Huge fluid burst in engine bay

[Morehouse353]

To keep it short, was driving my 18 1500 3.6 for around 20-30 mins. Stopped and placed it in park, noted my coolant temps were around 224. Truck idled for maybe 1 minute. Turned it off, went to the trunk, went back to the truck to grab something, then boom. Reddish brown fluid leaking everywhere like an explosion. I think it’s trans fluid because my coolant is green and my oil isn’t that. Leak looks like it came from underneath the battery on the low side of the car, problem is, everywhere on the drivers side in the engine bay is dripping so I can’t figure out the source of the burst leak. Any help on what just happened? I had no choice but to drive back for 8 minutes to a parking lot. Everything seemed fine and smooth. Coolant temps got at a high of 228. The whole drive felt smooth. Trans felt smooth too..
Can’t figure out what’s up.

I did pop a check engine light for my thermostat being under recommended temps. Cleared the code and drove for a little to see if anything would change and monitored my temps constantly with no light popping back up and temps not looking too crazy. Longer drives the truck got to 205 temps.


EDIT..

The first 4 photos attached are from the second I heard this leak spill..

The second 4 are from after driving it back from where this leak popped.

I had to drive 8 mins covering 1.5 miles.

Not sure about the coolant being green or the reason of. But checking the lid of the coolant, it had green residue of liquid on it. Unless that’s due to color change of over time, that’s the color I presume the coolant is. I am not sure why my colors are the way they are.. maybe I’m retarded, I usually keep that in the equation lol..

I am NOT well versed in the realm of the 3.6 1500. Nor am I well versed in the ram world or truck world for that matter.

Living in the barracks, the ability to work on this is limited. I’m looking for answers and knowledge as to why different things decide to **** the bed.

I had it towed. Took it to my mechanic. Waiting to see on his diagnosis. Always wanting to learn about why **** goes wrong though..

Maybe enough **** goes wrong I’ll know how to repair the whole damn thing.

EDIT 2

So update, after looking everywhere, the radiator actually cracked, causing the pressured coolant to blow everywhere. Was the left tank. Unfortunately I do not have the capability to repair this on my own, its taken to the shop to be fixed..

Nothing else is wrong with the truck besides a very very small crack/leak on the stupid plastic oil filter housing that will be replaced with aluminum at a later date..

Thanks for the help gents

 

[Burla]

Keep driving it maybe a third time it will break for ya to fix.

You have it backwards, the coolant can be orangish and your transmission fluid is green.

 

[Morehouse353]

Keep driving it maybe a third time it will break for ya to fix.

 

[EdGs]

You gotta figure out what that leak is/was. BEFORE it takes a giant sh*t on you.

Coolant should be purple, but it turns reddish once its heated. If you mix the wrong stuff, it turns ugly and can causr all numbers of bad stuff.

Pictures would help, you gotta find the source.

 

[Morehouse353]

You gotta figure out what that leak is/was. BEFORE it takes a giant sh*t on you.

Coolant should be purple, but it turns reddish once its heated. If you mix the wrong stuff, it turns ugly and can causr all numbers of bad stuff.

Pictures would help, you gotta find the source.

I did check what I could see surface level wise. My coolant is green. Opened the lid. Looks full and I’ve got coolant in the reservoir aswell. Not going to be driving it until this is for sure fixed. Trying to get an idea as to what’s going on

 

[Ken226]

Didn't happen to be a pothole full of muddy water in the area? With tire tracks leading out of it?

 

[Morehouse353]

Didn't happen to be a pothole full of muddy water in the area? With tire tracks leading out of it?

View attachment 580628

HAHA

No I wish lol

 

[Morehouse353]

Didn't happen to be a pothole full of muddy water in the area? With tire tracks leading out of it?

View attachment 580628

It was on one side. Definetly was burning and smelt like some burning rubber and chemical of some sort

 

[EdGs]

I'm not familiar with the coolant system on the 3.6. Is the reservoir pressurized?

Do the 1500 3.6 also have the trans fluid heat exchanger as well?

OP, I see you had previous problems with your 3-way valve. Can you elaborate on what was done? If wrong type coolant was mixed, it can gel up and really goof things up.

Not sure if related to your current issue.

Some pics might help, esp of fluid.

 

[turkeybird56]

I'm not familiar with the coolant system on the 3.6. Is the reservoir pressurized?

Do the 1500 3.6 also have the trans fluid heat exchanger as well?

OP, I see you had previous problems with your 3-way valve. Can you elaborate on what was done? If wrong type coolant was mixed, it can gel up and really goof things up.

Not sure if related to your current issue.

Some pics might help, esp of fluid.

If somebody mixed Dex Cool green junk with your OAT, you got big problems, just saying.

