08 Dodge Grand Caravan Antifreeze Heatercore Y-pipe

So here's the deal on an 08 Dodge Grand Caravan with the 3.6L, and others I'm sure, have this problem that is kind of hard to track down. When get off the highway and stop you'll smell burnt antifreeze. There's never an obvious leak or puddle and regular pressure testing doesn't seem to find the leak.You have to stop immediately when the smell happens and open the hood to find the problem. This plastic Y-pipe leaks.

When it leaks the antifreeze hits the exhaust manifold and instantly evaporates. So you get the smell, but no other evidence.


Here's better look at the Y-pipe in question.


This pipe has broken on me twice now. This is the stupid part. To get a replacement you have to go to the Dodge dealer and spent $100 and you this much extra stuff. When the Y-pipe and the hoses are all you really need.The dealer would probably charge you the full 1.8 hours to swap the whole assembly, too. That's about $300 total. A smart mechanic would still only swap the needed parts in about a half hour and sell the scrap aluminum and the business office still gets the 1.8 hrs of labor.



Last time I just used the stuff I needed from the big mess, but this time I decided to search the internet and found a easier/cheaper way. I found a great solution. There wasn't any picture filled write-ups so I put this together. Start with a Murray 84757 - 5/8 inch Plastic Y-pipe. I would love to find an aluminum or stainless version that would last forever, but for $7.99 a plastic one is cheap enough that carrying a spare in the van tool box is not cost prohibitive.


You'll need some 5/8inch heater hose and hose clamps.


Now let's get to it. One of these funny new style clamps.


That end's off the engine.


Now these permantent type clamps need to go. There are tougher. I could have cut off the hoses, but I didn't want to come up short of the pre-shaped hoses. So cut the bands with a razor blade.


Man they are tough. Don't loose any broken pieces in the radiator hoses.


Now get the second one off.


For breaking so easy this thing is dang hard to break off.


Y, hose piece, and clamps to match up with the original.


In place.


The other hoses go onto the Y with clamps. Don't over tighten the clamps and break the Y.


Good to go for another 50,000 miles hopefully.