Oil cooler

[Redfisher1974]

Hello friends,

2017 ram 1500 outdoorsman 3.6 pentastar 75k miles


Have been smelling some coolant only out front of grill just after shutting off when hot. Replaced rad cap with new oem cap and have not noticed the smell for a few days..

That being said i got a bore scope for xmas and took a look under oil cooler and saw a few table spoons of oil just under where the filter goes in. I have spilled oil down there on previous oil changes so not sure how much is leaks or spilled? But I don’t like the looks of the thick sludge or the moisture.. what do you guys think? I do wanna change plugs in summer maybe let it go till then and change cooler to? No oil usage or coolant loss.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Hello friends,

2017 ram 1500 outdoorsman 3.6 pentastar 75k miles


Have been smelling some coolant only out front of grill just after shutting off when hot. Replaced rad cap with new oem cap and have not noticed the smell for a few days..

That being said i got a bore scope for xmas and took a look under oil cooler and saw a few table spoons of oil just under where the filter goes in. I have spilled oil down there on previous oil changes so not sure how much is leaks or spilled? But I don’t like the looks of the thick sludge or the moisture.. what do you guys think? I do wanna change plugs in summer maybe let it go till then and change cooler to? No oil usage or coolant loss.

If you keep an eye on both oil and coolant I don't think you'll have a problem holding off until then. I get oil down there every time I remove the filter for a change on the Ram and Pacifica and I think you may be right that it's spillage and not leakage.

Send your scope further down the valley to confirm it's not flowing out the back and I'd call it good.

 

[Redfisher1974]

Thanks! I’ll try tomorrow to get deeper. Its a cheap Amazon scope that plugs in iphone and at 0 degrees it is super stiff and tricky to control… lol

 

[crash68]

Another spot to watch for coolant leaking is the water pump itself. You wouldn't be the first to report just smelling coolant for a while before the pump actually starts weeping enough that it drips to the ground.