Good Afternoon,

New member, I've read a ton of threads on this problem, however I couldn't find the exact answer so I figured I'd throw up a thread for some help.

Bought a 2009 JK with 165K miles for $7500 last week. I knew it wouldn't be perfect and that I'd spend some time replacing some worn out or old parts. Kind of what I was looking for, just a 3rd vehicle for summer cruising that I could wrench on in my garage with my kids.

Brought the Jeep home last week, changed the oil/filter and topped off all fluids. Noticed that I am losing about 3/4" of coolant out of the overflow reservoir each day (about 100 miles per day I've driven it). I've religiously checked the oil every 100 miles, and there are no signs of a head gasket leak. No smell, not running hot, no smoke, no leaks on the ground when running or sitting there overnight. Popped on the heater the other morning as it was a little chilly and got a coolant smell in the cab, albeit no leak....heater core, problem solved I thought. However, I've stopped using the heat/turned it off and I'm still losing 3/4" of coolant out of the overflow each day. Would the heater-core be causing this, even though I'm not using it at all?

Thanks Everyone,
Ted

 

So we all have issues with the radiators leaking at the fins on the JK. You typically have to get the fan shroud out of the way to see it. Usually it's burning off before it makes it to the floor. That 3.8L also has common issue with the lower intake manifold gasket, but that also seems to have some very messy signs that you couldn't miss. You might just really take a good hard look around for any signs of burnt up coolant around the engine. I'm not sure on the 3.8L.....on the 3.6L it's a matter of minutes removing the airbox and such to get to the fan bolts and get that out of the way for a look.

Sounds like you've addressed the heater core to some extent. You've got no wet floors inside right? I'd think not if you're not smelling coolant.

You're also sure you have the system well bled right?

 

Thanks !

I didn’t pull the rad fan off tonight, but I double checked all of the normal spots on/around the engine and I don’t see any signs of a leak anywhere, up/down/front/back and everywhere in between.

No wet floors, however I do get a coolant odor when I run the heat only.

Maybe the entire system was low when I added coolant when I brought it home and serviced it? But it wasn’t getting hot. There was still coolant in the reservoir, but it was well below the min line. SO, totally weird I drove to work this am and didn’t drive the Jeep all day, went out and checked the coolant before leaving at 5 and it was about 1inch low of the max line (1/4 lower than this morning when I left). Got home, let the Jeep cool off for about 30-45 minutes and it was 1/4 off the max line. Is it possible that driving the Jeep has caused it to burp itself as it gained coolant back into the overflow? I’m baffled right now.

I also replaced the rad cap, and tightened down the radiator overflow line at the radiator and reservoir inlet. The old cap had some wear at the seals and the overflow line looked like it was loose at the radiator outlet.

Thoughts? Sorry, I threw a lot out there in this post.

Thanks

 

I have a 2018 JKU with 26,000 miles, and I’m having the same smelling problem but only when I go up hills and have to press the gas to keep it at the posted speed limit (45mph). I’m the original owner and I baby the crap out of it, never going above 65 (as anything above 65 just eats the gas, especially when I lived in Montana with speed limits reaching 80mph, people hated being behind me as I’m chugging along at 65.) I have had issues with the computer in my transmission messing up and after an hour of driving, when I stop, my vehicle wouldn’t start again until around 30mins to an hour of waiting around, they completely replaced it. I’ve had my breaks and calibers checked no issues besides a gouge probably from a rock getting stuck in it, I recently (beginning the first of the year added spidertrax wheel spacers to go from JK studs to JL studs for my JL rubicon wheels). I took it in once for the same issue as well as my Jeep going into limp mode going up the same hill but in winter with slippery roads, I just reprogrammed my computer to make it 33s instead of factory 31s (I believe) and it seemed to help a lot with the sluggish feel in my accelerator. When I took it in they informed me my back passenger tire locked up when they turned a corner to take it to the bay to look at it, they tested the differential and found no metal in it, and said it should be fine. I’m at a lost and the Jeep dealership I’m going to pretty much hates that I’m still under warranty, and told me I was covered for some issues I was having with my tailgate not locking and unlocking with the fob saying “fortunately for you, but unfortunately for us you are still under warranty” so they obviously would rather not work on my Jeep since I didn’t buy it from them. The burnt smell happened today and it was pretty bad, but my rear window was rolled up and all my door windows were rolled down, it honestly doesn’t smell like exhaust but I’m no mechanic. I’m in desperate need of an answer so I can fix it before it gets worse. Sorry for my super long post but I’m trying to figure this out and give people as much information as I can. I love my Jeep “Freedom/Oscar Mike Edition“ especially since I was in the military and 100% disabled veteran, I love the history of this Jeep only being for sale overseas to military personnel. Unfortunately I guess Jeep/Fiat wasn’t making enough money and started selling it state side (where I bought mine). I don’t want it to burn to the ground or cause damage that makes it unfixable, probably not going to happen but this is my dream vehicle from childhood and probably couldn’t get another loan to buy it again. Please HELP!!!! Lol sorry, for some reason when I hit reply to the thread I was looking it somehow it posted it to this thread.

 

Sounds like rad seeping.