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2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee boiled and leaked a lot of coolant


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dgatza
New User

May 7, 2015, 11:54 AM

Post #1 of 12 (1561 views)
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee boiled and leaked a lot of coolant Sign In

Hey guys,

My car did something new today when I got to work and parked and it startled me a bit.

When I parked, turned off the engine and got out of the car, I heard and observed a large amount of pink fluid pouring out of the front right area of my engine compartment. When I first heard it, it sounded like someone was pouring a bottle of water on the ground and the amount of fluid had to have been quite a few ounces.

Popping the hood, I could see the radiator cap steaming and boiling a bit with traces of the liquid trailing down the radiator and surround parts.

My first though was that the engine temperature was already high and the radiator boiled over when the radiator fan slowed after turning off my car.

When I checked my coolant levels though, it was a cm or two higher than the full mark on the reservoir.

To provide some context, I did drive through mountains on the way to work with the air conditioning on. I also recently got an oil change, where I'm almost positive that they topped off my fluids.

At the moment, I'm inclined to think that I had way too much coolant in my reservoir and after a tough ride, the excess boiled over. Though that's just a rough theory at this point.

Do you guys have any idea what may be going on here?

== 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland ==


(This post was edited by dgatza on May 7, 2015, 11:55 AM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

May 7, 2015, 12:31 PM

Post #2 of 12 (1545 views)
Re: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee boiled and leaked a lot of coolant Sign In

2012 kinda new to know details. Are you sure it was coolant and not trans fluid or something else? I'll take it that it was coolant and why would it be too full unless you did it by mistake? When in question you check at the radiator when cooled off first or reservoir mean nothing.


Is this under warranty still? No point in discussing it if it is, T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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May 7, 2015, 12:48 PM

Post #3 of 12 (1542 views)
Re: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee boiled and leaked a lot of coolant Sign In

If you're capable, pressure test the cooling system for leaks, if not, have it towed to a reputable shop. Do not drive it!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



dgatza
New User

May 7, 2015, 2:20 PM

Post #4 of 12 (1531 views)
Re: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee boiled and leaked a lot of coolant Sign In

I'm not exactly sure whether it's coolant, so I'm definitely considering the idea that it could be transmission fluid or something else.

I assumed coolant since I found the fluid all over the radiator and surrounding area and the radiator cap was slightly steaming.

I've never personally filled my coolant reservoir so I'm not sure whether it was too full. Though the pink color and consistency of the of liquid looked very similar to the coolant I have in my reservoir.

In terms of warranty, you bring up a good point. I believe that I'm still covered.

Thanks for your reply!


dgatza
New User

May 7, 2015, 2:21 PM

Post #5 of 12 (1529 views)
Re: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee boiled and leaked a lot of coolant Sign In

I think I'm going to call someone. Thanks for your reply!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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May 7, 2015, 2:27 PM

Post #6 of 12 (1527 views)
Re: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee boiled and leaked a lot of coolant Sign In

OK - Could be a transmission oil cooler but if you have a warranty in effect would cover that and get a written receipt that it failed unless that was damaged somehow (could have been) it would be covered.
I wouldn't drive it until you are VERY sure fluids are all properly filled. Low ATF can be harmful to transmission so you should want a record if this was a warranty job.


Good luck,


T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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May 7, 2015, 4:45 PM

Post #7 of 12 (1522 views)
Re: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee boiled and leaked a lot of coolant Sign In

Oil doesn't produce steam so if the car steamed, it had to be coolant.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
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May 7, 2015, 4:49 PM

Post #8 of 12 (1519 views)
Re: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee boiled and leaked a lot of coolant Sign In

Mopar 5 year coolant is pink.





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dgatza
New User

May 7, 2015, 10:25 PM

Post #9 of 12 (1508 views)
Re: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee boiled and leaked a lot of coolant Sign In

When the car was still hot, the levels were above the full mark, but like you suggested, I waited until the engine cooled and the reservoir appeared to be empty.

Either the rest leaked out or the coolant contracted.

I ended up calling a mechanic who happens to be across the street from my work and he's going to stop by tomorrow and check it out. He agrees that it's almost certainly coolant and that it could be the result of a bad thermostat.

BTW, good call on the MOPAR 5 year, that is exactly the type I have in my car and it is indeed pink.

Guys, thanks a lot for taking the time to offer your expertise. This issue is now in more capable hands than mine.

Take care!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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May 8, 2015, 1:18 AM

Post #10 of 12 (1506 views)
Re: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee boiled and leaked a lot of coolant Sign In

It barely matters for the moment except to know if it can be driven or not if under warranty. The issue could be if it's messed with by other than the dealer it could VOID the warranty! Seems so far nobody is sure if it's steam, smoke or what up to if a wrong fluid was used at perhaps the last oil change or what. Mess with it and if known by dealer they'll be motivated not to cover it and throw it right back to the last person or place that touched it,


T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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May 8, 2015, 2:01 AM

Post #11 of 12 (1502 views)
Re: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee boiled and leaked a lot of coolant Sign In

The car is 3 years old. I seriously doubt it is still under warranty. He never listed the miles.

I also severely doubt this was caused by a bad thermostat. Pressure test for leaks and fan operation.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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May 8, 2015, 5:13 AM

Post #12 of 12 (1492 views)
Re: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee boiled and leaked a lot of coolant Sign In

He said he thought it was. Hmmm? Default warranty for major drivetrain was or is state by state or area. Once 6/600K with a deductible AFTER the original 'bumper to bumper warranty expired. Just read one! TMK a list of reasons to not honor those too. With hassle that one covered radiator stuff and more smaller than whole cracked engine for example.


OP as to check what is or isn't in effect still. You just know the first answer if this isn't so simple will be NO and blame it on someone or something else. Can't know till that's checked and verified?


T







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