Just browsing around some discussions here, it seem that some members have some in depth understanding of automotive cooling systems.
Here's what I got. I'll get to the problem first and than fill in more detail.
It's a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country minivan with the 3.3l motor.
I believe the cooling system pressure is low. When the engine is at operating temperature, I think the upper radiator hose is too soft. It's under pressure but my non professional experience is suggesting to me that a hose on a 15psi cooling system feels harder. It's not seemed to be a problem here in flatland, but when we took it on a road trip, we stopped at a scenic overlook at 7000 ft, we shut it off, for about a half hour, and when we came back to the vehicle, there was a trail of coolant running away from it.
We bought it almost 5 years ago. It was a one family owned car with maintenance records since new, was in a southern state till 2015, so 99% rust free, 100k miles. It had a leaking radiator and had a Bars Leak like sealer in it. I flushed out the cooling system and installed a cheap new radiator, filled it with new antifreeze & distilled water. Now, I think when you take off the radiator cap there should be coolant right up the the bottom of the cap. But I keep checking it and it keeps needing just a little bit of coolant added. There's no apparent leaks. I rented test kit shows no exhaust gasses in the coolant. We went on our 5000 mile road trip. I took extra coolant along. Replaced the radiator cap once or twice. It's been 2 years, I think there was a little bit of coolant under the car a few times on the trip. I think the cheap replacement radiator plus removing the cap to check it too many times has caused the cap to be not seating tight enough to fully pressurize the system. I'm not checking the coolant level at the radiator cap frequently any more. The last time I did check it, it was full like I expected it should be. I can drive it like nothing's wrong but It can't be a good thing if the cooling system pressure is not where it should be. The only way I can think of to test the pressure is sacrifice a radiator hose by installing a pressure test fitting on it. On a hard fast highway drive or at high altitude, I suspect the engine is not being cooled as well as it should be. I wanna do another road trip.
Anyway it's supposed to be my road trip car but I'm driving it now cus my daily driver has a emissions problem and the license has expired, and fixing the emissions means pulling the gas tank, and there are other projects in line ahead of it.
March 2022 will be 5 years I've owned the minivan. We've put 10k miles on it 5k of which was one 28 day trip.
Here's what I got. I'll get to the problem first and than fill in more detail.
It's a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country minivan with the 3.3l motor.
I believe the cooling system pressure is low. When the engine is at operating temperature, I think the upper radiator hose is too soft. It's under pressure but my non professional experience is suggesting to me that a hose on a 15psi cooling system feels harder. It's not seemed to be a problem here in flatland, but when we took it on a road trip, we stopped at a scenic overlook at 7000 ft, we shut it off, for about a half hour, and when we came back to the vehicle, there was a trail of coolant running away from it.
We bought it almost 5 years ago. It was a one family owned car with maintenance records since new, was in a southern state till 2015, so 99% rust free, 100k miles. It had a leaking radiator and had a Bars Leak like sealer in it. I flushed out the cooling system and installed a cheap new radiator, filled it with new antifreeze & distilled water. Now, I think when you take off the radiator cap there should be coolant right up the the bottom of the cap. But I keep checking it and it keeps needing just a little bit of coolant added. There's no apparent leaks. I rented test kit shows no exhaust gasses in the coolant. We went on our 5000 mile road trip. I took extra coolant along. Replaced the radiator cap once or twice. It's been 2 years, I think there was a little bit of coolant under the car a few times on the trip. I think the cheap replacement radiator plus removing the cap to check it too many times has caused the cap to be not seating tight enough to fully pressurize the system. I'm not checking the coolant level at the radiator cap frequently any more. The last time I did check it, it was full like I expected it should be. I can drive it like nothing's wrong but It can't be a good thing if the cooling system pressure is not where it should be. The only way I can think of to test the pressure is sacrifice a radiator hose by installing a pressure test fitting on it. On a hard fast highway drive or at high altitude, I suspect the engine is not being cooled as well as it should be. I wanna do another road trip.
Anyway it's supposed to be my road trip car but I'm driving it now cus my daily driver has a emissions problem and the license has expired, and fixing the emissions means pulling the gas tank, and there are other projects in line ahead of it.
March 2022 will be 5 years I've owned the minivan. We've put 10k miles on it 5k of which was one 28 day trip.
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