PICS would help.

@EdGs

I got no clue on the V6, whether system pressurized or not, and/or if tranny has the Thermal Bypass and/or if it even has the heated rear differential lines?

I have a Hemi and GOT all that unnecessary stuff, lol. (Except no E Junkola,, thank the big guy upstairs)...

 

[EdGs]

If somebody mixed Dex Cool green junk with your OAT, you got big problems, just saying.

PICS would help.

@EdGs

I got no clue on the V6, whether system pressurized or not, and/or if tranny has the Thermal Bypass and/or if it even has the heated rear differential lines?

I have a Hemi and GOT all that unnecessary stuff, lol. (Except no E Junkola,, thank the big guy upstairs)...

Me too, for Hemi

I unhooked the coolant hoses from my 3-way coolant valve and blew out the coolant lines to the transmission heat exchanger, then installed coolant hoses for later model Hemi without the 3-way coolant valve.

Pulled my block drains and completely drained and replaced coolant when I did my cam/lifter repair.

 

[turkeybird56]

Me too, for Hemi

I unhooked the coolant hoses from my 3-way coolant valve and blew out the coolant lines to the transmission heat exchanger, then installed coolant hoses for later model Hemi without the 3-way coolant valve.

Pulled my block drains and completely drained and replaced coolant when I did my cam/lifter repair.

I remember U pulled and redid everything on yer 2016. Heck of a project. Wish I had a 3 way valve in my 2019 instead of the blend door block BS, IMHO the 3 way valve is a lot better ref heat/cooling. They did do the TSB repair on my 2019 since FCA put in bad evaporators: But that involved 2 days at dealership and the friggin whole dash, steering column, heater box, everything pulled out. THEY did a pretty good job BUT U know they neva get all put back 100%. And it improved my cooling by 50%, nothing as good as it should be, but at least free. YUP, the Red Beast there with all parts pulled out. AT least I get some high 40 degree cooling instead of the 55 ish degree cooling I used to get. But that makes on this truck under warranty/extended: New E Fan // New entire rear window backlite // new CHMSL // New HVAC stuff: evaporator, sensors, and wateva else they did.
CAVEAT: It took me 2 Years fighting to get New EFAN, kept being denied under Maxcare warranty till finally got it pushed through. (Dealership at fault and MA Mopar).

 

[EdGs]

I'm not sure what the actual purpose was with the 3-way valve. I guess so the transmission would heat faster?

Since I eliminated the 3-way coolant lines (but left the 3-way valve electrically hooked up), my transmission still gets into the 180° range, but it takes a good bit to get there. IMO, cooler is better.

I still have Jesse's thermal bypass to install and install a PPE pan and trans service. I am a procrastinator supreme....lol

 

[Ken226]

It was on one side. Definetly was burning and smelt like some burning rubber and chemical of some sort

there are only a few fluids it could possibly be.

Engine oil, transmission oil, coolant, windshield washer fluid.

or possibly battery electrolyte.

A longshot i've seen twice. Once on a 2011 Durango and once on a F150. Rainwater collecting inside the body due to a clogged drain, which releases all at once and leaves everyone scratching their heads. On the F150, it was inside the drivers side door.

 

[BenchTest]

I'm not familiar with the coolant system on the 3.6. Is the reservoir pressurized?

Do the 1500 3.6 also have the trans fluid heat exchanger as well?

OP, I see you had previous problems with your 3-way valve. Can you elaborate on what was done? If wrong type coolant was mixed, it can gel up and really goof things up.

Not sure if related to your current issue.

Some pics might help, esp of fluid.

The reservoir is not pressurized. There is a heat exchanger on the ZF trans.

 

[Marshall]

that v6 has that silly oil filter with a heat exchanger in it does it not, that would puke out oil or coolant out the rear of the motor, I can't tell anything from the pictures .
If it was trans fluid, I can't see you driving for a few miles without it going to hell .
I would think a steel transmission line to the cooler.

one other thing, a head gasket let a bunch of pressure into antifreeze, but that would be milk shake look in the tank/ground.
Reading the post again, I would be really checking out the water pump and the hoses.

 

[EdGs]

@Morehouse353, any progress figuring out what happened with your Ram?

 

[crackerjack1957]

@Morehouse353, any progress figuring out what happened with your Ram?

@EdGs
He edited his 1st post with his issue!!!

 

[Ken226]

@Morehouse353, any progress figuring out what happened with your Ram?

Looks like his radiator cracked even worse than yours.

 

[EdGs]

@EdGs
He edited his 1st post with his issue!!!

Yep, I totally missed it. I'm used to posting at the end and updating the beginning, if I can.

Looks like his radiator cracked even worse than yours.

Sure did! That's wild.