The patient: 2005 Dodge Ram Daytona 5.7L Hemi, adult owner since new and driven sensibly, maintained regularly prior to my inheriting ownership. Runs good, operates at correct 201-207F temp, heater works great, no hop up parts no "tuner" parts, bone stock OEM.
The problem: Darn thing leaks coolant apparently ONLY when shut down (under little or no system pressure or perhaps during pressure bleed off simultaneous with underhood cooling after shutdown)
I run her up to operating temp, no leaks, doesnt even smell like coolant after a few minutes of warm up. So no leaks even 20min after shutdown laying under it watching. Somehow as she cools, particularly when sitting overnight in ambient temps of 40F or below.... she leaks some and it leaks reliably that way.
The moisture is not easily traced but i feel no moisture below the thermostat housing, but near it and below gets moist and finally forms drips in the main front crossmember. Some moisture on passenger side behind belt tensioner but no obvious source such as metal heater output tubes. Darn it!
I'm at a loss. Other than sitting under the truck for 8 hours looking for the first droplet to emerge.... I'm bewildered. There is ZERO coolant slinging on hood or other parts and zero crust by the water pump weephole.
These water pumps have a stout orange gasket that sits in a channel. Seemingly a nicely matured design and no monkeying with rtv as with Toyotas. But that is little consolation here fellas. Its hard to figure how a nice thick molded gasket in a channel .... "fails". Its not like it "goes" somewhere.
Anyone elso know of common failure places for weepy coolant leaks on these Hemi cooling systems?
The problem: Darn thing leaks coolant apparently ONLY when shut down (under little or no system pressure or perhaps during pressure bleed off simultaneous with underhood cooling after shutdown)
I run her up to operating temp, no leaks, doesnt even smell like coolant after a few minutes of warm up. So no leaks even 20min after shutdown laying under it watching. Somehow as she cools, particularly when sitting overnight in ambient temps of 40F or below.... she leaks some and it leaks reliably that way.
The moisture is not easily traced but i feel no moisture below the thermostat housing, but near it and below gets moist and finally forms drips in the main front crossmember. Some moisture on passenger side behind belt tensioner but no obvious source such as metal heater output tubes. Darn it!
I'm at a loss. Other than sitting under the truck for 8 hours looking for the first droplet to emerge.... I'm bewildered. There is ZERO coolant slinging on hood or other parts and zero crust by the water pump weephole.
These water pumps have a stout orange gasket that sits in a channel. Seemingly a nicely matured design and no monkeying with rtv as with Toyotas. But that is little consolation here fellas. Its hard to figure how a nice thick molded gasket in a channel .... "fails". Its not like it "goes" somewhere.
Anyone elso know of common failure places for weepy coolant leaks on these Hemi cooling systems?