Hey guys n gals. I have a 2000 ram 1500 5.9.
stopped at a stop sign and noticed what I thought was smoke coming from under the hood . Got er home just as temp was hitting 120. Blowing straight cold air . no leaking hoses but no coolant in rad. Did.notice small goldish flakes under rad cap tho. Water pump maybe? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

 

The goldish flakes were probably from some variety of stop-leak someone put in to cover the leaking head gasket...... That coolant is going somewhere.

 

Smoke under the hood is either coolant leaking and burning up or over heating. Since you said the gauge said 120 you weren't overheating. These trucks are known for cracked heads and will burn coolant and oil. That's where mine was going in my one 2nd gen. They wouldn't explain the smoke under the hood

 

Your temp reading will always show low if you are out of coolant, yet your engine will be overheated. Hope you didn't crack your head(s), Probably just a head gasket or if your lucky a freeze plug or hose.

 

My question becomes, is the Fahrenheit, or Celsius?