ok guys awhile ago i was sitting in traffic and i noticed my temps got real close to two hundred. when it cooled of i checked the coollent and i was very low so i just filled it back up and look for leaks but dident find any. also i cannot see the weep hole on the water pump so i couldent look for that clue. but today i just decided to check the codes just for fun and i got the po217 code i know this means but i am wondering if i cant see any visible leaks where is my coolent going.

 

Check the face of your radiator... There has been several problems with the breather bottle puking oil all over the radiator face and plugging it up. You might want to pul the radiator and clean it. As for the leak you might have to start it up cold and watch and look it over while it warms up. -OR- Find a radiator tester and pressurize the system with about 12-15 PSI and you should be able to see the leak while it cold.

The big problem with finding coolant leaks is the coolant dries up before you can see it normally. So check any spots where it might of left a water mark or deposits.

 

There was a post a few years ago about taking about 3' of 1/2" copper pipe, adapting it to a garden hose, cap the end, cut a few slices in it with a hack saw, and useing it to get between the radiators. I need to make one. The radiators get really clogged up with oil & dirt from the oil breather.

 

i use that thing once a month b\c of all the bugs, it makes a huge difference.
dieselfan

 

I've fixed that problem... I've got a piece of hardware mesh (not window screen)in front of the radiators and coolers... No bug problems...

As for the puke bottle that been fixed to permanently...
http://www.frontiernet.net/~mopar197...kcase_vent.htm

As for cleaning the radiators you might want to spray down the radiator with some simple green it with help release the bugs and grease when you go to wash it down...

 

ok i got a couple of queastions if my radiater was clogged would that cause the coolent turn to steam and leak out the radiater cap and if a clogged radiater would cause leaking in general. also where can i get a pressure tester if cant seem to locate one.

 

Overheating too hot will cause steam to blow out past the cap.
A clogged radiator will not leak, just one with a hole in it.
Pressure tester at a garage or garage tool supplier.

 

well i borrowed a pressure tester. hooked it up and pressured to about 25 and dident see anything leaking then to 40 and still no leak. so i busted out the flash light and started going crazy looking everywhere. well i crawled behind the transfer case and looked at the back of the head and there was all kinds of build up from coolent evaporating before it hit the ground. so i guess now i have to do a head job. Does anybody know any good mechanics around san antonio tx that can do this kind of work. also i have done head jobs on chevy v8s how hard is the cummins compared to that also i plan on doing headstuds so i got that covererd

 

ok just checked prices on head studs i dident realize that they cost 450 dollers. wow that much for some bolts, dont burn me for that comment. I dont know if i am going to run twins but should i get the studs if i do my head

 

If your going to remove the head you should have it checked to make sure its flat and just as well have some o ring groves cut in so when you get some compounds it's done. Studs as well.

dan

 

For cleaning the radiator, is it better to use air instead of water, or does it matter? Someone said water might damage the cooling fins. I've tried air, I'd like to rig up a washer and try that too, don't want to tear up my radiators though.

 

I use a 1,500 PSI power washer to clean mine... But I don't get right up next to it. (stay about 6-9" from the radiator) Been doing this for the life of the truck now and no problems...

 

Yeah, that would work, but I think the most effective way to get junk out of there is to wash from the inside out, push it all back out the way it came in instead of forcing bugs through the entire radiator. There's a big stack of them in there too, just be pushing bugs from the front to the next one back. Best way would be to pull the whole thing out, but that's not happening.

 

Good reason why I've got hardware mesh in front of the radiators and coolers... To prevent bugs from even getting there...

 

HIJACK!!!
I've heard that the head is actually crowned meaning bowed for to aft towards the block. Supposedly the head will flatten when torqued down. Anyone else hear or know of this?