Had to leave early this morning, heading to Lake City VA Medical Center, about 80 miles one way i guess. About 20 miles out I stopped into the Hardees (Carl's Jr for some parts of the country) for some breakfast. Wife noted in the drive-thru she could smell antifreeze. Sure enough it was a problem. The inlet nipple on the radiator core, where the top radiator hose hooks up, just broke off about half way from the end. The broken piece was still in the top hose held there tightly by the clamp, but of course the coolant was gone. I was able to get the car out of the drive thru and into a shady spot. Purchased a gallon of concentrate OAT antifreeze and after it cooled down was able to reattach the hose to that shortened nipple and after thirty minutes of high idle i got enough air out of it to enable us to proceed under caution on to my eye exam. Engine is fine, all is well, or will be as soon as the new radiator arrives. I ordered it within thirty minutes of getting back on the road, thanks to my wife being savvy enough to do so via her I-phone. Rock Auto shipped it same day and FedEx says it will be here Monday. I kept the instrument option on temperature most of the day of course and it did not leak or cause any problems, thankfully. It is parked now until that new radiator gets here.
I am telling you this so you can maybe take a gander at your radiator inlet and outlets. Plastic wears out due to age and not miles, or so my experience has been. Last but not least, the odometer on the ole Dart now reads 385 thousand plus miles.Checked oil before we left home and it was right where it should be. Take care of your Dart and she will take care of you!