Anybody else having problems with an '08 Dodge Caravan SXT leaking fluid during cold outside air temperatures?

After a night of -20 degrees Celsius then plugging the block heater in for 3 to 4 hours, then running the engine to warm it up, I found that the van had deposited a large patch of oily fluid on my driveway. It looked pink where it had trickled off into some snow. I initially thought it must be coolant, but it felt a bit too oily, so I thought it might be transmission or power-steering fluid.

I took it into the dealer and they said they could not locate any leaks, and that all fluid levels were fine. They said sometimes leaks develop at very cold temperatures.

Well I have heard of leaks developing at cold temperatures before, over the course of several years in this climate and many different vehicles, I have never had this happen.

At first I thought perhaps because I didn't have the block heater plugged in all night that this was a fair enough excuse.

Now after diligently plugging in the block heater with on-going outside air temperatures below -20 degrees Celsius over the past week, I have 3 or 4 puddles and trails of fluid down my driveway... I guess they should be able to see which component has a low fluid level now.... unless they had everything overfilled to start with.

Just because they say this can happen, I don't think that it is an acceptable on-going problem on a brand new vehicle.

I think I'm going to have to locate where the leak is coming from myself to be able to point the dealer in the right direction. I don't have the time to repeatedly take my vehicle in for them to tell me nothing is wrong with it. This trend is getting old. This dealer SUCKS! I'll be taking it back to them just the same though... Don't really have any other choice.

 

You've done all that's required to document the problem warranty wise.
Keep ALL work orders and any other kind of paper generated by your visits to this or any other dealer or transmission shop.This could be needed to prove the problem started while the warranty is/was in effect.

The fluid is more than likely transmission fluid based on the color.Tranny fluid runs off pretty quick when it's warmed up so the dealer probably can't see the leak easily.
To find leaks pretty quickly you can dust the area under the van with baby powder.This works best after a good cleaning with a high pressure car wash spray or a chemical degreaser.After cleaning and allowing the suspect area to dry,dust the area to be checked with regular old baby powder.The leak will show up as a red/pink stain in the powder.Once you find the leak on your own you can take the van to the dealer of your choice along with your own bottle of powder and spray the area and show them the leak.

 

So it turns out that it was in fact a coolant leak. On a further second inspection they found a metal tube cracked. They stated it was a tube that comes out of the bottom of the radiator and feeds the heater core.

The coolant should've been good for much colder temperatures (at least another -10 degrees Celsius) before freezing would take place. We didn't quite reach - 30 here.

They stated there is no evidence of impact damage. It looks like the coolant froze and split the pipe.

This should not have taken place if they had the coolant mixture correct.
Now I'm concerned about what other undiscovered damage may have taken place from freezing coolant, ie: damage to the radiator, heater core, or engine block.

Any thoughts on the possibility of more extensive unseen damage and the best way to proceed with the dealer on this?

 

That's why you have a warranty.
Let the dealer know you are displeased. (Coolant should have been checked/corrected during the PDI)
Have them fix your current problem, ensure the freeze point of the coolant is adequate and move on with your life.

I'm surprised you didn't have an overheat condition if the coolant truly froze.

 

Interesting but difficult to believe as to the reason for the leak.
- did they test the coolant to see what it was good for?
- a freeze up that cracks a pipe would likely mess up the radiator real bad as well? That didn't happen. A defective pipe makes more sense.
I don't believe that freeze up caused the problem. They should have done a test of the coolant then and there and it should be in their warranty report. Did your report come from the Mechanic or a Service Rep. Best not to rely on the Service Rep. for technical information.

My experience with leaking transmission fluid during cold weather is something to consider.
- for some time previous to January 2008, I had a small leak from the transmission when the weather got colder.
- I had the transmission fluid changed in January 2008 and the leak went away.
- About two weeks later, the temperatures got real cold and a leak started up again but was dripping from a different location on the pan.
- In March the leak stopped and stayed that way until this Winter, when it started up again during cold weather, and much worse than previous leaks.
My conclusion to this is that the pan gasket (RTV sealent in this case) is contrating during cold weather. Tomorrow I will likely get under there and tighten up the pan bolts a bit if they are loose, and take it from there.

 

Thanks for the input guys.

I was also very surprised by the report that the coolant froze & split this tube. I think TJeepman hit the nail on the head... I was told this by a service advisor not a mechanic.

I'm lucky if I can address issues with a service advisor let alone with a mechanic at this place though... That is unless you like standing around all day until some kind soul decides to acknowledge your presence.

I am without the vehicle for a week over the holidays until they get the part in. Pretty pissed off about that considering I took it in over a week earlier with the same complaint and nothing was done. I won't bother to tell the on-going problems with this dealer. They are infamous in this town, & I was dumb enough to be suckered in by an old friend/ new salesman who said he'd change my mind about their service department. Think it's time to write a simple factual letter to Chrysler Canada documenting the issues... Not that I think anything positive will come of it, but it's better than doing nothing at all.

Think I'll call the dealer up & request they set the old tube aside when they replace it so I can take a look at. Exactly how & where it cracked could be telling, ie: along a poor or stressed weld if there is one; or split lengthwise; etc.

I'll also request they test the coolant freeze point and record it.

I just can't believe the customer has to request these things in a case like this - It should just be done as a matter of practice. I deal with a different dealer (different make) in town and never have these sorts of issues with them, and I'm in and out in so much less time. If I could get my money back on this van, I would spend the extra ten g's or so to buy a different make.

 

They didn't offer you a rent a car?
That was pretty standard on a new car that was disabled and the part wasn't available quickly.
Quite often we would take a part off another new car so the customer wasn't inconvenienced.