Changed my oil yesterday and when I went to remove the oil filter to my horror I saw coolant crusted all over the engine block. I looked a little more and saw that it was coming from where the block heater cord plugged into the engine block, turns out that the bolt was hand tight and could easily be turned by hand Guess they lost there wrench at the factory the day they put mine together. I lost a good amount of coolant from this, I tightened the bolt and so far no more leaks. Just an FYI to u all, something you may want to check next time ure under your truck.

 

i thinks they never check em!

 

I had to tighten mine also. Got it to turn over a full turn before it was good and tight. No more leak.

Although I hadn't checked it in a while. Have to look tomorrow.

 

same problem with 03, at first looked like tranny oil on garage floor,red in color. dealer said no problem with tranny, had to get under truck to see leak, repaired myself

 

I was going to tighten mine myself but while the truck was in the dealership they just put me a new block heater in. I didn't complain.....

 

Thanks for the tip on the block heater. Not long after reading your post my truck starting leaving a drip here and a drip there. Tightening up the block heater totally fixed it.

 

I would like to extend a "Thank You" to everyone on this forum. I have 50K on my 03 and last night I went to move the truck to begin packing for a long trip to Canada (pulling boat) and noticed a puddle under the truck. Once I figured out it was coolant I remembered reading threads on this board about disappearing coolant. After I spend some time digging through post I found this one. Went out side and sure enough the block heater cord was backing out and I could tell the leaking was from there. I could see nearly 1/4" of threads before I started tightening it.

I took it for a ride last night and this AM, problem solved!!

I have been looking forward to this trip for over a year and you guys saved me the headache and $$$ of going to a dealer today.

Thanks and keep up the good work

Dan Buss

 

I had a coolant leak when I first got my truck as well. Ended up being the upper radiator hose - it would just drip slightly and run down the radiator and off the bottom. I thought it was somewhere on the bottom of the radiator for the longest time. Finally figured it out and put a screw-type clamp on the upper hose right next to the factory clamp - problem solved.