Strong Coolant smell

[N0NAMETOGIVE]

RAM has written material about it, Normal. I've got a 6.4L, and 5500 Cummins that smell the same. You'll know when it's the water pump, I've had both fail.

 

[truck2014]

RAM has written material about it, Normal. I've got a 6.4L, and 5500 Cummins that smell the same. You'll know when it's the water pump, I've had both fail.

I have dealt with a coolant smell in my garage for years now . I did early on find a small crack in the Y-pipe on this Cummins ,common issue . Replaced it first with another supposedly improved plastic one . , no more leaks there , and thought I'd had found the problem , but the smell continued . I have never had any coolant loss ,we are talking years here . I did a coolant change last spring ,changed the plastic Y-pipe to a billet one , considering I had all the coolant out of it . Everything checked out below ,replaced the bottom hoses where I drained the coolant from . I still had no expectations of getting rid of the coolant smell which is quite strong in my garage after being driven .

Anyway I still have that coolant smell , I tow a big fifth wheel in the summer heat ,have done so since the truck was new in 2014 , as said no coolant loss , but to this day still the strong coolant smell after driving towing or otherwise . Seems to be on the drivers side ,thats where the upper y-pipe is located . It's been a couple years now ,but I did a pressure check ,and let the truck sit for a couple hours under the pressure ,and the gauge never lost pressure . I have long since quit worrying about it ,but it is crazy that smell .

I had the water pump recall done years ago ,but so far no issues with that ,and I checked underneath , and see no visible signs of a leak around the pump .

 

[Grams]

As for those who “hate” tension clamps in preference to “scew” type clamps…. A tension clamp retains the clamping force even if the rubber hose beneath it shrinks from old-age…. While “screw” type clamps REDUCE clamping forces as the rubber deteriorates.

A vehicle which runs fine for 50K miles / 5 years …then suddenly emits coolant odors…. MAY be a simple fix of replacing the radiator-cap.

A new vehicle will pressurize to a dozen pounds of pressure because the radiator cap has a spring-supported gasket/seal that is designed to release “excess” pressure should the engine overheat.
That reservoir is designed to “hold” that excaped-coolant…until the engine cools back down…then the check-valve/flapper in the radiator cap will alow the shrinking/cooling coolant in the engine to be “sucked” back into the engine/radiator combination…which is intended to keep the engine/radiator combo “full” of coolant for normal operations.

However, an Old radiator cap can have a rubber-gasket/seal that hardens and shrinks due to heating-cooling cycles and simple age (that calendar and mileage)…. which can allow coolant to escape to the reservoir at pressures (i.e. temps) LESS than originally intended….. Resulting in a frequent / regular exchange of coolant between the radiator and the reservoir….. which can give-off a constant “smell” of coolant due to that cycling.

Take a look at your radiator cap (when things cool-off) ….and see if the rubber gasket isn’t compressed and/or cracked. Replace it with a new, PROPERLY RATED for Pressure ….aftermarket or OEM cap.

 

[Govtman]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'm watching like a hawk but not seeing anything. I guess it is sort of good and bad. I suspect something isn't right.......but I can't find any evidence to support my notion!

Knew of one guy that had a weep from radiator hose clamp that was not sealing tightly. After he found it he installed a regular stainless screw hose clamp and it solved it.

If it is cool with hot motor you can kill hot engine and shine light across above the engine and see steam rising from the leaking area.

 

[tap4154]

As for those who “hate” tension clamps in preference to “scew” type clamps…. A tension clamp retains the clamping force even if the rubber hose beneath it shrinks from old-age…. While “screw” type clamps REDUCE clamping forces as the rubber deteriorates.

A vehicle which runs fine for 50K miles / 5 years …then suddenly emits coolant odors…. MAY be a simple fix of replacing the radiator-cap.

A new vehicle will pressurize to a dozen pounds of pressure because the radiator cap has a spring-supported gasket/seal that is designed to release “excess” pressure should the engine overheat.
That reservoir is designed to “hold” that excaped-coolant…until the engine cools back down…then the check-valve/flapper in the radiator cap will alow the shrinking/cooling coolant in the engine to be “sucked” back into the engine/radiator combination…which is intended to keep the engine/radiator combo “full” of coolant for normal operations.

However, an Old radiator cap can have a rubber-gasket/seal that hardens and shrinks due to heating-cooling cycles and simple age (that calendar and mileage)…. which can allow coolant to escape to the reservoir at pressures (i.e. temps) LESS than originally intended….. Resulting in a frequent / regular exchange of coolant between the radiator and the reservoir….. which can give-off a constant “smell” of coolant due to that cycling.

Take a look at your radiator cap (when things cool-off) ….and see if the rubber gasket isn’t compressed and/or cracked. Replace it with a new, PROPERLY RATED for Pressure ….aftermarket or OEM cap.

I mentioned that I understand the reason they use tension clamps, but for me, at least for my Ford V10 which had poorly made, easily rusted tension clamps, screw downs are better. I can always tighten them up a bit after a few years. As I also said, the clamps on my Ram are just fine after 7 years, so I'm not touching them.

One of my Ford clamps failed, as I said, and when I was removing another rusted one it broke. I just wanted to get ahead of an issue that might happen when I'm camping out in the middle of nowhere again.

 

[Dusty]

2023 Bighorn 5.7L HEMI with 53,000 miles. I have had a very strong coolant smell in the engine compartment for about a month now. Cannot find a leak anywhere and I am not using coolant. Anyone else experience this? Thanks
Mike

Have you recently filled the overflow tank and possibly over filled it?

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 144141 miles.

 

[ppine]

I have had the coolant smell along with some faint odor of rubber. When I smell that I change the radiator hoses and it usually goes away.

 

[97RedRam]

I had that smell on my 97 5.9. Turned out to be a little coming out of weep hole. Had to replace water pump and smell went away.