Car overheating but no visible coolant leak

Tiny
BOSTONBRAWLER92
  • MEMBER
  • 2016 DODGE DART
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
Car ran low on coolant and overheated. I let the car cool off overnight and added more coolant to the reservoir but coolant is going somewhere with no visible leak on ground.
Friday, July 30th, 2021 AT 5:41 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
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  • MECHANIC
  • 6,383 POSTS
Hello,

Are you seeing any smoke out of the tailpipe?
Check your oil make sure it is the normal brown color.

Try this: When the engine is cool, open the coolant reservoir cap.
Add coolant to the "Full" mark.
Start the engine, if the coolant level goes down, slowly add coolant.
This way as the coolant will circulate thru the engine and get all the air out.
When the reservoir reaches its "Full" level, wait for a little bit to see if the level goes down. If it does not go down squeeze the radiator hose (be careful not to come in contact with the cooling fan or any other moving or hot object), this will let out any remaining air in the system.
If needed add more coolant. Put the cap back on the reservoir.
Then observe to see if the coolant level goes down again on the next time you drive/start the car.

You might find this article helpful:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-an-overheating-engine

Please let me know your findings.

Thank you.
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Friday, July 30th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM
Tiny
BOSTONBRAWLER92
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  • 6 POSTS
Thank you for responding to my question. I think I figured it out, the coolant only leaks when the A/C is on and then overheats. I filled the coolant reservoir up to max line and took my car for a little cruise with A/C off and their was no problem. There were no leaks under the car. Could it be the A/C compressor or something else?
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Sunday, August 1st, 2021 AT 12:50 PM
Tiny
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If the compressor is seized or have a faulty clutch it could prevent the belt from turning the water pump properly, which can lead to overheat.
Does your A/C work properly? Do you get any noise when turning on the A/C?
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Sunday, August 1st, 2021 AT 1:47 PM
Tiny
BOSTONBRAWLER92
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  • 6 POSTS
The A/C, when turned on, just blows hot air but it doesn't make any noise.
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Sunday, August 1st, 2021 AT 1:53 PM
Tiny
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It could be that the compressor is seized, so when you turn on the A/C the belts functionality suffers. See if you can observe when the compressor, if you see that the pulley is not spinning properly with the rest of the pulleys then it is the compressor that giving you the overheating issue.
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Sunday, August 1st, 2021 AT 1:57 PM
Tiny
BOSTONBRAWLER92
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
It looks like the pulleys are performing like they should. The coolant is dripping underneath the car between driver and passenger side and the fluid is a reddish color. Only leaks when A/C is on.
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Friday, August 6th, 2021 AT 11:34 AM
Tiny
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The coolant from the factory is pink/red.
Can you see where it is leaking from?
Is it towards the front or back?
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Saturday, August 7th, 2021 AT 9:06 PM

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