i have a 1990 B250 Dodge Ram Van, i haven't driven the van a lot since i bought i from someone about 6 month ago, mainly for the monthly grocery trip.....last time i took it for a drive of about 2 miles, i discovered when i pulled back into the driveway it started smoking a little bit but since i was home already i just turned it off and checked when it was cooled down and didn't see no major damage or anything, i was going to refill my radiator this morning and to my shock the coolant fluid is spilling straight out again when i pour it in, it seems to come from the oilpan at least thats what it looks like...ahhhhh....i really needed the van cause my other car just broke down also and my husband is in iraq for another 10 month.....i have no idea nwhy it would spill out soo badly. PLEASE any advice on how to get this fixed would be so appreciated, i don't have the money to take it in and pay an arm and a leg to get it running again. thanks in advance

 

Does the van have an overflow bottle or are you putting it directly in to the radiator? The first thing to check would be the upper and lower rad hoses and the radiator itself. Next check the heater hoses. If its none of those could be a freeze plug. You should be able to trace it down

 

I agree with the previous post.... check the hoses first for cracks. That's typically the first step. Squeeze the hoses to check how "pliable" they are. There should not be any noticeable cracking adn it should feel "rubbery and somewhat pliable, not brittle or hard. As for coming from the oil pan, it couldn't do that unless the engine blew a head gasket ANd you have a leak in you oil pan which is not likely. The freezer plug scenario is also viable, but not common.

You may also want to chekc to make sure that the hose clamps didn't come lose. It's possible that the hoses are "okay" but that a hose clamp might have worked its way lose for some reason.

My one concern is your comment about "smoke". What color was the smoke? Did you know what the temp gauge did when you first noticed the smoke? It may be nothing (i.e. steam from when radiator fluid leaked out and touched something hot). then again, it could be something else.... related or unrelated.

Good luck.

 

There are several things that cause me some concern.

You drove the van for two miles.It sounds like it was overheating.Overheating on that short of a drive is one of two things.
1.There was no coolant in the radiator to start with.
2.There is a blown head gasket that blows the coolant out.

You were going to refill the radiator the next day.Is this something that you have to do regularly?
The coolant is pouring straight out the bottom.You must find out where excactly,radiator,hoses,or God forbid,the engine,so that we can suggest a plan of action.
Do you know anyone that you trust to come to the van and look it over?Don't drive it anywhere untill you get it to hold water,you could severely damage the engine.Permanently!!!
Thank your husband for me for his service to our country.
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