Radiator question...

2005 Dodge Caravan - out of warranty

Was little over 100k miles so I had my coolant changed at Jiffy Lube. About a week or so after that, I pulled into my driveway and shut off the car, and heard Niagara Falls coming from under my car - looked and the overflow tank was spewing out coolant. The thing is, it looks like they overfilled it because I still have enough coolant in my radiator and overflow tank. That was the only time that happened, and my car has never overheated. I thought maybe the thermostat was sticky too.

The question I have now is, when I start the car, from inside the car with the windows rolled up, I hear water running around the sterring column/dash someplace. I don't think this is normal as i never heard it before, but I don't have a clue what it could be. Car still never over heats, drives normally too. I don't see anything leaking, and I don't smell anything. The oil is normal, the coolant is normal (no head gasket issue). I just hear water (fluid) running. Heater works fine. AC works fine.

Any ideas?

-Tom

Reply to
Tom Rogers
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Hearing water under the dash indicates that the system has air trapped in it and / or is low on coolant. I don't know your vehicle but on many newer vehicles there is a special procedure to bleed the air out of the cooling system. Usually pretty dang easy to do.

If you think the thermostat may have issues go ahead and replace it and the radiator cap now. Then bleed the system and you should be all good again.

I'm sure you are now aware but having this kind of work done at a Jiffy Lube place isn't a good idea.

Steve B.

Reply to
Steve B.

column/dash

Sounds to me like they didn't purge the system properly. Some vehicles have specific procedures that MUST be followed to purge the air. Eventually it will steam out. The engine heats and cools and the air makes it's way to the recovery tank. But it can also lead to excess heating, as you noticed!

One thing I've had issue with though is whenever I've had a thermostat 'dry' after it's been used for a while, it always seems to fail soon after. You may have to replace the thermostat now and then make sure it's purged correctly when you refill it.

Reply to
Mike Y

Hi!

column/dash

Probably air trapped in the system. It will eventually work its way out of there.

Well...I wouldn't let Iffy Lube do that again! I don't think I'd let them work on a lawn mower.

William

Reply to
William R. Walsh

Learned my lesson. Thx!

-Tom

Reply to
Tom Rogers

Reply to
philthy

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