thermostat? coolant leak

shadow63 · **Joined:** Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:04 am **Posts:** 208

Happy new year everyone! My temp needle doesn't go up to the 1/2 way mark like it used to. Sometimes while driving cool air blows from the vents and other times hot air. Dial is always on hot. I sometimes have a coolant leak and can smell antifreeze. It seems to happen dying the first 10 miles I drive. I did the 100,000 tune up 46,000 miles ago with thermostat. Is it possible the stat can go bad this soon or am I way off on thinking its even a stat. Thanks

ArmyChief · **Posted:** Fri Jan 02, 2015 11:17 am

When you did stat, did you make sure to burp ALL the air out of the system?
If you used a OE stat, its very possible its bad already, but that would not explain the coolant leak/smell

Hows you coolant level?

shadow63 · **Joined:** Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:04 am **Posts:** 208

Took it to a shop for the 100,000 tune up.

shadow63 · **Joined:** Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:04 am **Posts:** 208

Coolant level is all good. On a previous post I noticed the dash light with a radiator symbol had gone on a few times so I would top off the coolent but it hasn't goon on lately

jrsavoie · **Posted:** Fri Jan 02, 2015 11:47 am

I have had thermostats go bad within 10,000 miles.

But I am not familiar with the thermostats on these vehicles.

If it is the thermostat, I would order one of the new housings. I plan to order one as soon as I need a thermostat. I only have about 6,000 miles on the new one that was installed with the engine

shadow63 · **Joined:** Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:04 am **Posts:** 208

does the dealer have the new style thermostats. if not you have a recommendation where

ArmyChief · **Posted:** Fri Jan 02, 2015 2:56 pm

Dealer?..ha...no..I'd stay away from them for THESE vehicles.

Here is the current BEST designed replacement!

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=75791&hilit=thermostat

jrsavoie · **Posted:** Fri Jan 02, 2015 3:16 pm

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=75791

This is a replacement housing. After which you will only have to buy a thermostat.

It is possible that these could pay for themselves in fuel savings, by running the engine at the optimum temperature. Diesels are more efficient when running a few degrees warmer.

I will be ordering one - when I have the extra money or when my thermostat goes bad.

Be sure to use the called for anti-freeze. I do not know how much difference it really makes but it is a consideration. I use Amsoil.

From my personal experience, it is good to stay as far away from a dealer as humanly possible with these vehicles

shadow63 · **Joined:** Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:04 am **Posts:** 208

So now after driving 65 miles my coolant light came on and had to top it off. I see antifreeze blow by but cant determine where its leaking from. Also when im in park or drive with my foot on the brake seems the steering wheel has a vibration light a rough idol. I GIVE UP!!!

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 03, 2015 9:33 am

The CRD engine has about three dozen coolant hose connections that use spring clamps that loose tension and start to leak. Each one of those connections is a potential leak point.
I have replaced four of those clamps already and today i will be replacing three more because i found more leaks.

The vibration you feel when stopped usually means you need new motor mounts.

racertracer · **Posted:** Sat Jan 03, 2015 11:13 am

Here's my take on it.

Improperly refilling the cooling system at thermostat replacement time caused air pockets to remain in the head.

Trapped air circulating through the system creates cold air to flow through the heater core at times.

The same condition will cause head gasket failures and may be the case here.

If your coolant expansion tank is showing signs of pressure under the cap after one minute of idle time and or coolant escaping into the coolant reservoir, and or if there is a puddle of coolant on the driveway just under the oil filter, indicates that there is a head gasket leak.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sat Jan 03, 2015 2:26 pm

Quote:

I sometimes have a coolant leak and can smell antifreeze.

and

Quote:

I see antifreeze blow by but cant determine where its leaking from

are not very specific. Exactly where do you smell antifreeze - out of heater, in engine bay? Exactly where do you see antifreeze blow by - in coolant tank, out of heater, in engine bay?

As mentioned there are a host of coolant line spring clamps all of which can lose tension over time and cause leaks; the EGR cooler can leak; small EGR coolant lines have been known to dry out and crack; oil cooler can leak; heater core inside cab can leak (smell of coolant in cab coming from vents - drip of coolant from HVAC drain on firewall under coolant tank); etc. And of course there could be a head gasket issue.

External leaks are best located using UV dye in coolant and a UV light after driving a while.

Heat in cabin is controlled by blend door such that hot coolant flows thru heater core at all times. If heat is sporadic with control set to heat then the next time heat goes off park the vehicle in idle; open hood; check to see if both heat in/out lines are hot. If so blend door is not working right. If one or both are cold you have a coolant flow problem.

Just like every other vehicle built since like 1970 or so the coolant system is self bleeding with respect to air in the system. I'm not saying entrapped air is impossible just unlikely. FYI when you fill the system it's a good idea to "burp" the upper radiator hose several times to minimize the air that needs to bleed out as the system cycles hot/cold. When you refill the system fill to about 3/4" above the coolant tank mid line and do like 5 hot/cold drive cycles which should bleed enough air to drop the level in the tank to the mid line (be sure to check coolant level on flat ground - even the slight slope of my driveway causes a bad coolant tank level reading)

shadow63 · **Joined:** Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:04 am **Posts:** 208

Papaindigo I smell the antifreeze when im driving and come to a stop and i see steam from under the hood. I notice this within the first mile after the engine has been cold. Thank you and everyone else

ArmyChief · **Posted:** Sat Jan 03, 2015 8:42 pm

I only use Airlift tool..LOVE IT

http://www.amazon.com/UView-550000-Airl ... B0002SRH5G

thermostat? coolant leak

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