Later I'll post about my first real (sort of) four wheel drive experience in the Australian Outback (great fun!), but for now:
(2001 Dodge Dakota SLT, 4x4)
I'd been noticing on this trip that my truck has a strong smell of burning rubber, just as I get out of the truck after stopping. It was dissipating fairly quickly though. As I'd never gone 4x4ing before, I wasn't worried enough to look into it (wish I had), since the truck was running fine. Figured it was just something normal for a hardworking truck.
When I got home, I popped the hood, and to my dismay found that coolant had been spraying all over my engine! Looks to my untrained eye like the idiot at the dealership who did my coolant change, didn't tighten the pressure cap all the way - it took a quarter turn more to tighten it than to take it off. I'm betting this has been happening since the coolant was changed, close to two months ago. Haven't been doing much driving, this was the longest journey since then, 100 miles in two days. Today was warmer too, in the low eighties (30c). Truck was in 4Hi, but never 4Lo, both days, and the AC was on (if that matters).
Reservoir is all but dry - doesn't register on the dipstick at all, but I can see something in there. However, the line where I took the pressure cap off is full. My truck never overheated or misbehaved (don't they start pinging when overheating?), but I think I'm lucky I finally noticed this.
There's coolant sprayed *everywhere*. The entire right side of the engine block is liberally sprinkled with the stuff. There's some settled on the frame, and a little bit dripped off It's all underneath the hood, on the battery, all the way back to the firewall.
So, there's a couple of questions here: The dealership is a couple of miles away. Should I put in tap water to ensure the truck gets there, or will it be OK? Oh, yea, they're gonna be hearing from me. I'll be there on the doorstep, with the truck, when they open tomorrow. If *I* can tell when the cap's on all the way, there's no excuse for a mechanic not to get that right!
Was the hot coolant landing on hot engine parts what caused the burning rubber smell? If not, what should I be looking at?
Will the coolant damage said parts?
My lesson learned: ALWAYS ALWAYS check the mechanic's work, if you can, even on the stupid stuff like oil and coolant changes. Won't make that mistake again!
Thanks for any help.
jmc