WHY WOULD A 1500 Dodge Ram over heat?

Answer 1

An overheating engine could be caused by a number of things. None of these things have to do with the make/model/type of vehicle. These things are true for all gas/diesel automobiles.


1) Low coolant or no coolant (antifreeze) levels in radiator.

This could be caused by a leak, either from the radiator itself, or from one of the coolant lines/hoses. First things first - check the coolant reservoir to make sure it is at the full mark. If it is at or near the full mark, move on to step number 2, you do not have a leak. If it's not even close to the full mark or the tank is empty, go buy some antifreeze and refill the radiator to the full mark. Once at the full mark, start your vehicle and let it warm up (or go for a small drive). If the problem is caused by a leak, you will eventually see green or red puddles (depending on the coolant color) on the ground near the front of your vehicle. If the problem seems to be fixed, keep an eye on the coolant reservoir to make sure it stays at or near the full line. Do not worry about a little fluctuation.

If you see puddles, try to find where it's coming from. You might have a loose hose connection. Check all the hose clamps to make sure they're tight, and inspect the hoses coming from the radiator for any cuts or abrasions. If the leak is coming from the radiator itself, and it seems like a small leak, you may be able to fix it yourself using any radiator stop-leak products (pick it up at any auto parts store). If there is a large leak in the radiator itself, you may have to replace the radiator, which is fairly simple if you're savvy with tools. If not, take it to a professional.

Note: if you've done the above and you do not see any leaks or puddles, but the reservoir level keeps going down over time, you may have a blown head gasket. A blown head gasket will allow coolant to seep into the combustion chamber. Common signs of this include smokey/sweet-smelling exhaust gas. This is a serious problem, and unless you are really engine savvy, you will need to have it fixed by a professional. Be prepared to spend some money, though.

Okay, your coolant reservoir is holding steady at the full mark and you don't have any leaks. What's next?


2) Broken thermostat.

This is a common cause of overheating, and is cheap and easy to fix for a do-it-yourselfer. Follow the upper hose coming from the top of your radiator connecting to the top of the motor. There should be a housing there held on by two or three bolts you can easily take off. The thermostat is sitting right inside. I would recommend just replacing it, wheter it is bad or not. It's usually only around 10-15 bucks, and any auto parts store will have one in stock. Once replaced, and the coolant level is at the full mark, see if your problem is fixed. If still overheating, move on to number three.

3) Bad water pump.

This is a fairly common problem on older vehicles, but even if your vehicle is new, you may still have this problem. DO NOT get this replaced until you have ruled out steps 1 and 2 above. Replacing a water pump can run you anywhere from $250-400 if you do it yourself to a whole lot more if you get it done by a professional mechanic. This should be a last resort fix.



I have personally dealt with and repaired every single one of these problems at some point, so I am almost 100% certain you have one of the problems described above. Some of the fixes are simple if you have common tools at your disposal (screwdriver, a couple wrenches), while some are better left to someone who knows their way around the engine compartment. If you really have no clue what you're doing, and I mean no clue whatsoever, just bite the bullet and take it to a professional.