2017 R/T - any known issues for slow coolant leak?

joker8050 · Dec 23, 2019

Funny you mention that the dealership told you that water pumps go on the R/T's and radiators on the others. When my pump went they said the same thing. Then when my radiator cracked they said it was a common problem on the R/T as well. And by the way, no accident, overheating, etc. on my Durango either to cause the crack.

cchampagne232000 · Dec 23, 2019

I think its a common problem on all 2011+ durangos. Typically the leak is at the top left (drivers side) portion where the plastic housing is. I read up on radiators in these threads a ton and its obviously either a design or manufacturing issue. I'll be holding on to my receipts just in case.

jc598g · Dec 27, 2019

My truck was finally completed yesterday. For anyone interested here are the final charges for the job:

Radiator part - $537.95
Radiator labor - $688.39
Coolant exchange - $104.93
Cooling service kit - $60
Antifreeze fluid - $29.15
Fan module part - $834.90

Grand total = $2,196.25

Now for this price I think I am fair in expecting that the repair should be done well. Unfortunately here's the list of issues I observed when picking my truck up from the dealer yesterday:

Pink antifreeze spilled on the grill and front bumper
Antifreeze (in puddles) all over the bottom of the engine compartment, as well as on the engine and fuse box covers
Strong smell of burning antifreeze coming in through HVAC - had to put all the windows down
Overflow tank not filled - fluid was barely present in the bottom of the tank

I drove back to the dealer and fortunately they cleaned up most of the mess and topped the fluids.

However this morning I observed the following:

missing trim clips on the front trim by the hood latch
plastic engine cover not secured to the engine, just laying slightly cock-eyed on the top

Is this experience the norm for Chrysler dealer service? This was my first significant repair on the truck and I would have expected better from a backwoods garage.

Don Fox · Dec 28, 2019

I hope your new coolant is purple, and not pink. If not, I believe they have installed the wrong coolant. For that kind of money, I would be livid! Unless they have changed (again) the color of the coolant, it should be purple.

Don

jc598g · Dec 28, 2019

Hey Don - the new antifreeze in the overflow looks pink to me, not purple. Can you point me to what should be used on the 2017 R/T?

Engine bay still smells like burning coolant after putting about 100 miles on since the repair. Hoping this is just continued burn-off and not another leak...watching the overflow level closely.

Don Fox · Dec 28, 2019

Check out this thread. There is a coolant chart there. I am not aware of any updates beyond the purple stuff.

Wrong coolant in my 5.7 durango

Whenever I bought my durango I noticed the coolant was orangish and thought it must be a different type of coolant or some corrosion in the radiator underneath it that’s making it appear that way. Regardless I was going to do a flush Upon buying my first jug of g0-5 I discovered it was actually...

www.dodgedurango.net

Don

cchampagne232000 · Dec 28, 2019

Its hard to do that repair without getting coolant all over the place. Unless you are seeing a noticeable drip anywhere (or pooling on your splash guard) I wouldn't be too concerned about the smell.

Man, they did you no favors on that bill. None.

Chase300 · Dec 29, 2019

Don Fox said:
Check out this thread. There is a coolant chart there. I am not aware of any updates beyond the purple stuff.

Wrong coolant in my 5.7 durango

Whenever I bought my durango I noticed the coolant was orangish and thought it must be a different type of coolant or some corrosion in the radiator underneath it that’s making it appear that way. Regardless I was going to do a flush Upon buying my first jug of g0-5 I discovered it was actually...

www.dodgedurango.net

Don

The coolant in my '14 which was built 08/14 did not have purple coolant but pink colored coolant, so not sure saying one should have purple coolant is correct. Looks like it was purple in some vehicles and pink in others.

Chase300 · Dec 29, 2019

jc598g said:
While testing, they discovered that the fan module is wobbly and cracked and therefore not working properly. They claim that this may be the reason that the radiator developed a crack

Interesting...being attached to the radiator, if it was out of balance I suppose it could put stress on the radiator. I've heard of a fan blade breaking off and puncturing the radiator...but typically that is on older vehicles or ones with high mileage.

Don Fox · Dec 29, 2019

Chase:
I agree. Just wanted to throw that out there for another angle on coolant. Maybe the different plants were using up what they had on hand before updating. I wonder if the pink coolant is speced at the 150K/10 yrs like the purple is?

Don

Mr. G · Dec 30, 2019

I have a 2014 that came off the line in Oct 13' and it was orange.

Mr. G · May 29, 2020

Just to update on coolant color. At 150k dealer did a flush and fill and put the same orange it had from the factory. It's at 175k now and no radiator issues.

2017 R/T - any known issues for slow coolant leak?

joker8050

cchampagne232000

jc598g

Don Fox

jc598g

Don Fox

Wrong coolant in my 5.7 durango

cchampagne232000

Chase300

Wrong coolant in my 5.7 durango

Chase300

Don Fox

Mr. G

Mr. G

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