Coolant Temperature rides when Idle.

[kapinallinen2]

Except coolant smell is "normal" on these trucks even with no leaks

My truck has been doing that for 6 years, still not buying it being normal.

 

[HSKR R/T]

My truck has been doing that for 6 years, still not buying it being normal.

Have you ever had to add any significant amount of coolant?

 

[kapinallinen2]

Have you ever had to add any significant amount of coolant?

I did add about half a gallon a while back to the reservoir, pretty sure it came low from the factory.
There are no obvious signs of a leak but it does not take much of coolant to start smelling.

 

[DEG]

Except coolant smell is "normal" on these trucks even with no leaks

Then I have owned 4 abnormal Hemi Ram trucks. Coolant smell IS NOT normal on these trucks.

 

[firecadet613]

Then I have owned 4 abnormal Hemi Ram trucks. Coolant smell IS NOT normal on these trucks.

My first two didn't, current one does.

It does not leak coolant, the coolant level does not change.

Your crazy if you think I'd be taking it into the dealer for that.

My truck has been doing that for 6 years, still not buying it being normal.

Mark your overflow tank dipstick. If it's not using or losing any coolant, move on with life.

 

[kapinallinen2]

My first two didn't, current one does.

It does not leak coolant, the coolant level does not change.

Your crazy if you think I'd be taking it into the dealer for that.

Mark your overflow tank dipstick. If it's not using or losing any coolant, move on with life.

Moving on... keeping an eye on things.

 

[dajogejr]

My 2023 was a little low as delivered from the dealer.
I bought the mopar coolant, probably added 8 to 10 oz, that was over 15K miles and a year ago.
I still smell coolant here and there.
Hasn’t leaked or used a drop. I stopped worrying about it…

 

[DEG]

I guess it's possible for very tiny amounts of antifreeze to vent from the radiator cap when the vehicle is at operating temperature and pressure increases when coolant stops pumping to cool the engine when it's first shut off. I've never smelled this any any of my Rams, but I guess it's a remote possibility, especially if living and driving in very hot environments.

I suspect it's more likely the "leaks" people are smelling is tiny amounts of coolant venting out of the recovery reservoir when the reservoir refills as the truck cools. Then, at the next routine service some ignorant kid they hired to change oil and check fluid levels adds a pint or two to fill the coolant reservoir back to the max line when the truck is still a little warm and it results in an overfilled overflow reservoir that overflows. Every time I take my truck in for service I specifically have to tell them not to add any fluids except for the fluids they removed. If you have coolant showing at any level on the reservoir dip stick when the truck is hot, LEAVE IT ALONE and don't add coolant. If there is any level of coolant in the reservoir when the engine is hot then the radiator is full and you need no more coolant regardless of how high the coolant is in the bottle.

 

[HSKR R/T]

I guess it's possible for very tiny amounts of antifreeze to vent from the radiator cap when the vehicle is at operating temperature and pressure increases when coolant stops pumping to cool the engine when it's first shut off. I've never smelled this any any of my Rams, but I guess it's a remote possibility, especially if living and driving in very hot environments.

I suspect it's more likely the "leaks" people are smelling is tiny amounts of coolant venting out of the recovery reservoir when the reservoir refills as the truck cools. Then, at the next routine service some ignorant kid they hired to change oil and check fluid levels adds a pint or two to fill the coolant reservoir back to the max line when the truck is still a little warm and it results in an overfilled overflow reservoir that overflows. Every time I take my truck in for service I specifically have to tell them not to add any fluids except for the fluids they removed. If you have coolant showing at any level on the reservoir dip stick when the truck is hot, LEAVE IT ALONE and don't add coolant. If there is any level of coolant in the reservoir when the engine is hot then the radiator is full and you need no more coolant regardless of how high the coolant is in the bottle.

It would take a lot more than a pint to get the reservoir to overflow when hot. Coolant coming out of reservoir because is overfilled is not the reason for the smell. Your comment about vapors from expansion into the reservoir are more likely. But the expansion tank fills when hot, and sucks coolant back into engine as it cools. The reservoir actually drains as engine cools. It's definitely not a leak

 

[firecadet613]

I guess it's possible for very tiny amounts of antifreeze to vent from the radiator cap when the vehicle is at operating temperature and pressure increases when coolant stops pumping to cool the engine when it's first shut off. I've never smelled this any any of my Rams, but I guess it's a remote possibility, especially if living and driving in very hot environments.

