coolant fluid smell

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Sunnysideup

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I have right around 5500 miles on 2018 wagon. When I walk in front of the radiator I can smell coolant . Nothing is leaking on the ground and I cannot see any leaks. Any ideas.

Break in or what
 

Brandon-w

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Are you losing coolant?
 

Octane

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If there is a few drops of coolant spilled or splashed or oozing from a gasket or cap it can have a strong coolant smell.I usually spray some engine cleaner and hose down my truck in and under it and do a good rinse.
 

22hemi13

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2014 ram 2500 with 5.7. Same it’s now and then. Never used a drop of coolant zero leaks. Everything works as it should. Think others had this too in hd section.
 
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Sunnysideup

Sunnysideup

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Im not losing coolant just smells like it if I walk in front of the radiators. I didnt know if it was just them getting broke in
 

2003F350

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I have also had this smell from time to time on my '17. No drips, no loss of coolant, just a smell, and I'm at almost 40k miles.

I'm starting to believe it's just the smell of this coolant is stronger than most, and what we're smelling is the scent coming out of the vent in the overflow bottle. Which...would be perfectly normal.
 

olyelr

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My truck has done this since brand new. Got 35k miles on it now, still smell it now and then, still never added fluid and its not low, and still never seen a drop anywhere.
 

TRad

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Mine started to smell at about 5K. I found some info that Ram thought that they had a bad batch of radiator hoses. Something with the coolant smell was coming thru the rubber. I checked my upper rad hose yesterday and they do smell. Some dealers I guess have been replacing them as people complain about the smell. I have not check with my dealer yet as to if that is the case. Good luck..
 

JD Mark

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I had this on my Cummins since new. Used a very little bit of coolant over time, never any drips and nothing wet under the hood...ever.

Brought it in for some recalls and the radiator was cracked. Previously someone had told me the new coolant vaporizes much easier than the old stuff so it is very difficult to see anything but major leaks. Never had any drips or puddles from my first 2 water pumps that were leaking either.
 

Dodge 1500 4X4

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I noticed one thing on mine is the Cooling system is a closed system and the radiator draws from a coolant overflow bottle thats not pressurized so when the truck is shut off (Cold) it draws from the overflow and when its (Hot) fills the bottle, Ram gives you a Plastic dip stick to check the level and maybe I'm going blind but I cant see the level on that stick, I took it to the dealer to check it and they filled the bottle almost to the top almost overfilled because they were suppose to check all levels, So I had to suck almost a 1 1/2 of antifreeze out, so now I use a wood dowel stick to see the level, I believe there is a overflow for this bottle could that be dropping on the ground?
 

olyelr

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Certainly glad that the checking of the coolant recovery bottle level which is on the left side of the firewall on the Ram 2500 PW 6.4L is a quick visual check with no plastic stick.
Yep, same here. Ive got 35k miles on it now and have never even opened the cap yet.... can see it plain as day on the side of the bottle.
 

Dodge 1500 4X4

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Ok on the 2019 1500 5.7 the overflow bottle is on the left by the hood release that has a plastic dip stick and you cant see around the bottle its buried in the plastic cowl, like said I had to use a wood dowel stick to get the level, and its vented onto the ground
 

sandawilliams

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Yes, it most certainly and definitely is on the 1500 5.7L. No questions ever about that due to that's correct.

However, the 6.4L in the 2018 2500 Power Wagon of which the initial post was about, isn't the same design as a 1500.

Where is White river city, Co.?
 

CMV157

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My 2018 6.4 does the same thing. 15000 miles right now, has done it since new. Never a drop or loss of coolant. I was concerned for awhile and after reading here came to the conclusion that unless I start to see some or it drops level it's not a concern at all.
 
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