Coolant Leak

Tiny
VALERIE S
  • MEMBER
  • 2015 DODGE JOURNEY
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 99,000 MILES
I made an appointment at dealership due to tech stating there was a leak found at oil change. They found leaks of top radiator hose and heater hose. One month and 800 miles later, the vehicle ran hot. Towed in. Tech said thermostat adapter housing leaking and thermostat replacement. They said no engine damage found. Total with both repairs $1,500.00. My uncle is an old mechanic who says they should not have charged me because they should have found that leak the first time.
Wednesday, May 19th, 2021 AT 3:16 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
HARRY P
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,295 POSTS
Hello. To be honest, it's kind of hard to Monday morning quarterback this situation. It is entirely possible that the thermostat housing was leaking the first time you brought it in. But it's also possible that it wasn't leaking.

The thermostat in a car is kind of like a valve. When the coolant reaches a certain temperature ( 200°) the thermostat opens up, which allows coolant to flow through the system and cool the engine while, in turn, being cooled by the radiator. Now, as the coolant warms up, it expands. This expansion puts pressure on the various parts of the system. If the thermostat doesn't open, then the coolant just gets hotter and hotter. As it gets hotter, the pressure builds up beyond what the parts are designed to handle. At some point, the weakest point in the system will crack, or start leaking in some way or another.

So with that in mind, it's entirely possible that it wasn't leaking there the first time around. Your uncle should know that. He's right that they could have missed it, but we have no proof either way.

Hope that clears things up for you. Feel free to ask more questions for further clarification if you need to.
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Wednesday, May 19th, 2021 AT 5:07 PM
Tiny
VALERIE S
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thank you. I have another question. On my first trip from home, schedule oil change flashed. Also oil temperature light showed. On second trip, I had traveled 40 miles with air conditioning on and suddenly oil temperature flashed at 215 and outside temperature around 95. I pulled over and stopped for one hour. I checked the oil. It was not low, but the car seemed to be very, very hot. Almost like the oil was burning. The oil temperature went to 167 as the car sat for that hour. I drove the 5 miles to my destination and after sitting for 2 hours the oil temperature was 129. On the return trip, I decided not to use the A/C. I watched the oil temperature light. Outside was cooler, it reached 204 temperature. I turned the A/C on 1 mile before home and the oil temperature went to 203. I drove 2 additional times and in 20 minutes, the oil temperature went to 197. The fan has never kicked on. I have never heard the fan since the night before car ran hot and later diagnosed as thermostat. I called the dealer and tech rep who is not a mechanic said 215 is normal because he asked the mechanic. I told him the car was very, very hot and the fan never kicked on. I've talked to my mechanic cousins and they think fan could have been hooked back wrong. I am trying to get an opinion, because I feel the fan should have clicked on. I read it should kick on at oil temperature of 200. I am really afraid to drive far, fear of messing up the motor. Which is still quiet.
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Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021 AT 2:54 AM
Tiny
RENEE L
  • ADMIN
  • 1,260 POSTS
Hello VALERIE S,

In your question above you are asking about a different issue. For the site to properly index the questions each question has to about one issue otherwise people will not be able to find the answer to that question under a different subject. The site is here to assist those that need direct help and, also provide a resource for others that have the same issue. We would greatly appreciate it if you please start a new question for oil temperature issue?

For your convenience here is the link:

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/new

Make sure you are logged into the site before clicking on the link.

Thank you for using 2CarPros and have a great rest of your day!

Renee
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Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021 AT 12:01 PM

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