Brown Sludge on Coolant Dipstick?

[GregSLC66]

Similar issue with mine, turned out to be a failed oil cooler and cross contamination. Apparently it’s a thing with the 5.7 hemi 2019s?? Covered under extended warrantee for me. Good luck if that’s what it is for you.

 

[1BADRAMLIMITED]

I just checked mine and the fluid is clean, without any brown sludge. I didn't know the tank had an 18" long dipstick.

View attachment 149412View attachment 149413

This is new news to me I need to check mine out.

 

[Dallas Aggie]

Similar issue with mine, turned out to be a failed oil cooler and cross contamination. Apparently it’s a thing with the 5.7 hemi 2019s?? Covered under extended warrantee for me. Good luck if that’s what it is for you.

Just dropped my 2019 off at the dealer with same cross contamination. They are going to look for the issue and call me this week.

Assuming I have the same oil cooler issue how long did it take to repair?

 

[Alejandro_Andretti]

Took mine in when I first noticed this awhile back they said they ram a pressure test or whatever and everything was normal. But since reading this I wonder if they over looked this issue. It still have sludge since then

 

[Dallas Aggie]

I just got off the phone with the service advisor. Tech did a pressure test and found that the oil cooler failed allowing oil to get into the coolant and radiator. He said they ordered a new radiator, oil cooler and all hoses to replace.

He said the oil coolers fail on the 2019’s frequently due to the design. He said Ram changed the design starting 2021 and that I will be getting the new design.

 

[millertime38]

Any chance you could point me in the direction of where the oil cooler is located on the 2019

 

[HSKR R/T]

Any chance you could point me in the direction of where the oil cooler is located on the 2019

It's an adapter that the oil filter threads into

 

[millertime38]

It's an adapter that the oil filter threads into

Awesome thanks

 

[shktrk]

Is this cross contamination covered under our standard 5-year power train warranty?

 

[Bigdumps]

I had the same thing happen on my "new to me truck". I bought it with about 50,000kms and smelt coolant outside the truck. When checking the coolant dip stick there was a sludge on the dipstick and it looked low. I took it back in to the dealer and they inspected it for leaks couldn't find any and just toped up coolant....

View attachment 167655View attachment 167656View attachment 167657

Had this exact same issue. Friend of mine kept telling me he smelt antifreeze when he was in my truck the last few weeks, I can't smell sweet sh!t apparently, because a second guy told me the same thing.

I check the reservoir, it was bone dry and this exact slug on the dipstick. 22 ram, 88000km owned since new always serviced at the dealer. Never leaked, no drips on the driveway, no mess under the body when I changed the sway bar bushings in October, and end links in December, and it never got hot (even hitting gravel roads for hours on end in +30 Celsius during hunting season with the a/c cranked).mind you, I don't check the reservoir. I trust the gauges and the billion sensors to tell me if it was hot. Dealer oil changes and tire rotations every 6000km. Someone would have noticed.

Took it to a different dealer, they believed somehow one of those rad leak pluggers was poured in. Since the truck had full warranty and was "peace of mind" inspected every oil change, I didn't think that was the case.
The only thing I noticed was when I checked, the reservoir cap was very loose. Dealer did an oil change, "a piece of mind" inspection and topped up the reservoir. Nothing in the oil. I assume they would take the rad cap off and check for build up or issues. No drips in the driveway, no drips under the hood in the last 2 days either.

I'm at a loss for what caused it.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Had this exact same issue. Friend of mine kept telling me he smelt antifreeze when he was in my truck the last few weeks, I can't smell sweet sh!t apparently, because a second guy told me the same thing.

I check the reservoir, it was bone dry and this exact slug on the dipstick. 22 ram, 88000km owned since new always serviced at the dealer. Never leaked, no drips on the driveway, no mess under the body when I changed the sway bar bushings in October, and end links in December, and it never got hot (even hitting gravel roads for hours on end in +30 Celsius during hunting season with the a/c cranked).mind you, I don't check the reservoir. I trust the gauges and the billion sensors to tell me if it was hot. Dealer oil changes and tire rotations every 6000km. Someone would have noticed.

Took it to a different dealer, they believed somehow one of those rad leak pluggers was poured in. Since the truck had full warranty and was "peace of mind" inspected every oil change, I didn't think that was the case.
The only thing I noticed was when I checked, the reservoir cap was very loose. Dealer did an oil change, "a piece of mind" inspection and topped up the reservoir. Nothing in the oil. I assume they would take the rad cap off and check for build up or issues. No drips in the driveway, no drips under the hood in the last 2 days either.