I suspect it's more likely the "leaks" people are smelling is tiny amounts of coolant venting out of the recovery reservoir when the reservoir refills as the truck cools. Then, at the next routine service some ignorant kid they hired to change oil and check fluid levels adds a pint or two to fill the coolant reservoir back to the max line when the truck is still a little warm and it results in an overfilled overflow reservoir that overflows. Every time I take my truck in for service I specifically have to tell them not to add any fluids except for the fluids they removed. If you have coolant showing at any level on the reservoir dip stick when the truck is hot, LEAVE IT ALONE and don't add coolant. If there is any level of coolant in the reservoir when the engine is hot then the radiator is full and you need no more coolant regardless of how high the coolant is in the bottle.

Who said it leaks? It's an antifreeze odor after the truck is shutdown. Pretty noticeable if it's garaged.

My truck doesn't see the dealer so no one's topping off the coolant.

Just a trait of the Rams... no big deal IMO.

 

[DEG]

It would take a lot more than a pint to get the reservoir to overflow when hot.

Nonsense. A teaspoon too much coolant is more than enough to overflow and cause a smell.

Coolant coming out of reservoir because is overfilled is not the reason for the smell. Your comment about vapors from expansion into the reservoir are more likely. But the expansion tank fills when hot, and sucks coolant back into engine as it cools. The reservoir actually drains as engine cools. It's definitely not a leak

If you smell antifreeze it is absolutely a leak. There is no other reason possible for smelling antifreeze. When you shut off your truck it does not get get cooler when it is shut off; it gets a lot hotter before it begins to cool as the flow of coolant stops it's cooling flow when you shut the truck off.

 

[DEG]

Who said it leaks? It's an antifreeze odor after the truck is shutdown. Pretty noticeable if it's garaged.

My truck doesn't see the dealer so no one's topping off the coolant.

Just a trait of the Rams... no big deal IMO.

It's absolutely not a trait of Rams. It's extremely rare and not a single one of the 4 Rams I have owned ever smelled like anti-freeze. My sister's 2021 Ram never smells like antifreeze. If you smell antifreeze it is leaking and that is just a simple fact. It may be a leak due to safety release vent of the radiator cap, but that should be exceedingly rare and if that keeps happening you have a problem with your truck that is causing the system to over pressurize. It might also vent out the expansion bottle but that is due to the expansion bottle being too full. Except for a couple of safety reliefs that relieve pressure under abnormal situations, the system is sealed and you should never be smelling antifreeze. Again, it is not normal for Ram or any other vehicle to smell antifreeze.

 

[HSKR R/T]

It's absolutely not a trait of Rams. It's extremely rare and not a single one of the 4 Rams I have owned ever smelled like anti-freeze. My sister's 2021 Ram never smells like antifreeze. If you smell antifreeze it is leaking and that is just a simple fact. It may be a leak due to safety release vent of the radiator cap, but that should be exceedingly rare and if that keeps happening you have a problem with your truck that is causing the system to over pressurize. It might also vent out the expansion bottle but that is due to the expansion bottle being too full. Except for a couple of safety reliefs that relieve pressure under abnormal situations, the system is sealed and you should never be smelling antifreeze. Again, it is not normal for Ram or any other vehicle to smell antifreeze.

I dont think you understand how the cooking system in these trucks, or in general, actually work, based on some of your comments. Our cooling systems are 100% not "sealed". There is no "safety release" valve anywhere in the system. Just the normal function of radiator cap and recirculating overflow reservoir.

Nonsense. A teaspoon too much coolant is more than enough to overflow and cause a smell.

Prime example of not actually understanding how our cooling system and the overflow works

 

[kapinallinen2]

Prime example of not actually understanding how our cooling system and the overflow works

Pretty sure we all have a basic understanding on how this stuff works...

 

[HSKR R/T]

Pretty sure we all have a basic understanding on how this stuff works...

