Coolant and Overheating

[balakachai]

2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, approximately 116,000 miles (yes!)

Went to dealership 3 weeks back for usual pre-trip check, maintenance, oil, tire rotation. Went on 3,500 mile journey to NS, Canada, and back (we live in NJ). All good. Then, all of a sudden, a week or so later I get an Engine hot message on the main dash. Stop the car and take a look. Cool it off and took a while to get the 1 odd mile back home. Checked the coolant tank after it cooled off and saw nothing in there. Looked under the vehicle and shows evidence of a coolant leak (like pink colored fluid marks on some of the parts below). Couldn't verify a puddle as it's parked in the driveway and we've been having rains for several days.

Is this common? Where would I begin to check? Any help appreciated. Service stops are all at least a week out in appointments so will try anything that appears somewhat sane.

Otherwise, got to say, the Gladiator has performed superbly - towing a trailer across the country multiple times and handling all kinds of conditions without an issue.

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[Hootbro]

If at all possible, do an inspection of upper/lower radiator hoses, the radiator itself, heater hose, thermostat housing and water pump area to see if you can find a concentrated area it is coming from.

If you cannot narrow it down for certain, it may need be pressure checked but that is usually a shop level function and equipment.

 

[tysongladiator]

Check underneath the coolant reservoir. The connector underneath is notorious for breaking and you won't notice it just by looking around the vehicle.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

If you don't have the ability to do a tech level pressure test - wash everything off as far as traces of coolant, fill the system, drive it to get up to operating temperature and drive it a bit more, then park it and open the hood. There will be pressure on the system.

Otherwise, check the obvious just like any other car or truck ever made that has a cooling system with coolant - hoses, joints, any place things come together..

Common? No, but there are common places to look IF one does lose coolant.
Meaning these don't have a common problem, but there are always common places to look when problems do happen.
Tyson mentioned one place...........
Hootbro's comments make tons of sense as always.

One thing to look out for - follow the book on coolant - OAT only.
Do not go just by color. The industry has made it nearly impossible to say "always use this color" because OAT can be 2 or 3 different colors and HOAT may look like OAT and so on.
Do not use anything but OAT, do not use HOAT.
There are some coolants that claim they can be used in any system but I'm' still uneasy about that - at least for now, and use only OAT - the jug says OAT. Doesn't say "compatible with" or "works like" or anything else - only that it's pure OAT coolant.
You can no longer go by color alone.

 

[Hootbro]

Just remembered, the oil filter and cooler housing on top of the engine also has coolant flowing through it and just is o-ring sealed. That may also be a leak point.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Just remembered, the oil filter and cooler housing on top of the engine also has coolant flowing through it and just is o-ring sealed. That may also be a leak point.

Cooled EGR?

 

[Rusty PW]

Cooled EGR?

OP has a 2020. So no diesel.

Like others have said. If you can't get it into the shop right a way. Fill the system up with the OAT fluid. Hose the engine off. Take it for a drive to get it hot. Open the hood and start looking for leaks.

Another place that has been reported to leak is the side tanks on the radiator.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

OP has a 2020. So no diesel.

3.6 has cooled EGR.
So yes, he has coolant flowing through the EGR (CEGR)
It's on the driver's side, top.
it could leak.

 

[Rusty PW]

3.6 has cooled EGR.
So yes, he has coolant flowing through the EGR (CEGR)
It's on the driver's side, top.
it could leak.

Didn't realize they did that on the 3.6.

I've seen EGR coolers leak on other motors.

 

[tysongladiator]

If you don't have the ability to do a tech level pressure test - wash everything off as far as traces of coolant, fill the system, drive it to get up to operating temperature and drive it a bit more, then park it and open the hood. There will be pressure on the system.

Otherwise, check the obvious just like any other car or truck ever made that has a cooling system with coolant - hoses, joints, any place things come together..

Common? No, but there are common places to look IF one does lose coolant.
Meaning these don't have a common problem, but there are always common places to look when problems do happen.
Tyson mentioned one place...........
Hootbro's comments make tons of sense as always.

One thing to look out for - follow the book on coolant - OAT only.
Do not go just by color. The industry has made it nearly impossible to say "always use this color" because OAT can be 2 or 3 different colors and HOAT may look like OAT and so on.
Do not use anything but OAT, do not use HOAT.
There are some coolants that claim they can be used in any system but I'm' still uneasy about that - at least for now, and use only OAT - the jug says OAT. Doesn't say "compatible with" or "works like" or anything else - only that it's pure OAT coolant.
You can no longer go by color alone.

Exactly. I recently replaced my coolant tank

3.6 has cooled EGR.
So yes, he has coolant flowing through the EGR (CEGR)
It's on the driver's side, top.
it could leak.

Yes. the 3.6 has an egr which coolant does run through it, but coolant actually runs through the oil cooler itself. The oil cooler has multiple ports on it. All of the ports have o-rings. Two of the ports are for coolant flow which keeps the oil cool.

Earlier this year when I replaced the oil cooler in our JK, I didn't release the pressure from the coolant system and coolant leaked all over the place.

I'll attach a pic of the underside of the oil cooler.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

JT cooled EGR for anyone wondering where it is........recognize that white tank there on the right?

Figure 32

 

[balakachai]

Thanks for all the notes.
Turned out to be a cracked radiator. The shop quoted $1,600 all in for diagnostics + full replacement + flush and replacement with new coolant.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thanks for all the notes.
Turned out to be a cracked radiator. The shop quoted $1,600 all in for diagnostics + full replacement + flush and replacement with new coolant.

Sadly, not an uncommon issue with modern vehicles (modern being the last 20 years) - at least you got it figured out and on the way to happy again.

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