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2002 Dodge Caravan COOLANT LEAK

Tiny
DETHERAGE5
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 118,000 MILES
About a month ago, my van overheated. We replaced the thermostat and changed the fluids. The van ran fine and then about a week later it began to overheat again. At that time we replaced the water pump and the heater hose assembly because we discovered it had a small leak. Again it ran fine for about two weeks, fluid levels stayed fine and tempature was fine. Then a few days ago we noticed that there seems to be coolant leaking from somewhere behind the engine, but it doesn't leak all the time, just when the van has been ran for an hour or so, but it hasn't overheated. Any ideas? Does it sound like maybe a blown or cracked head?
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Monday, December 22nd, 2008 AT 3:11 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
BUDDYCRAIGG
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,262 POSTS
You might be lucky (if you can call it that) have only have a blown head gasket.

It sounds like it's in the beginning stages of a leak, so when the engine is cool, and the coolant system is not under pressure, then it doesn't leak.

But after the engine is hot (and the metal has expanded) and the coolant system has 14psi or so, then it starts to seep.

Adding UV dye to the coolant system may help find where the leak is.

A pressure test *may* help finding it also. But not if the engine has to be hot and all the metal parts expanded.

Good luck
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Monday, December 22nd, 2008 AT 5:09 PM

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