Radiator question...

2005 Dodge Caravan - out of warranty

Was little over 100k miles so I had my coolant changed at Jiffy Lube. About
a week or so after that, I pulled into my driveway and shut off the car, and
heard Niagara Falls coming from under my car - looked and the overflow tank
was spewing out coolant. The thing is, it looks like they overfilled it
because I still have enough coolant in my radiator and overflow tank. That
was the only time that happened, and my car has never overheated. I thought
maybe the thermostat was sticky too.

The question I have now is, when I start the car, from inside the car with
the windows rolled up, I hear water running around the sterring column/dash
someplace. I don't think this is normal as i never heard it before, but I
don't have a clue what it could be. Car still never over heats, drives
normally too. I don't see anything leaking, and I don't smell anything. The
oil is normal, the coolant is normal (no head gasket issue). I just hear
water (fluid) running. Heater works fine. AC works fine.

Any ideas?

-Tom

 

Hearing water under the dash indicates that the system has air trapped
in it and / or is low on coolant. I don't know your vehicle but on
many newer vehicles there is a special procedure to bleed the air out
of the cooling system. Usually pretty dang easy to do.

If you think the thermostat may have issues go ahead and replace it
and the radiator cap now. Then bleed the system and you should be all
good again.

I'm sure you are now aware but having this kind of work done at a
Jiffy Lube place isn't a good idea.

Steve B.

 

Sounds to me like they didn't purge the system properly. Some vehicles
have specific procedures that MUST be followed to purge the air.
Eventually it will steam out. The engine heats and cools and the air makes
it's way to the recovery tank. But it can also lead to excess heating, as
you noticed!

One thing I've had issue with though is whenever I've had a thermostat
'dry' after it's been used for a while, it always seems to fail soon after.
You may have to replace the thermostat now and then make sure it's
purged correctly when you refill it.

 

Hi!

Probably air trapped in the system. It will eventually work its way out of
there.

Well...I wouldn't let Iffy Lube do that again! I don't think I'd let them
work on a lawn mower.

William

 

Learned my lesson. Thx!

-Tom

 

the air was not properly bled from the cooling system is my first hunch
jiffy lube does not mean auto service