EMPTY COOLANT- DEALER LEFT CAP OFF.

[Everlastinqs]

Jeeps a 3.6. I had an oil change Friday afternoon. Saturday morning I drove about 30 miles, jeep began smoking from under the hood (white-ish gray, I thought it was gravel dust at first). Pulled over, the coolant cap was left off, completely out of coolant. Ended up driving it up a curb in an attempt to burp it, and put a gallon in to get it home. I’m taking it back to the dealer tomorrow. Oil on the dipstick looks ok but sludge under the cap, not sure if that’s normal condensation sludge or what. What do I need to be looked at? New oil change, flush and fill of coolant.. should I be asking for head gaskets checked? Pressure testing radiator? I don’t want to have an issue a month down the road and they don’t take responsibility because of time passed.

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[Brad Hearing]

Jeeps a 3.6. I had an oil change Friday afternoon. Saturday morning I drove about 30 miles, jeep began smoking from under the hood (white-ish gray, I thought it was gravel dust at first). Pulled over, the coolant cap was left off, completely out of coolant. Ended up driving it up a curb in an attempt to burp it, and put a gallon in to get it home. I’m taking it back to the dealer tomorrow. Oil on the dipstick looks ok but sludge under the cap, not sure if that’s normal condensation sludge or what. What do I need to be looked at? New oil change, flush and fill of coolant.. should I be asking for head gaskets checked? Pressure testing radiator? I don’t want to have an issue a month down the road and they don’t take responsibility because of time passed.

Someone is gonna catch hell for this. I suggest you be more angry than you might actually be and insist on their dime that they do extra diagnostic work and fix whatever they find related to this event.

 

[mwilk012]

Not worth the stress. Have them clean it up well, document everything, and move on with your life. Coolant boil over on an open system will happen very low in the temperature range of what is considered normal. Shit happens.

 

[Terrymo]

Not worth the stress. Have them clean it up well, document everything, and move on with your life. Coolant boil over on an open system will happen very low in the temperature range of what is considered normal. Shit happens.

Just asking because I know you do this professionally. Why not have them pressure test the cooling system and do a block test just for peace of mind?

 

[mwilk012]

Just asking because I know you do this professionally. Why not have them pressure test the cooling system and do a block test just for peace of mind?

Can you even be sure that they will do it? They couldn’t even be bothered to put the cap back on. Trust is lost, time to move on.

You’ll know if it has a blown head gasket.

 

[Terrymo]

Can you even be sure that they will do it? They couldn’t even be bothered to put the cap back on. Trust is lost, time to move on.

You’ll know if it has a blown head gasket.

Good point. I just had my radiator replaced under warranty and they assured my they did a block test. I decided to do one at home and it showed presumptive positive for a combustion leak. Is the block test a dealership does any more reliable than this one
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VVBSFTF?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

 

[mwilk012]

Good point. I just had my radiator replaced under warranty and they assured my they did a block test. I decided to do one at home and it showed presumptive positive for a combustion leak. Is the block test a dealership does any more reliable than this one
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VVBSFTF?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

Exact same kit. Warranty repairs are a normal situation, paid for my corporate.

F***ups like this are just lost, rushed out the door, and involve (deserved) animosity from the customer. No good outcome.

It’s one thing if it’s a regular who’s been serviced for years and has a good rapport with the shop, but a once off or LOF only customer? Just assume they’re lost as a customer, apologize profusely, and make it right.

As the customer, you just have to find a new shop if you can.

 

[Terrymo]

Exact same kit. Warranty repairs are a normal situation, paid for my corporate.

F***ups like this are just lost, rushed out the door, and involve (deserved) animosity from the customer. No good outcome.

It’s one thing if it’s a regular who’s been serviced for years and has a good rapport with the shop, but a once off or LOF only customer? Just assume they’re lost as a customer, apologize profusely, and make it right.

As the customer, you just have to find a new shop if you can.

Mines back to the dealership tomorrow to show them the block test results I photographed and to see if I do have a head gasket leak or whatever the possible causes would be for the test results.

 

[Everlastinqs]

Not worth the stress. Have them clean it up well, document everything, and move on with your life. Coolant boil over on an open system will happen very low in the temperature range of what is considered normal. Shit happens.

I’m with ya most of the time, shit happens. I just take this jeep out of town frequently and I don’t want to end up in a big shit show if something isn’t quite right. I’ve used this dealer for the last 10 or so years and just in the last year it’s been little “oops” situations.. had some trans work done in December, opened my trunk up to grab something before I left and my crossmemeber was sitting back there.

 

[Terrymo]

I’m with ya most of the time, shit happens. I just take this jeep out of town frequently and I don’t want to end up in a big shit show if something isn’t quite right. I’ve used this dealer for the last 10 or so years and just in the last year it’s been little “oops” situations.. had some trans work done in December, opened my trunk up to grab something before I left and my crossmemeber was sitting back there.

Same repair place?
Also apologies for my sidetrack and hijack

 

[Everlastinqs]

Same repair place?
Also apologies for my sidetrack and hijack

Yes same place

 

[Terrymo]

Yes same place

Well that’s a bummer, hopefully you have some other options.

 

[mwilk012]

I’m with ya most of the time, shit happens. I just take this jeep out of town frequently and I don’t want to end up in a big shit show if something isn’t quite right. I’ve used this dealer for the last 10 or so years and just in the last year it’s been little “oops” situations.. had some trans work done in December, opened my trunk up to grab something before I left and my crossmemeber was sitting back there.

Then maybe there’s a relationship worth patching up there, but mechanically, there’s nothing wrong other than a mess.

 

[TPadden]

Not worth the stress. Have them clean it up well, document everything, and move on with your life. Coolant boil over on an open system will happen very low in the temperature range of what is considered normal. Shit happens.

The only thing I'd be concerned about is paint/ clearcoat. "Antifreeze has chemicals in it that will harm the paint on a vehicle. If you read the small print they suggest to wash off any that gets on the paint."

 

[Everlastinqs]

The only thing I'd be concerned about is paint/ clearcoat. "Antifreeze has chemicals in it that will harm the paint on a vehicle. If you read the small print they suggest to wash off any that gets on the paint."

I’ve been trying to keep washing it off the paint, but the headliner is still soaked and it’s dripped down to the fender

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