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View Full Version : Where is the thermostat on a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500?


Dave Ermeling
Oct 4, 2008, 09:38 AM
My radiator is leaking and the engine tends to run hot a lot. Especially if I'm driving it hard or doing like 70mph and over on the highway. I can change the radiator easy enough but it looks like the thermostat is where the big hose comes off the bottom of the radiator but I'm used to seeing them where the top hose meets the block. Also, is there anything complicated about changing the coolant? Do you just drain it and refill it? It has the orange anti-freeze in it and I've heard it has a tendency to gum up and I thought I'd put the green stuff in it. Any help would be appreciated.

Cjlennon623
Oct 4, 2008, 08:12 PM
The orange antifreeze is referred to as Dex-Cool and it usually lasts 100K miles. I woudn't change it out for the old etholglycole. There is no advantage in my opinion. If you do change the antifreeze, make sure you pull the block plugs so that the block will drain. If you don't, about a gallon of the old stuff will remain in the engine. Hope this helps.