When doing an oil change today, I noticed a pink crust on the upper-front of the motor. Oil looked normal - no milky look. I typically keep coolant near the max and it was at the min while the engine was warm so I believe I've lost some coolant. The Jeep is an '08 3.8L with about 83,000 miles. Ideas/advice? Thanks in advance.

 

After some reading on the forums I'm thinking it may be that coolant temp sensor. I have the original style plastic unit and the newer units look to be brass.

 

Interesting that it's dried up like that. I had leakage in that area from the thermostat housing and it was liquid and blew around the engine compartment a bit, including onto the radiator fins. Just a slight leak--not as much as I may be making it sound. Drove for quite a few thousands of mile before I finally figured out what it was (was to the point or replacing a recently replaced radiator!).

Anyway, just FYI, the thermostat has a rubber ring around it making no need for a gasket on the housing. However, there is an available aftermarket gasket, if you want.

 

If you're going to change one, it's not a bad idea to knock em both out....the sensor and the thermosat/housing. The thermostat housing appears to have a little of the same crustiness....unrelated to the sensor as that coolant didn't travel up to the housing from the sensor.

 

Thanks for the replies. Seems like it's probably a good idea to replace the thermostat and housing while I'm in there. Omix-ADA makes a gasket (17117.34) and I'll that a try too.

 

When I did the coolant flush myself, I went with Gates upper and lower hoses. They came with a traditional hose clamp rather than the stock spring clamp.

I used the traditional clamps thinking I would be able to tighten them down a bit more than the stock ones. I also replaced the thermostat and housing.

I get a white power buildup on the thermostat housing and also a little bit on the edges of the upper and lower hoses. I'm assuming maybe when the vehicle gets super hot this is a vapor escaping and that's what the white build up is? Or maybe I need to undo the clamps and readjust both the clamps and hoses?

I don't have a big thing of goo as shown in the pic but always wondered if this is an issue. Thanks in advance.