06 dodge caravan coolant leak

[Skinner]

Have a 06 Caravan with the 3.3 v6 has a very slit coolant leak. ( less than a gallon over say 6 months). Unable to find the leak. I have replaced the water pump and its dry there same for the metal tube that connects to it. There are no puddles but you can smell the coolant after shutting off the engine. Thought it might be the cap and replaced that but is still smelling and slowing loosing coolant. Any common things to look for. Think it maybe the radiator but I would hate to just throw money at it and that not be it.

[HAOLE]

Get a coolant pressure system pressure tester and use that to look for any leakage. If no leakage use a block test to look for hydrocarbons in the cooling system. If the hydrocarbons are present then you have a head gasket that is bad. The coolant is going on the ground or out the tail pipe those are the only two choices..

[PRD2BDF]

I googled a bit. Seems like the coolant leaks around the timing covers are common.

[HAOLE]

I googled a bit. Seems like the coolant leaks around the timing covers are common.

If you pressurize the system you should see the leak. You can use a UV dye and a black light. That works well for very small leaks.

[Crossle]

The lower intake gasket is a very common place for these to leak. You would be able to see it on the driver's side leaking down the block onto the transmission bell housing.

 

Lower intake and Water pump is what I see most on these motors. Radiator is a possibility on any car, but heed your own advice and verify before throwing parts at it.