Maybe most of us do, but definitely not DEG

 

[DEG]

I dont think you understand how the cooking system in these trucks, or in general, actually work, based on some of your comments. Our cooling systems are 100% not "sealed". There is no "safety release" valve anywhere in the system. Just the normal function of radiator cap and recirculating overflow reservoir.


Prime example of not actually understanding how our cooling system and the overflow works

Anyone who claims the smell of antifreeze is normal has no clue what they are talking and that's a fact.

Just a couple of table spoons too much antifreeze can in fact be enough to dump antifreeze on the ground. It's as if you are so stuck on proving me wrong yopiu are just blind and making foolish arguments. The bottle only holds so many fluid ounces. If you have 1 tablespoon more than the overflow bottle will hold when the engine is at it's hottest, it's going to vent that tablespoon out of the system and just 1 tablespoon of burning antifreeze is enough to smell. Also, the Ram radiator cap is in fact a safety release cap. It releases pressure into the overflow bottle to prevent over pressurization. THINK HARDER

 

[HSKR R/T]

Anyone who claims the smell of antifreeze is normal has no clue what they are talking and that's a fact.

Just a couple of table spoons too much antifreeze can in fact be enough to dump antifreeze on the ground. It's as if you are so stuck on proving me wrong yopiu are just blind and making foolish arguments. The bottle only holds so many fluid ounces. If you have 1 tablespoon more than the overflow bottle will hold when the engine is at it's hottest, it's going to vent that tablespoon out of the system and just 1 tablespoon of burning antifreeze is enough to smell. Also, the Ram radiator cap is in fact a safety release cap. It releases pressure into the overflow bottle to prevent over pressurization. THINK HARDER

You may want to rethink your comments.

If your overflow is so overfilled that 1tsp causes fluid to run out into the ground, then it's severely overfilled, by way more than 1tsp. As I mentioned already, you can easily add 1 pint(another amount you mentioned) and not have coolant coming out the overflow, even it it was at proper level prior. There is a lot more expansion room in the reservoir than you are trying to make it sound like

As for the radiator cap, it's not a "safety" valve. It's designed to maintain a certain amount of pressure in the system to help prevent boiling your coolant. That's why it's rated for a certain PSI. That's yhe design of the system, not "safety". Your really stretching your argument to try and make it into some safety release valve, instead of just admitting your description is wrong.

And because of this design, and the recirculating overflow reservoir, our systems are not sealed. Which I see you didn't try and argue. Must mean you at least realized you were wrong about that.

Either way, the coolant smell from a hot engine is a common thing mentioned by a lot of owners. And very few have ever found a leak. I have 60k miles on my truck, I still have a faint coolant smell every now and then, usually in the summer, and have only ever had to top of my coolant once, and it took me than a quart. Maybe "normal" isn't the correct word to use, but for most owners, it's not a sign of any issue with the engine or cooling system, and is just something that happens.

 

[SD Rebel]

I've never smelled coolant, though my nose isn't super sensitive, but I will tell you your temps are 100% normal in the 6 years I've owned my truck.

I've always used the exact digital temps versus those dummy gauges, and your temp cycle is the way your truck is supposed to work.

However, that doesn't mean you don't have a leak, not only could you have an external leak somewhere in the engine bay but you can have an internal one through the heater core.

Have you checked your coolant reservoir, there's a little dipstick in there integrated into the top that you can pull out, make sure to check that level.

 

[DEG]

You may want to rethink your comments.

If your overflow is so overfilled that 1tsp causes fluid to run out into the ground, then it's severely overfilled, by way more than 1tsp. As I mentioned already, you can easily add 1 pint(another amount you mentioned) and not have coolant coming out the overflow, even it it was at proper level prior. There is a lot more expansion room in the reservoir than you are trying to make it sound like

My comments are clearly beyond your comprehension because this is a bunch nonsense. For gods sake, THINK HARDER. The exact opposite of your claim is true. If only 1 tsp runs onto the ground your bottle was barely overfilled; not severely overfilled as you claim.

As for the radiator cap, it's not a "safety" valve. It's designed to maintain a certain amount of pressure in the system to help prevent boiling your coolant. That's why it's rated for a certain PSI. That's yhe design of the system, not "safety". Your really stretching your argument to try and make it into some safety release valve, instead of just admitting your description is wrong.

