WHERE IS MY COOLANT GOING?!?!?!

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Apr 16, 2013 | 02:15 PM

#16

thejim42

Thread Starter

5th Wheeling

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 32

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i sometimes have a hard time diagnosing the problem...i can fix it without a problem but its figuring out what to fix lol...what do want from a 17 year old lol

Apr 16, 2013 | 02:17 PM

#17

thejim42

Thread Starter

5th Wheeling

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 32

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I know dodge Dakotas and Durangos inside out and backwards...my f150 is a completely different animal

Apr 16, 2013 | 02:52 PM

#18

blue924.9

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Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 1,555

Likes: 1

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejim42

where do i fill the radiator? i can only find a pressure relief cap that wont come completely off. i filled the bottle 3 times before it finally started staying full. i think since i just turned 140k its probably time to change the water pump. especially if i have been running it low on coolant and burned up the bearings (probably why its whining at me) i still cant find a leak anywhere though

on the radiator cap, the metal cap on the top corner you turn it and fill it up, wait for it to go down fill it up again then if you have air in it you purge it with a special doohickey (lack of better term) DO IT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD, or it will hurt very badly when you get singed by hot coolant

Apr 16, 2013 | 03:18 PM

#19

thejim42

Thread Starter

5th Wheeling

Joined: Feb 2013

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Likes: 0

That cap doesn't come off...there are tabs that hold it too the radiator...i can open it only to relieve pressure but not remove it to add coolant.

Apr 16, 2013 | 03:24 PM

#20

blkF250HD

Posting Guru

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 1,119

Likes: 1

From: Hartland, WI

Push down while turning. Those tabs are to keep the cap from blowing off in the event someone opens it while it's hot. Push and twist counter-clockwise, there's a spring inside there.

DO NOT OPEN HOT unless you know what you're doing. You can be badly burned by hot coolant.

Apr 16, 2013 | 03:33 PM

#21

thejim42

Thread Starter

5th Wheeling

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 32

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I have successfully made myself feel like the dumbest person on this forum....

Apr 16, 2013 | 04:05 PM

#22

etex

New User

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 10

Likes: 0

From: Jasper, TX

Don''t sweat it, Jim. We all had to start someplace. It's just something to laugh about later in life. Hang in there!!

Apr 16, 2013 | 05:22 PM

#23

tjc transport

i ain't rite

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 65,548

Likes: 5,589

From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejim42

I have successfully made myself feel like the dumbest person on this forum....

Quote:

Originally Posted by etex

Don''t sweat it, Jim. We all had to start someplace. It's just something to laugh about later in life. Hang in there!!

yea, don't sweat it. there will be someone coming along sooner or later to ask an even dumber question.

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Apr 16, 2013 | 06:13 PM

#24

bashby

Post Fiend

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 7,437

Likes: 4

From: Charles Town, W bygod Va

Sometimes you have to push down really hard on a rad cap. None of us were born knowing how to do what we now consider a simple task.... don't be afraid to ask questions!

Apr 16, 2013 | 06:19 PM

#25

thejim42

Thread Starter

5th Wheeling

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 32

Likes: 0

Its just aggravating because i have done engine swaps and top end rebuilds but i cant figure out how to add freaking coolant to my radiator

Apr 17, 2013 | 07:11 AM

#26

tjc transport

i ain't rite

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 65,548

Likes: 5,589

From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.

hehe. i have been rebuilding engines for 45 years.
last week i had to stop and think to try to figure out how to add fluid to the auto trans in the neighbors explorer.
it took me close to 10 minutes to remember this is one of those "no fill" transmissions.

it happens to all of us.