So the other week I received a 97 dodge 1500 5.9 with about 140000 miles from a fellow coworker. The guy said it has been sitting for about 5 years and has a coolant leak. So I went and bought a new water pump and replaced it I also got new spark plugs and wires and swapped them out. Got it all put back together and turned it on and I still have a slight leak but not near as bad as with the old water pump. I tried to see where it was coming from and it looks like it's coming from behind the water pump. So I thought maybe the top hose was leaking. I took off the alternator, compressor and mount to get to the whole hose. There was alot of build up from underneath the mount but it all seems too dry to have a leak coming from the top hose. After doing a little research and apparently the timing chain case is a frequent problem around 140000 miles. I'm thinking this could be the case cause I believe there is an internal leak cause I have white exhaust blowing out.

So I guess I'm wondering what you guys have to say about this?
Also what else would you guys recommend for tunine this truck up?
I already plan on changing the oil and transmission. Air filter looks pretty damn new so I'm not worried about changing that.

Thanks in advance!
Skylar

 

Hope it's a head gasket, because if it's not it's expensive.

 

Smell the exhaust, Is it antifreeze or oil? At 140K the plenum gasket is another thing to look into.

 

So the other week I received a 97 dodge 1500 5.9 with about 140000 miles from a fellow coworker. The guy said it has been sitting for about 5 years and has a coolant leak. So I went and bought a new water pump and replaced it I also got new spark plugs and wires and swapped them out. Got it all put back together and turned it on and I still have a slight leak but not near as bad as with the old water pump. I tried to see where it was coming from and it looks like it's coming from behind the water pump. So I thought maybe the top hose was leaking. I took off the alternator, compressor and mount to get to the whole hose. There was alot of build up from underneath the mount but it all seems too dry to have a leak coming from the top hose. After doing a little research and apparently the timing chain case is a frequent problem around 140000 miles. I'm thinking this could be the case cause I believe there is an internal leak cause I have white exhaust blowing out.

So I guess I'm wondering what you guys have to say about this?
Also what else would you guys recommend for tunine this truck up?
I already plan on changing the oil and transmission. Air filter looks pretty damn new so I'm not worried about changing that.

Thanks in advance!
Skylar

 

Welcome to the forum. Not a good idea to make your email address your username.

 

Ya my phone auto-ed it in and now I don't know how to change it...

 

Just in case you weren't aware, that top hose from the radiator to the motor connects to the housing for the thermostat. Make sure the 2 bolts holding the housing to the block aren't loose, and that the hose clamp is tight.
Also, the Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor screws in right beside it.


Again, Welcome!

 

This looks like a duplicate of thread started on 4-30.

 

You are correct. Merged the duplicate threads. Noobs...lol