Okay, so I have several questions about my 2004 QCLB2WD and what I am perceiving as a coolant leak.

 

1.  About a year ago, I had a leak in my a/c condenser & it was repaired by a radiator & tank welding shop that's next door to my job.  While it was there, they said the coolant was very low so they topped it off for me.  They had caught me, as I rarely check the coolant level, but I was surprised to find the orange coolant in the reservoir tank.  I was unaware that my 2004 Dodge would take that stuff (I thought GM was kinda the only folk with the orange coolant).  Is this the right coolant?

 

2.  Fast forward to about 1 month ago, and my truck develops a "whine" or "whirrr" that's only audible in the cab (too much other noise to hear it with the hood up).  It is RPM dependent/changes speed with the RPM of the motor.  Not really noticeable on the highway (tire noise, wind noise, etc), but is very noticeable as I drive in stop & go traffic as the engine warms up.  It sounds like the power steering pump on any old  Ford car... I checked my power steering reservoir and it's below the "add" line.  I was under the impression that if this noise actually IS power steering related, it would only occur when the steering wheel is turned.  This whirrrr is all the time.

 

3.  As I am checking the power steering reservoir, I notice that the coolant reservoir is almost empty again and now I have red/orange/brown fluid residue all over the front of the motor.  The "field of residue" is generally in line with the front of the block/ accessory drive area.  It's stained & damp on the lower radiator hose, the a/c compressor, the back of the P/S reservoir, the front edge of the oil pan rail, etc.

 

So, is this "whirring" the sound of a failing water pump and the residue/loss of fluid the result of the leak from the pump shaft?

 

I have read a few search items here and saw I could pressurize the system  look for leaks...  Guess that's my start point?  Just trying to familiarize myself with the CR cooling system, so I came here to Mt Olympus for knowledge.

Today, got ready to replace water pump & moved the truck up onto ramps in the driveway (2wd is too low to get a 5-gal bucket under the radiator to drain it).  Just while moving the truck up onto the ramps, coolant was FLOWING out of that idler pulley mount.  Based on all my research it has to be one of the 2 freeze plugs behind the fan pulley or the upper idler pulley.  I dont' consider that a driveway repair that can be done in a day, and this is my DD.  I took it to the diesel repair shop south of town where all the semi's get serviced.  They're going to call me when they have an estimate ready.

 

I hate when I break my DD. 

Freeze plugs are pretty easy to replace if you can get to it. You just pry the old one out, clean things up a bit, and tap a new one in with a hammer.