2000 dakota overheating

You can purchase different fluids that will break down rust and corrosion, but if you have a very old or well worn (rusted) radiator it can cause leaks. I once worked on a 15 year old Ford Ranger where the person who had it before ran almost pure water in the radiator. The radiator ended up rusting out in the inside, and the cleaning fluids seemed to really help. It was odd, because the radiator appeared full, but when you went to drain it, only about a half a gallon would drain. It took me multiple applications of the fluids and flushing it about 6-8 times to get it cleared. This may be your problem.

First make sure your engine isn't hot. Typically, you just drain the old fluid in a pan and dispose of it properly. Don't let any sit on the ground or in an open container because animals will drink it.

I then simply place the drain plug back into the radiator, then pour about a mixture of anywhere from 30-50% antifreeze and the rest water. It is preferable that you use distilled water due to scaling.

In colder climates, it is more ideal to have a stronger ratio of anti-freeze verses water. Buy one of the cheap testing bulbs (they run under $2.00) to test your fluid.

Leave the top cap open, start your engine and let it reach operating temperature. When the thermostate opens (evidenced because your fluid levels at the top of the radiator will drop) you will then need to add more water to finish topping the fluid off just below the neck of the cap.

If you have a serious issue with rust, you could possibly look at having a garage flush the system for you. Some shops have the ability to flush the system under pressure. Usually they do only what I described above.