Dodge Journey Oil Cooler Replacement Cost – Can You Drive With Faulty Oil Cooler?
The oil cooler is an essential component of your Dodge Journey. It doesn’t only help in cooling the oil but also helps preserve its lubricative properties.
Your oil cooler is like any part of your vehicle; over time, it will deteriorate and need to be replaced. In today’s article, I shall discuss all you need to know about replacing your Dodge Journey Oil Cooler Replacement Cost.
What is an Oil Cooler?
An oil cooler, also known as an engine oil cooler, is a device that resembles and works like a radiator. It is placed near the radiator and has two main functions – cooling the airflow and maintaining the oil’s lubrication.
As air passes over the oil cooler, it will help in regulating the temperature of the oil, thus enabling it to work more effectively. This will also support maintaining the thickness of the engine oil.
Highly Recommend > How to Reset “Oil Change Due” Light on Dodge Journey.
How Does an Oil Cooler Works?
The oil cooler is a component of the engine oil system. Here, there’s an oil feed line that always fills the cooler with oil, and there’s an oil drain line that constantly drains the oil back to the radiator.
Moreover, the cooler contains tiny metal fins in constant contact with flowing air. These help cool the oil as it passes through the device’s core.
This is a very effective means of cooling engine oil which gets hot due to combustion. Oil coolers also prevent thinning of the engine oils during incredibly intensoperationson. It also reduces the risk of debris buildup and oil breakdown and ensures the engine works smoothly and effectively.
What are the Signs of a Failing Oil Cooler?
Well, oil coolers are just like any vehicle part, and they are exposed to wear and tear with time. A failing oil cooler should be repaired or replaced immediately before it leads to a bigger problem.
Here are some signs of a failing oil cooler to look out for:
01. Oil Leaks
The most common symptom of a deteriorating oil cooler is leakage. This is because coolers are exposed to high pressure and temperature. Over time, seals, lines, and cores eventually wear out, leading to perforations that will cause leakage.
When this happens, your Dodge Journey will have oil leaks, but it will be evident that they aren’t from the engine. Oil coolers can also start leaking when there’s a problem with the adapter that connects oil lines.
02. Leaking Coolant
Some oil coolers feature an antifreeze that keeps the temperature of the oil regulated. This antifreeze (coolant) flows around the coils of the cooler but doesn’t come in contact with the oil.
When an oil cooler starts deteriorating, it can force out all the antifreeze from the engine, raising the risk of elevated temperatures that can harm the engine system.
In this case, you’ll notice a puddle of coolant on the ground or steam from under the hood.
03. Oil Leaking into the Cooling System
Another sign of a failing oil cooler is the presence of oil in the cooling system. This usually happens when the oil cooler raises the pressure of the oil to be higher than that of the cooling system, thrusting the oil into the cooling system.
If care isn’t taken, this can cause engine damage due to a lack of lubrication.
04. Coolant Mixed with Oil
In some cases, a bad oil cooler can lead (to antifreeze) coolant coming in contact with the oil. However, this is usually caused by cracked cylinder heads or faulty gaskets. This can lead to severe engine damage when left unaddressed.
Is it Safe to Drive Your Dodge Journey When the Oil Cooler is Faulty?
No. It’s dangerous to drive your Dodge Journey when you notice a problem with the oil cooler.
When the oil cooler fails, the engine will be supplied with overheated oil that has lost its viscosity and lubricative properties. As we know, for an engine to effectively
operation, there needs to be oil viscosity and lubrication. In the case of a failing, leaking, or clogged oil cooler, these will be compromised, exposing the engine and your vehicle to danger.
As such, it’s not advisable to drive your Dodge Journey when the oil cooler is failing. Instead, contact your mechanic immediately to fix or replace it.
How Much Does it Cost to Replace A Dodge Journey Oil Cooler?
The replacement cost of a Dodge Journey oil cooler varies depending on your mechanic and location.
However, the average replacement cost is between $230 to $250. The cost of labor is between $79 to $100, while the cost of equipment is between $100 to $150.
How Much Does it Cost to Repair a Dodge Journey Oil Cooler?
Sometimes, your mechanic will suggest you repair rather than replace your oil cooler significantly if it hasn’t deteriorated much.
On average, it will cost you about $196 to repair your Dodge Journey oil cooler, where $95 is for labor and $1is 01 for parts. Also, you should know that the repair price varies with location.
Why Do I Need to Replace My Dodge Journey Oil Cooler?
The engine system consists of moving parts that generate a lot of heat. However, the presence of oil and antifreeze keeps the engine at an average temperature and prevents overheating.
Engine oil circulates through your Dodge Journey system and gets heated. Then, it will come to a point where it will be cooled down before the cycle continues. In most smaller vehicles, air flow cools down the oil, but in heavy vehicles like Dodge, the oil cooler does this job.
These oil coolers constantly ensure the engine is healthy and working effectively. Due to corrosion and high temperature, they develop leaks and start failing. When this happens, you’ll notice the signs of a failing oil cooler which include oil leakage, oil mixing with coolant, low oil levels, and high temperatures. This affects the performance of your engine and can lead to total engine failure.
Also, oil coolers can get damaged when a collision involves the front of the car. Due to where they are located, they are mostly damaged when the bumper cover can’t absorb the impact of the collision.
To avoid investing in both an engine and an oil cooler, ensure you replace your Dodge Journey oil cooler once you notice it’s deteriorating.
How Do I Replace A Faulty Oil Cooler?
- Raise your Dodge Journey and secure it on strong jack stands
- Carefully remove the faulty oil cooler and install a new one with clamps
- Lower off the Jack stands and check for leaks
- Test drive your vehicle for proper operation
My Recommendation Oil Cooler for Dodge Journey
With thousands of brands manufacturing oil coolers, choosing one can be overwhelming.
One of the best manufacturers of oil coolers is Dorman. The Dorman oil coolers are made from durable materials to ensure years of problem-free performance. The hot temperature and pressure of the engine don’t quickly deteriorate them. What more? Dorman oil coolers come at budget-friendly prices!
Wrapping Up
An oil cooler isn’t something that needs to be replaced frequently. It can last as long as your car. Also, always look for the aforementioned symptoms of a faulty oil cooler. Other warning signs include excess rise in engine temperature, loss of engine power, and dark exhaust emission.
However, it would help if you gave your oil cooler a maintenance checkup every 100,000 miles.
