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Greggo63 · Jun 20, 2018

I just bought a 2003 Durango 5.9 SXT. After I bought it I noticed it is leaking coolant, can't tell exactly where it's coming from but there is coolant on top of the overflow tank and sprayed around the battery area.
When I checked the overflow tank when it's hot it is full to the top but when it cools off it drops down to normal level.
Over the last month I've had to put a little over a gallon in.
All I've done so far is drive it locally, but this weekend we are going camping, I'm concerned with taking it that far towing a tent trailer.
If anyone has experienced similar problems I'd sure like to hear what you found out.

jfire72 · Jun 20, 2018

Welcome, and congrats on the purchase!

I'm going to take a stab in the dark, but that sounds like maybe the hose leading up to the overflow is not seated right. That, or it has a pin hole somewhere in that line, or a hose that is going into the engine that isn't seated right or has a hole somewhere in it. I would try some leak test solution to test for air bubbles on the lines for the radiator hoses. A cheap way is to use liquid soap solution, and lather the hoses up. They should bubble up where a leak is occurring. One last thing, try and replace the radiator cap too, that could be part of the problem too.

Some others should comment here shortly, and offer some other suggestions, these are what came to mind for me. Goodluck!

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tomk · Jun 20, 2018

What does the level in the radiator itself look like?

Greggo63 · Jun 20, 2018

Thanks for the ideas. The level in the radiator drops by pint or so, it depends on how much it's driven.
It seems like the cooling system is being pressurized somehoe.
The coolant is clean, no oil in it and no coolant in the oil, so I don't think it would be a head gasket.
I'm going to take a close look at it, I haven't had much time since I bought it.

tomk · Jun 20, 2018

radiator down but the bottle sucks back when cool sounds like a head gasket.

But double check that there are no leaks in the recovery system (including the radiator cap) before going further.

Usual gasket leak in this case is cylinder to water jacket, so no oil changes hands. There used to be test strips that would detect exhaust gas in the coolant, but they seem to have vanished.. I think shops use their emission sniffer for that now..

You may find one spark plug that looks much different than all the others, this would be a telltale sign.

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