.... or wherever gravity takes it.. lol, I would get a sweat smell when the motor would get warmed up because it is burning the coolant off the block, i never overheated either. right now I loose about a resorvoir bottle of water every day or two now, but in my old ram i had bought dirt cheap the previous owner had let it go for too long and it would loose all the water within 10 minutes and overheat the engine. i bet 90% chance it is your timing cover gasket, and it is best to change the timing chain and gear set as well at the same time, these magnums are known to stretch their timing chains, i would go with a double roller they last longer. that is what I bought just haven't had time to install it yet in this freezing weather . If you need help on changing the timing cover gasket and timing chain and gears you can PM me. I have done it many of times. it is pretty easy, just takes a few hours of time and some tools and I can guide you step by step and tell you the tools you will need. most all you can rent at autozone and wont cost you anything once you bring them back.

 

Did you loose oil too? I know that every so often, I would have to add oil to it. I never seen any oil on the ground either so I just presumed it was burning oil even though it has never smoked. Before I do the gaskets, I am going to drain the oil to see if its still water free. then I will just focus on the timing cover if its clear. the radiator has to be replaced since its leaking now. I just didnt understand why it went since the motor its elf didn't get hot? Like I said earlier it has never even reached the middle point on the gauge. this has to be the weirdest thing I have even went through. cant believe they are making plastic side for a radiator.......

 

yea my truck is using oil too, and no oil leaks anywhere, engine is so clean i can eat off of it, motor itself has around 95,000 miles, I do not burn oil, i can go high on my rpms driving it with engine hot and cold when i tested it and no smoke no knock, same with it sitting still, but i do get a ticking sound at around 2,300-2500 rpm under load but i believe it is spark knock, it has a 5.9 v8 swap running on a 5.2 factory computer that has been re-flashed to a 5.2 with deathflash on accident which could be why. been that way for over a year and for the 25,000 miles i put on it in the 1 year and tick never got louder or worse. I have a new water pump, new radiator new thermostat and temp sensor, my temp never reaches 190 it sits around 180, i installed a 180 thermostat and it ran so cold the heater was luke warm so i swapped back in a 195 thermostat for winter and it sits just below 190 with needle at about 11 o clock on the gauge and never gets any higher, never overheated and i have a coolant leak and oil use but nothing is mixing. it used oil since i did the motor swap. I replaced the plenum and intake manifold gaskets because my plenum was blown thinking it would curb the oil usage which is common on these motors, maybe my plenum is leaking again or gaskets did not seat right. i used felpro gaskets with stock plate cuz i was low on cash but cleaned the inside intake and plate with carb cleaner and brake parts cleaner and a scrub brush so clean it looked brand new, the proper way is using a hughes kit aluminum plate with shorter bolts. maybe your plenum is blown if you use oil. you can loose oil and water if the timing cover is bad depending where the gasket goes bad you can get oil to mix in with the coolant. I have personally seen it happen. plenum is a 2 hr job in the driveway. will take longer if it is your first time but not too bad. good to fix that if you are already taking everything off to do the timing gasket. *** the timing cover gaskets do get bad with age and also when a water pump is removed the pressure is taking off the gasket and then put back on when the pump is re-bolted on and that usually stresses the timing gasket out enough to make it leak. happens almost every time with me on a factory timing gasket.. If you plan on keeping the truck and if you don't mind throwing money at it into parts so you don't have to keep tearing it down i would replace timing cover gasket, timing chain and gears, water pump, thermostat, temp sensor, lower intake gasket set/plenum gasket, and of course radiator since yours is bad maybe a serpentine belt too since that has to come off anyway, then you should be good for years to come without turning any wrenches on the engine

 

Mine has never smoked. I just figure I will again drain the oil and see if there is any signs of water in the oil. The last time, I didn't see any but yet the dip stick is white all the way up so its back. My biggest problem is that its not a for sure on what is exactly going on there. several things have been pointed out that could be the cause. The radiator is leaking so it will be replaced as well as the water pump since they both are still covered under warranty. Since the timing cover may be leaking, then I will changed everything there as well. I just figure since I am going to be on it, I am going to do the right thing and do the deed and go from there. This is my first time so I will be buying another Chilton book since I cant find my old one. With the motor only having 134,000 miles on it and they say they go a easy 240,000, I figure its worth putting the money into it as well its paid for. At least it waited till close enough to tax time before it started to get this bad. fixing to move the boat and clean out a area in the back yard for a tear down. Poor old truck needs a dash since Dodge was so cheap there. lol

Thanks Guys