Have done major fixes, but still smell coolant. Help! Details in post.

Help! So my Dodge Ram 2014 is under warranty with the dealership, and they did a cylinder head fix to it, along with replacing all gaskets due to it over heating. Prior to that they replaced a coolant reservoir as well. It’s basically always smelled like coolant since those two issues, but even after getting fixed.. it still smells like coolant! How long after fixes like that, will the the smell go away? Is it normal for it to smell for going on a week now, since I’ve driven it total after the fixes happened? The truck had of been leaking for a month total before they replaced everything causing the smells and over heating. It now runs great, no over heating issue. So they fixed the problem, but the coolant smell has me concerned after everything done.

I've always noticed a coolant smell after shutting off the engine and walking around the front of the truck. There is no sign of a coolant leak anywhere and the coolant level is right where it should be in the recovery bottle.

Same as what

n-humble​

said, no leaks,no low coolant, no over heating, so I dont worry about it.
Have 125,*** miles on truck.

My truck has always had a slight coolant-like smell after shutting off the engine and walking to the front. Our Pacifica does as well so I think it's a chrysler thing? Neither loose any appreciable coolant at this point. Now, I did have a head gasket leak on my Ram a bit over a year ago that was repaired with a new head. That smell was much stronger and obvious there was an issue. After the fix I don't know how long it took to get back to the normal very slight smell, but it was not very long IIRC. If you still smell the overwhelming coolant smell there might be an issue. Is it using any at this time? You should be able to track how much is in the overflow before you start the truck.

So you don't smell it inside the truck, right? Only outside?

I also get a slight smell of coolant when I shut my truck down, coolant level in my overflow never goes down, there may be some seepage somewhere that can be causing this!!!

Generally when you pull heads off or anything to do with coolant it makes a giant freaking mess even if you drain it first. Coolant is actually pretty hard to wash off, and even when it dries it will leave a lingering smell.

Keep checking your level and if it stays good you could always get the engine bay detailed to get rid of the smell.

On my 2014 3500... I had the water pump recall done on the cummins diesel. That was 3 years ago, and ever since then the truck smells like anti-freeze too. I dont have any leaks that I can find. I have power washed the radiator, and core support area. Hosed out the engine compartment, and still the stink lingers. I think that OAT type antifreeze they are using these days must be pretty potent smelling?

Wow. The original post was from February. May want to replace your radiator cap. It's going to vent there first before heading to the reservoir. If the rubber seal isn't great, that may be the source of the fumes.

Some of the earlier Rams, like 2009 - 2014 were built using Chinese made coolant hoses
As soon as the coolant heated up, you could really smell it.
There were hundreds of complaints of passengers getting sick while on a trip.

I have had people tell me that my 2016 Ram eco-diesel smells like coolant, i guess that i am just used to it & don't notice it

No coolant smell from my Ram (ever). But I've had it on other vehicles. There's always a traceable reason for it. Check all the hose ends/connections, radiator, Inspect weep-hole under water pump with flashlight. Quadruple check where the radiator plastic ends attach to the radiator (common leak point). Re-seat the hose spring-clamps. Spring clamps can leak, and there's the definite possibility of debris between the rubber hose and the radiator nipple. Not like mechanics never overlook things. When it gets cold out (like nowadays), plastic and hoses shrink, often small leaks develop.

As suggested above, inspect/replace the radiator cap. Coolant is seeping out somewhere.. even if its just vapor. Vapor often leaks out the sides of radiators when the rubber seal at the plastic ends begins to fail.

They make a coolant-compatible UV dye a guy could use (OReilly's/Napa/Autozone). That would be the method of last resort for me. But maybe that's what will be require if you can't otherwise find the leak.

My 17 has done this since new. Its strongest at the upper right hand corner of the grille. I had it back to the dealer under warranty, they pressure tested the system and found no leaks. I dont like it, but it's not using any coolant so I don't worry about it. This is a very common concern that's been expressed regularly here over the years.

If you can document over a month the coolant level is consistent and not dropping, I'd run it and not worry about it.

If you can document over a month the coolant level is consistent and not dropping, I'd run it and not worry about it.

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Yeah, probably not going to hurt anything. Spring hose clamps tend to let some vapor by. As an engine warms up, items that heat/cool expand and contract and move about.

Sometimes new plastic parts have a very small mold-line, on hose connections...the result of where two halves of a plastic mold came together. Such a mold-line or even a little 'flashing' can prevent a great seal allow vapor to pass. The solution is to scrape with a razor blade (@ 90 deg) to make the surface smooth. I've seen that on new radiators and overflow tanks.

In order to really track this down a lot of the cooling system components would have to be closely inspected. Dealers aren't keen to invest that kind of time into chasing ghosts when they have better paying jobs to do.

also they had the thermostat off so i have seem the thermostat Housing leak due to bad seal and from bolts !
the owner came in after a head repair complaining of coolant smell other tech's smelled it but could never find it !
advised to keep bring it back every 3 day's for a month so we could monitor coolant level never used very much like maybe 2 Oz over a month ! i asked him to bring it back in for a day so i could check because i feel you should never smell coolant or oil!
i got checking found thermostat housing and seal were bad replaced housing seal and thermostat as well he came back a week later said no more smell

Please keep us posted!