I was driving my truck and the check guages light came on. I noticed the temperature was pegged hot. I pulled over and noticed that my antifreeze overflow was full and blowing out of the lid. Its like it siphoned into the overflow, because prior to that there was hardly any antifreeze even in the overflow.
98 Dodge Ram 1500, 4x4, 318

 

Do a compression check. Could be a blown head gasket building pressure in the cooling system.

 

Engine overheated, pressure built up, and the radiator cap did it's job, it vented excess pressure.... goes into the overflow bottle. Need to find out why it's overheating.

 

Since there was no coolant/fluid in the overflow bottle prior to your truck overheating, I'd suspect that you have a coolant leak somewhere, at a minimum. Things to check for are a leaky heater hose or water pump hose, leaky water pump or thermostat housing or water pump bypass hose, leaky heater core, leaky freeze plug, cracked/leaking cylinder head(s) or head gasket(s). To test the cooling system to try to find the leak, fill the radiator up with water and pressure test the system. You can rent the pressure tester at most auto parts stores.

 

I performed a pressure test and notice a small amount leaking from the bottom of the radiator. I'm going to flush it out tonight and put some Barr's leak in it. Someone said to make sure I bleed the air out of it. They said I should have a valve on the highest point somewhere. Does that sound right? Also, should I try to take the drain plugs out off the motor when I flush?

 

Replace the radiator and flush the block. Using leak stop products is merely using a band-aid and not a suitable solution.

 

Unless funds are incredibly low and your truck is expendable to you soon, veto the stop leak idea. Replace the radiator! If funds allow, here is a great radiator option:

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...-radiator.html

 

It appears that my radiator wasnt leaking after all. I re-did the pressure test on the system and didnt see any leaks. I checked the water pump and the pully had play in it when I moved the fan and it was making a whining noise. The guy at the auto parts store told me that that was a sign that the water pump was going. I replaced the pump and just tested it out and again the truck is overheating. I just replaced the therostadt in the winter, when I performed the plenum repair. I dont know what else to do!!!

 

Well, make sure the t-stat is still working. lol T-stats can go bad quickly if they want to.

 

The lower raditior hose was burning up and the upper hose was cool. Is that normal, after running it for about 5 minutes?