Disappearing Coolant

[Labrat1970]

Read this thread because I have a ‘21 with 103 K on it and I smell coolant in the exhaust some times when I start it recently. Check eng light also is on with a code of exhaust leak.

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[Cape taco12]

A couple months ago Jeep replaced my passenger side head/cams. A weeks ago I noticed my coolant low sent it in… they said no leaks and they overfilled reservoir told me to keep an eye on it. It’s bone dry. So I scheduled another appointment.

Took my Olight with the UV setting and found 2 areas I suspect leaks in about 20 seconds. Going to be interested to see what the dealer has to say.

The big orange spot in the middle is the center of the radiator and I saw mist particles blown out the fan all over the engine.
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Is this connected to the cam/head work? Idk probably not unless they nicked the radiator. I just don’t have time in my life to be driving to the shop all the time.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

A couple months ago Jeep replaced my passenger side head/cams. A weeks ago I noticed my coolant low sent it in… they said no leaks and they overfilled reduction told me to keep an eye on it. It’s bone dry. So I scheduled another appointment.

Took my Olight with the UV setting and found 2 areas I suspect leaks in about 20 seconds. Going to be interested to see what the dealer has to say.

The big orange spot in the middle is the center of the radiator and I saw mist particles blown out the fan all over the engine.
T

Is this connected to the cam/head work? Idk probably not unless they nicked the radiator. I just don’t have time in my life to be driving to the shop all the time.

I gotta get me this light? Link? Pics of it?

 

[Cape taco12]

I gotta get me this light? Link? Pics of it?

https://www.olight.com/store/arkfel...ngu-l_pEHpQMi-R8UjWLKVDG4y7GuJtYaAlLSEALw_wcB

Worth every penny, UV and has laser for pointing out things and indoors Iv used it in well lit areas 80feet away to point out small leaks to our facilities guys that would usually take a trip up the ladder.

Battery lasts along time, charger is easy and the magnet in the tail end lets you stick it to things while you work. Really a well thought out tool light IMO. Only complaint is clipped to my pants leg with other things occasionally I turn it on and it runs dead.

 

[Dougstdig]

https://www.olight.com/store/arkfel...ngu-l_pEHpQMi-R8UjWLKVDG4y7GuJtYaAlLSEALw_wcB

Worth every penny, UV and has laser for pointing out things and indoors Iv used it in well lit areas 80feet away to point out small leaks to our facilities guys that would usually take a trip up the ladder.

Battery lasts along time, charger is easy and the magnet in the tail end lets you stick it to things while you work. Really a well thought out tool light IMO. Only complaint is clipped to my pants leg with other things occasionally I turn it on and it runs dead.

I have one and it’s awesome. Just wait until you get a glimpse of a scorpion! They reflect big time when hit with a UV light…

Got a couple in TN over new years week.

 

[TopDuck]

Those pinkish stains, especially on the hood liner, are very possibly a result of the car wash. The soaps and waxes in car washes will do that. Obviously if you are regularly losing coolant, there is an issue beyond the car wash. I thought forever it was coolant but maybe have added 1/4 cup off coolant to the system over the past 2 years, so that didn’t make sense given the constant pink stains on the hood liner. I imagine if you taste it, tastes like soap not coolant lol. Haven’t tried that yet….

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I imagine if you taste it, tastes like soap not coolant lol. Haven’t tried that yet….

I worked part time in a car wash as a teen years ago - I saw what those soaps and such do to steel pipes, pumps, whatever. Yeah, I don't think I want to test it using the taste test.
Spending a few hours one summer working there did have an advantage, though - I now rinse rinse rinse rinse until there's NO trace of any soap anywhere and when it looks good, I rinse again.

 

[TopDuck]

Sucks because they put a new car wash within 3 blocks of my house, so naturally I got a membership. Some boring days, I hit it twice a day lol.

 

[Cape taco12]

Those pinkish stains, especially on the hood liner, are very possibly a result of the car wash. The soaps and waxes in car washes will do that. Obviously if you are regularly losing coolant, there is an issue beyond the car wash. I thought forever it was coolant but maybe have added 1/4 cup off coolant to the system over the past 2 years, so that didn’t make sense given the constant pink stains on the hood liner. I imagine if you taste it, tastes like soap not coolant lol. Haven’t tried that yet….

This was the inside of the radiator with no UV. I washed it away and it came back after awhile.

 

[Hootbro]

This was the inside of the radiator with no UV. I washed it away and it came back after awhile.

That sucks. Doubt it was from the any of the engine work with what is shown.

While I have not pulled a radiator in these, does not look like that big of a job.

 

[TopDuck]

This was the inside of the radiator with no UV. I washed it away and it came back after awhile.

Yeah, that looks like more than a carwash soap problem. Good time to upgrade to a better cooling radiator…

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