2005 Caravan overheating, losing coolant.
 

90k miles, well maintained. A few weeks ago, I couldn't get any hot air from heater. On the way to the shop, temperature spiked. I ran up the heat, got moving to get some air over the radiator, and made it to the shop okay. Was like a gallon and a half low on coolant. There's never been a spot under it.

A month later, still no signs of a leak, and the temperature spiked idling in a parking lot. Did the heater trick, but it came back up. Put two thermos bottles of water in it and two 16 ounce cans of water. Is fine on rest of journey home.

Where's the coolant going? Cylinder head, or a leak onto something that's evaporating it so's I don't see it? Will a presure test of some sort show me that pinhole in a hose that drips on the exhaust manifold and therefore hides the evidence? I can only hope.

I've not known these 3.8 units to be prone to head gasket leaks. My 97 had 250k on it, and it was a great van.

Shall I check my bank balance?

Clayton