You are playing simple-minded semantic games and you are factually wrong. Radiator caps almost always served the function of a safety relief since they were invented and they still serve that function today. Their faction is to prevent over pressurization of if the system. Prior to overflow bottles, they just vented onto the ground which left the coolant level low for some operating conditions. They solved the problem by adding a bottle to pressure relief fluid when hot and pull fluid back into the system when cold. It is in fact a system safety feature regardless of the name you wish to apply.

And because of this design, and the recirculating overflow reservoir, our systems are not sealed. Which I see you didn't try and argue. Must mean you at least realized you were wrong about that.

It is in fact a sealed system until the pressure relief cap opens to vents pressure to protect the system from over pressurizing. I see you just can't get beyond the goofy semantic games and are missing the point entirely.

Either way, the coolant smell from a hot engine is a common thing mentioned by a lot of owners. And very few have ever found a leak. I have 60k miles on my truck, I still have a faint coolant smell every now and then, usually in the summer, and have only ever had to top of my coolant once, and it took me than a quart. Maybe "normal" isn't the correct word to use, but for most owners, it's not a sign of any issue with the engine or cooling system, and is just something that happens.

Wrong. It's not normal and it's not common.

To add: It always amazes me how many people are so easily duped by what they read on social media forums. Half a dozen people come to a forum accessible to millions of people to ***** about smelling antifreeze and a few then believe it's normal and a common problem even though there may be literally millions of other people who have no such problem. The 99.9% that have no such problem just didn't start a social media post to tell everyone they don't smell antifreeze.

 

[HSKR R/T]

My comments are clearly beyond your comprehension because this is a bunch nonsense. For gods sake, THINK HARDER. The exact opposite of your claim is true. If only 1 tsp runs onto the ground your bottle was barely overfilled; not severely overfilled as you claim.

It's clear you have never check your coolant level in your overflow. If you have, you'd understand how 1tsp is not going to cause the overflow bottle, itself, to overflow into the ground. Your comments are beyond comprehension, because they are ignorant rants

You are playing simple-minded semantic games and you are factually wrong. Radiator caps almost always served the function of a safety relief since they were invented and they still serve that function today. Their faction is to prevent over pressurization of if the system. Prior to overflow bottles, they just vented onto the ground which left the coolant level low for some operating conditions. They solved the problem by adding a bottle to pressure relief fluid when hot and pull fluid back into the system when cold. It is in fact a system safety feature regardless of the name you wish to apply.

Understanding the Role of Radiator Caps in Automotive Cooling Systems

Find out how important the radiator cap is for your car or truck and why MotoRad takes OEM (original equipement manufacturer) quality so serious.

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I'm sure one of the leading manufacturers of radiator caps knows a thing two more than you do. Not once so they ever mention "safety valve" in their description of the purpose and function of a radiator cap. But I'm sure they are just simple minded to. I mean, what do they know?

It is in fact a sealed system until the pressure relief cap opens to vents pressure to protect the system from over pressurizing. I see you just can't get beyond the goofy semantic games and are missing the point entirely.

It's not semantics. To quote Princes Bride, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means". While there are sealed, "closed" cooling systems used by some manufacturers, the system Dodge/RAM uses is NOT considered a sealed cooling systems. In a sealed system, the only cap for adding fluid is in the reservoir. Seeing as how we don't have a sealed overflow, and also have a radiator cap on the radiator, it makes our systems "open" or "unsealed".

To add: It always amazes me how many people are so easily duped by what they read on social media forums. Half a dozen people come to a forum accessible to millions of people to ***** about smelling antifreeze and a few then believe it's normal and a common problem even though there may be literally millions of other people who have no such problem. The 99.9% that have no such problem just didn't start a social media post to tell everyone they don't smell antifreeze.

It seems the only one duped here is you. Not sure where your knowledge, or lack there of, about coming systems comes from, but you are making yourself sound like an idiot. I provided facts to support my argument. You have only resorted to insults, to try and discredit my information. Sure you might "dupe" some, but facts are hard to contradict[/Quote][/Quote][/QUOTE]