Hi Guys,
Searched for this weird issue/non-issue over the Internet. Having found no leads, I am seeking any insight on this from y'all.

The Durango runs just fine and I have not seen any issues with it so far. But when on idle (without the AC on), I have noticed that there's this intermittent warm air draft outside the driver-side and passenger-side doors. Like if you stick your hand out outside the window, you'd feel the warm draft pass by.
Of course, it is very difficult to see whether this occurs when driving.

Initially I thought this may be a coolant issue. But the temperature guage on the vehicle remains between 201-204. Don't see a sharp drop or rise at any point.

Not sure whether this is an issue or something I need to just get used to with the vehicle. If anyone cane throw some light on this behavior, that'd be awesome!

- Aniduda

 

Is the engine fan on when this happens?

 

Didnt check that. Will check and let you know. Thanks!

 

It's your electric fan. It may cycle on to keep coolant temps down or help air get across your a/c coils. It's normal, I've noticed it.

 

Thanks!
I kept the D running on idle for sometime this morning. The radiator fan never started. Plus, just for a little bit, i thought a little bit of smoke coming out... May be just a radiation thing. Will need to check with the dealer now, ah well.

 

The other thing I also noticed was that the radiation fluid (red color liquid tank next to the fan) is about to hit the "ADD" mark. Not sure whether that's adding to the heating issue. At idling, it reached 209-212 F coolant temp. Must say it's been warmer up here (temps in 80s) in the morning.

I drove the D to work and the coolant temp went down to 199-204.

Wait-n-watch game now, till I run this past the dealer and see what they say.
- Aniduda

 

Ironically, my wife asked me about this very same thing a couple of weeks ago just before we left on vacation. It's just your radiator's fan that is pushing warm/hot air back. If you stand by either front door when the vehicle is on and the fan happens to be cycling, you'll feel it. It's normal.

 

Hmm.... you have a big engine generating hundreds of degrees of heat that needs to be disipated in many ways in order for it not to self destruct. I'd say a little warm breeze anywhere withing 5 feet of the entire vehicle would be pretty normal. That's why it comes standard with A/C (and free heat) on the inside ;-)

 

Dude, it's an engine, with hundreds of actual explosions inside each cylinder every minute, and lot's of metal on metal friction, creating very hot oil, engine parts and nearly boiling anti-freeze. There's gonna be some heat on the outside of the vehicle! As long as you don't see any actual flames or a rising temp gauge, there's nothing to worry about!

 

Thanks! Yeah... got a health check done at the dealership and they gave it a clean bill of health too. The hot weather may have feel worse.
- aniduda