I have a 2002 Dodge Ram. I just need a little help with a Heat problem. Not sure when this started. I live in MN, when my truck is all warmed up and I am driving the Heat works just fine. the problem is with i am slowing down stopped or just idling the Heat stops working and turns to cold air??? DO you think i have a bad thermostat or am I low on anti freeze? The truck does not over heat and runs fine other wise. I do not have any fluid in my overflow reservoir. Just wondering where I should start? Any thought and or ideas would be great. Also if you think i am low on anti freeze, do you think i should drain the hole thing and start fresh?
Thanks in advance

 

low on antifreeze. put 50/50 mix of antifreeze and deionized water in it to get it to the full mark on the resevoir. then after you drive a bit, you might have to do it again. if you haven't flushed the coolant in a long time, may be best to drain it and refill it.

 

Sounds good thanks. If I do the flush do I do a 50/50 mixture still?

Either way if I just add some or i do the full flush do you add it threw the over flow reservoir or direct into the ratiator?

 

It's a 50/50 mix if you use straight antifreeze. These engines are supposed to have the orange long life stuff, which if I'm not mistaken comes in both concentrate AND pre-mixed. Look on the label carefully, if it already says 50/50 or premixed, DON"T MIX IT WITH WATER. It will already have water in it, you'll just be diluting it further. Add directly into the radiator. You would only add through the puke can if there were no radiator cap.

 

Might also want to start by figuring out where all your antifreeze is going, jmo.

 

Thanks to you both, what is the best way to figure out if or where I mote have a leak from? I knwo a month or so ago i have anti freeze coming out of the over flow hose.

 

Finding out "if" you have a leak is easy, finding "where" you have a leak may take some time. Pick up a pressure tester from Auto Zone or wherever, that will tell if you have a leak. Then, just start looking for antifreeze pooling up somewhere, likely around the thermostat housing. You can also smell your exhaust, if it smells like eggs, you may be burning it, a.k.a. head gasket. Smell under your passenger side dash, smell something sweet? a.k.a. heater core. You will just have to look around. Maybe someone else can give you some more ideas of where to look, those are the most common I can think of.