Coolant temp overheat

[ScotM]

I'm original owner. It never overheated so never thought of checking the coolant level till yesterday. so if they find no leak and there is nothing in oil take it and drive it and keep eye on my level in the black coolant tank?

Like I said, mine brand new had no fluid on the coolant dipstick. Added over 16 oz, then two days later added another 8 or so. It’s just so hard to know what has happened. If the pressure test is good, all you can do is keep an eye on the tank level and record any fluid adds and mileage.

Sponsored

 

[jimim]

OK cool I appreciate that very much so how do I know when the fluid level is normalized because like I said when I got home last night after we literally added 3/4 of the full bottle of Mopar branded, I had to add the rest of that bottle and it brought it up. If I take a level reading at night and then in the morning, it’s the same is that fine or will it actually drop some overnight as the engine cools after I drive it home? I guess I’m just looking for direction in that sense to know a steady level so I know if I lost any

 

[ScotM]

OK cool I appreciate that very much so how do I know when the fluid level is normalized because like I said when I got home last night after we literally added 3/4 of the full bottle of Mopar branded, I had to add the rest of that bottle and it brought it up. If I take a level reading at night and then in the morning, it’s the same is that fine or will it actually drop some overnight as the engine cools after I drive it home? I guess I’m just looking for direction in that sense to know a steady level so I know if I lost any

Only take it in the am cold, note the marks on the dipstick, and then add to bring it back to the full mark. Keep a log of miles driven the previous day and the amount that of coolant you added to follow morning . Once it’s stabilized, it should read the same every morning.. if it doesn’t stabilize in 5 days, you have a log of how much fluid you had to add each day to show the dealer.

 

[jimim]

Only take it in the am cold, note the marks on the dipstick, and then add to bring it back to the full mark. Keep a log of miles driven the previous day and the amount that of coolant you added to follow morning . Once it’s stabilized, it should read the same every morning.. if it doesn’t stabilize in 5 days, you have a log of how much fluid you had to add each day to show the dealer.

ok cool. well that's the plan unless they actually find something, but I'm going to say they won't and will want to rip the engine apart and I'm just not going there yet. I just don't see the reason to if there is no signs in the oil and no bubbles when they pressure tested coming from the radiator. Am I wrong here? Any other things besides those as signs of the head gasket?

 

[ScotM]

ok cool. well that's the plan unless they actually find something, but I'm going to say they won't and will want to rip the engine apart and I'm just not going there yet. I just don't see the reason to if there is no signs in the oil and no bubbles when they pressure tested coming from the radiator. Am I wrong here? Any other things besides those as signs of the head gasket?

Far as I know, pressure test, coolant loss, milky oil, then tear the engine apart.

 

[johneracer]

Normally leaking headgasket will cause bubbling in the coolant and the car will overheat quickly. I have never heard of a car "eating coolant". They can do a test to look for combustion residue in coolant to confirm its the headgasket or watch for bubbles in the coolant with engine running. I think its more likely there is a leak somewhere and they are not seeing it. Probably a small leak that overtime emptied your overflow reservoir.

 

[mwilk012]

Just stopped by a dealership near me on the road. They said they had no coolant to put in it so now I’m going over to the other dealership that’s close enough to me. Is it OK to be driving around with it if it’s completely dry out and again, I did not see anything on the floor in my garage or where I park usually I would’ve noticed

NO. What is wrong with you people? You’re better off adding pond water than you are running around empty.

 

[Tim_JLU]

Just a comment here. I bought my jeep with 64k miles. When I got it home doing a inspection, I noticed the overflow tank was empty. No noticeable leaks anywhere. Went back to the dealer, they filled the tank. Been full ever since. Now 77k miles.
I check it every couple of weeks.

 

[jimim]

Far as I know, pressure test, coolant loss, milky oil, then tear the engine apart.

as in failed pressure test?

 

[jimim]

Normally leaking headgasket will cause bubbling in the coolant and the car will overheat quickly. I have never heard of a car "eating coolant". They can do a test to look for combustion residue in coolant to confirm its the headgasket or watch for bubbles in the coolant with engine running. I think its more likely there is a leak somewhere and they are not seeing it. Probably a small leak that overtime emptied your overflow reservoir.

overheating with idle only or even driving? I'm idle only, but once it was filled again no overheating yet. I asked about combustion residue and bubbles. the girl told me the service tech said he is looking into "other things" right now. no idea.

 

[jimim]

NO. What is wrong with you people? You’re better off adding pond water than you are running around empty.

I literally found out an hour before I posted this that it was empty so I hit the 2 dealerships 1 mile and then 4 miles away. I had to do something. the dealer 1 mile away said they had none. my father said it's because they just don't like to help people. lol he knows the family very very well.

 

[jimim]

Just a comment here. I bought my jeep with 64k miles. When I got it home doing a inspection, I noticed the overflow tank was empty. No noticeable leaks anywhere. Went back to the dealer, they filled the tank. Been full ever since. Now 77k miles.
I check it every couple of weeks.

if they find nothing and say they want to tear down the engine this is where I'm heading like @ScotM said, who has been walking me through this yesterday (which I totally appreciate). I know alot about boats and other "stuff" but trucks and cars have never been my thing and I am quickly learning I think this has t o majorly change.

 

[mwilk012]

I literally found out an hour before I posted this that it was empty so I hit the 2 dealerships 1 mile and then 4 miles away. I had to do something. the dealer 1 mile away said they had none. my father said it's because they just don't like to help people. lol he knows the family very very well.

You probably passed right by a Walmart and 4 auto parts stores on the way. Or simply any source of water. I hope you didn’t blow the head gasket but if you did, what did you expect? How many times a month does this exact same thread get posted about the 2.0L?

 

[jimim]

So I prob have been driving around with it empty for who knows how long before yesterday. 4 more miles I wasn’t worrying about.
So the first dealership told me it has to be mopar brand to put in which I thought was odd. Second dealership told me only use distilled water not regular water. And actually I didn’t pass a Walmart or even an auto parts store between dealerships believe it or not. All was thinking was getting it filled asap and didn’t know much till now.
No idea how many heads about this. I usually just read new stuff on here and if I have a question I come for some help cause the others who have been helping me along have been very helpful.

 

[ScotM]

if they find nothing and say they want to tear down the engine this is where I'm heading like @ScotM said, who has been walking me through this yesterday (which I totally appreciate). I know alot about boats and other "stuff" but trucks and cars have never been my thing and I am quickly learning I think this has t o majorly change.

If they performed the leak test for 30 minutes and found no loss of pressure, I would take the next week and just montitor and add, watch the temp guage like a hawk to ensure no overheating. If it stabilizes, go on with your life , and check the coolant tank and look for leaks regularly. If it continues to lose coolant after a week, that’s when you’ll need to take the next steps and tear into the jeep to find the problem

Sponsored