Water leaking from thermostat - 2004 Dodge Ram 1500

Dear Connie,
This depends on the year, make, and model of your vehicle.
Some engines are installed longways to the car, some crossways. That matters.
A stuck thermostat will not leak water.
(It can, however, cause water to leak , sometimes violently!)
Thermostats are inside metal housings.
Water pumps can leak water, out the "weep" hose in the casting. Water spewing out of the engine could also be a cracked or burst radiator hose or heater hose.
On a few cars, mostly older ones, it can also be a leaking or burst "freeze plug", also called a "sand plug".
God bless your efforts.

if leaking under water pump its a weep hole or bearing to water pump (pump gone bad) if leaking above where thermostat was gasket leak but if overheating was original problem more than likely water pump was and is your problem

could be the thermostat housing the intend to crack orget rough edges around the thermostat were the o ring sits into the housing

You have a water leak from the sound of it or water is draining from over heating. Things to check for, leaks at the hose connections, leaks at heater connections on engine, leaks at water pump and any leaks at head gasket. Assuming there are no leaks check or replace or adjust your water pump belt. Take the thermostat out and run the engine without out it. If the problem is solved replace the thermostat recommended for you car. You can also have it checked as well.

That is called the bypass hose. It could be leaking but I'd take a closer look at the thermostat housing. If you replaced only the thermostat and not the housing, the housing may be leaking. It's a common source of coolant leaks.

CHECK AROUND WATER PUMP AREA.AND THERMOSTAT HOUSING FOR LEAKS.THE MECHANIC WHO PUT THE WATER PUMP ON MAY FORGOT TO PUT SEALANT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WATER PUMP GASKET CAUSING LEAKS.LOOK AROUND THERMOSTAT HOUSING FOR LEAKING.IF THERMOSTAT SEAL WAS DAMAGE DURING INSTALLATION IT WILL CAUSE LEAKING.IF ALL LOOKS GOOD CHECK FOR COOLANT LEAKS AROUND RADIATOR .CHECK RADIATOR TOP AND BOTTOM HOSES FOR LEAKS AND CHECK HEATER PIPES AND HEATER CORES HOSES FOR LEAKS.IF ALL HOSES GOOD.CHECK FOR LEAKING CORE PLUGS.

YEP YOU HAVE LEAK AT THERMOSTAT HOUSING.YOU NEED REMOVE THERMOSTAT HOUSING OUTLET AND CLEAN THE MATING SURFACE THOROUGHLYTHEN APPLY RTV SEALANT IN THE GROOVE OF THE WATER OUT LET HOUSING.INSTALL THERMOSTAT WITH SPRING TOWARD THE ENGINE TORQUE THERMOSTAT OUTLET HOUSING BOLTS 89 INCH LBS.IF STILL LEAKS OUTLET HOUSING COULD HAVE CRACK IN IT CAUSING LEAKING.

sounds like your water pump gasket has a hairline crack in it and as engine warms it expands and leaks more

please rate as fxed if this helps.

Thermostat, Water, 3.0L Aerostar and Ranger Removal

1. Drain cooling system.

1. Remove upper radiator hose (8260) from water outlet connection.

1. Remove two retaining bolts.

1. Remove water outlet connection and water thermostat (8575) as an assembly.

1. Discard gasket. Clean sealing surfaces with gasket scraper. Gouges in aluminum could form leak paths. Use care when scraping thermostat housing-to-gasket mating surfaces.

Installation

1. Make sure sealing surfaces are totally free of gasket material.

1. Install water thermostat into thermostat housing as illustrated.

1. Position gasket onto thermostat housing using bolts as holding devices. Install water thermostat and tighten bolts to 20-30 Nm (14-21 lb-ft).

1. Install upper radiator hose . Tighten clamp securely.

1. Fill and bleed cooling system with proper amount and mixture.

1. Start engine (6007) and check for coolant leaks.
   

Are you getting water in the oil?
Are you burning white smoke?

Depending on the moter size, it could be an intake gasket leaking as well.

2.0 has thermostat mounted to head and hose to Radiator, 2.4 has thermostat below radiator cap.

Best thing to do is have Radiator pressure test done and see where the leak is for sure. There are dyes that you can add to the radiator and you can see leaks with UV light.