[Brad-P]

My Nitro 175,000 miles was losing coolant and overheating occasionally. After replacing water pump, thermostat (4 times), radiator, heater core, radiator cap (again) my mechanic (a good honest one) cannot figure out why my coolant is staying in the reservoir and the radiator coolant is disappearing. He has done every type of testing ruling out head gasket issues and this thing will run great for about 1 week then start getting air pockets again and overheating (losing antifreeze most likely due to overheating/evaporation). Any ideas on what else to check? He has checked with his dodge dealer mechanic buddies and the only answer he gets is "yeah we have had a few mysterious ones time to trade it in".

 

[James Sofonia]

Your symptoms sure do sound like a head gasket. I have had cars in the past that the head gasket leak comes and goes like yours. A compression test may not show it if it is a leak between the water jacket and somewhere else such as the exhaust port. It seems to me there is a test for finding exhaust gasses in the radiator.

 

[29309]

My Nitro 175,000 miles was losing coolant and overheating occasionally. After replacing water pump, thermostat (4 times), radiator, heater core, radiator cap (again) my mechanic (a good honest one) cannot figure out why my coolant is staying in the reservoir and the radiator coolant is disappearing. He has done every type of testing ruling out head gasket issues and this thing will run great for about 1 week then start getting air pockets again and overheating (losing antifreeze most likely due to overheating/evaporation). Any ideas on what else to check? He has checked with his dodge dealer mechanic buddies and the only answer he gets is "yeah we have had a few mysterious ones time to trade it in".

I'm dealing with something very similar on my 4.0L 07. I am finding a little leakage from hose coming from heater core outlet to oil cooler (at bend right before cooler) but not enough to empty the aux tank. Mine actually doesn't overheat which i find odd ?

 

[Brad-P]

Thanks for the info but unfortunately my reservoir levels do not move at all. We drilled the he that was on a TSP back in 07 to see if it would help, but nothing has changed.

 

[James Sofonia]

How to Test for Exhaust Gases in Coolant
by Allen Moore


Exhaust gases in your engine's coolant are usually a sign of a blown head gasket or cracked cylinder head. Continuing to operate your vehicle in either of these cases will quickly lead to full engine failure. If you suspect you have either of these issues, you should perform this test immediately. The test kit is available at most auto parts stores for less than $50 as of 2010. Testing for exhaust gases in your coolant will take anyone with basic auto repair knowledge less than 25 minutes.

How to Test for Exhaust Gases in Coolant

Exhaust gases in your engine's coolant are usually a sign of a blown head gasket or cracked cylinder head. Continuing to operate your vehicle in either of these cases will quickly lead to full engine failure. If you suspect you have either of these issues, you should perform this test...

itstillruns.com

 

[Scar0]

Replace the radiator cap. My guess is the cap is not sealing allowing air in, instead of sucking from the reservoir.
Also make sure the tube from the reservoir is not kinked/plugged.

 

[Brad-P]

New caps 2 times and already checked lines. Thanks though

 

[Krolyses]

Losing coolant and not drawing from reservoir. Definitely sounds like a leak somewhere. There's only so many places it can go.

Change the oil: Drain a couple cups into a pan (not one of those bulk collection jugs that the quick lube shops use). Antifreeze here is from head gasket.

You could also try some leak detecting dye. Add this to the system and drive around for a couple days until you get symptoms of coolant loss. Then look around with a UV light. Check the tail pipe (head gasket), under the dash on the passenger side (heater core), all around the engine compartment (look high and low). Hopefully, you'll find a spray pattern that will point to where the problem is.

 

[Tomcat]

You could also have a pinhole in the rad or heater core. I know you’ve replaced the rad but what about the heater core. Have you replaced heater hoses and checked the intake for leaks ? I didn’t see that you posted which engine you have ? If you have a 4.0l you’ll have to pull the intake plenum off to properly check for coolant leak against the head and front and rear of the engine. The plus side is you can do the plugs while your there and anything else you’ll need when you pull the intake plenum.
I have the 4.0l so I can tell you it’s pretty straight forward to pull it off.
just tedious is all. I’m not familiar with the 3.7 at all though.

 

[sherrileareynolds73]

I have 3.7 07 nitro not over heating bubbling in reservoir hose that goes to water pump is swelled no visible leaks no white smoke. Replaced radiator and cap thermostat, and heater core any help would be appreciated

 

[Tcopeland]

I have 3.7 07 nitro not over heating bubbling in reservoir hose that goes to water pump is swelled no visible leaks no white smoke. Replaced radiator and cap thermostat, and heater core any help would be appreciated

Did you ever get an answer. I have 2011 nitro losing coolant and swelling the radiator hoses. No exhaust gas on coolant at all .runs fine but gets air in lines then pops upper radiator hose off.
Tim Ohio.

 

[Tcopeland]

is there a way to remove the duplicate post

 

[Tcopeland]

So to answer
A dodge Nitro with the V6 3.7L engine. No oil in coolant, no co gas in coolant, no coolant in the oil pan and no visible sign of burning coolant is the Head gasket. It swells the radiator hose at the inlet and outlet eventually popping the top one off.

So that said, My 2011 Nitro SE is clean, no rust, and so far everything else works. The AC was replaced in it 2 1/2 years ago as well, along with 850 dollars worth of tires a year ago.

Is this vehicle worth doing the heads, both not just one. it still runs and drives great at 180,000 on body and 170,000 on the engine.

 

[teahead]

You're looking at probably close to a $3000 job.

Is it worth it? Well....new cars and car payments are insanely high and atrocious.

Used Nitros that have their own problems is a gamble and will cost you >$3000.

Hard to say if it's worth it. Gotta look at your whole situation.

 

[2ndgen]

$3000 for a head job? That's quite steep. I just got a quote recently and it was under $1000.

 

[teahead]

Is that for just one head gasket? Or both heads?

 

[2ndgen]

Valve job on both heads--replace the guides, and new, staked seats. I already bought a cometic head gasket, so that's not included.

 

[Nitrogen]

depends where you live,
round here in France it can cost €400 - €500 ( exchange rate is about €1- $1 ) for a full service and that's just a average family SUV,

nothing is cheap anymore,

i need a pay rise asap

 

[Nitrogen]

is there a way to remove the duplicate post

No, but someone on admin normaly see the double post and fix it,

 

[Nitrogen]

could be your waterpump slowly weeping, then causing the engine to overheat,