I'm at a loss for what caused it.

I doubt your reservoir was gone dry. Probably just below the dipstick level, so they topped off the coolant. Coolant is still 50% or more of water that will evaporate. It's not something you just ignore until there is an issue. Checking coolant level when you check your oil level(you do that between changes right?), is just common sense preventative maintenance. Top off as needed. If the one dealer suspected a leak stop was added to the coolant, why didn't you request a coolant flush to get that crap out? And what was their reasoning for thinking that was the issue?

 

[Bigdumps]

I doubt your reservoir was gone dry. Probably just below the dipstick level, so they topped off the coolant. Coolant is still 50% or more of water that will evaporate. It's not something you just ignore until there is an issue. Checking coolant level when you check your oil level(you do that between changes right?), is just common sense preventative maintenance. Top off as needed. If the one dealer suspected a leak stop was added to the coolant, why didn't you request a coolant flush to get that crap out? And what was their reasoning for thinking that was the issue?

There Was no reason they thought leak stop was added aside from looking at the dipstick and the service advisor called a mechanic to the front who looked at it and said, huh weird...might be leak stop residue. no in-depth analysis. Just 30 second look.

As for top offs of coolant, nope. every 6000km I go for my dealer peace of mind inspection and oil changes/scheduled maintenance.which covers checks of all fluids, checks for leaks etc.

 

[HSKR R/T]

There Was no reason they thought leak stop was added aside from looking at the dipstick and the service advisor called a mechanic to the front who looked at it and said, huh weird...might be leak stop residue. no in-depth analysis. Just 30 second look.

As for top offs of coolant, nope. every 6000km I go for my dealer peace of mind inspection and oil changes/scheduled maintenance.which covers checks of all fluids, checks for leaks etc.

Doesn't mean they actually perform said checks, other than just oil level

 

[Bigdumps]

Doesn't mean they actually perform said checks, other than just oil level

Absolutely correct.

 

[gpbst3]

I just got off the phone with the service advisor. Tech did a pressure test and found that the oil cooler failed allowing oil to get into the coolant and radiator. He said they ordered a new radiator, oil cooler and all hoses to replace.

He said the oil coolers fail on the 2019’s frequently due to the design. He said Ram changed the design starting 2021 and that I will be getting the new design.

My 19' was just in for an inspection and my shop said I have the brown sludge coolant. The did a coolant flush and fill.

Now im wondering if I have a bigger issue.

 

[Gearhead54]

I have the same issue. 2020 5.7L. 53k miles. I bought it 11 months ago, at 38k. My 2nd oil change was today and they showed me the dipstick. Dark applesauce was the best description. They said recommend flushing but advised it maybe warrantied. I called the dealer and was a waste of time. Everyone on this forum is wayyyy more informative than those yahoos. This summer (95F), pulling a dump trailer, through stop n go traffic with A/C on, I was reading 230F. That was the only time it concerned me. Towing or long trips never goes above 210F

 

[Gearhead54]

I have the same issue. 2020 5.7L. 53k miles. I bought it 11 months ago, at 38k. My 2nd oil change was today and they showed me the dipstick. Dark applesauce was the best description. They said recommend flushing but advised it maybe warrantied. I called the dealer and was a waste of time. Everyone on this forum is wayyyy more informative than those yahoos. This summer (95F), pulling a dump trailer, through stop n go traffic with A/C on, I was reading 230F. That was the only time it concerned me. Towing or long trips never goes above 210F

One dealership never called me back Friday, Sat or Monday. 2nd dealership I called said the can diagnose next Monday. Service writer said its probably heat gaskets since "oiler coolers failing is a 3.6L issue" (makes me loose confidence in fca engineering or their parts manufacturing)

Service writer said coolant flush isn't covered by powertrain warranty even if oil cooler or oil engine heater if bad. Only will cover the specific heat exchanger and labor. I didn't ask if heads/gaskets get coolant flushed. No idea how diagnostic charge is billed.

The part that was bad on father-laws 2019 is what mopar calls the "engine oil heater" which is between the oil filter and block. The Oil cooler lives in the valley under the intake? 2017 ram had cooler located there.(youtube video)

I'm new the FCA. My 2012 f150, 5.0L had a oil cooler (heat exchanger) between the oil filter and block. Used radiator coolant. I was only under that hood to change 2 water pumps and a starter in 238k miles. This Hemi/mopar isn't making a good impression on me.

 

[HSKR R/T]

One dealership never called me back Friday, Sat or Monday. 2nd dealership I called said the can diagnose next Monday. Service writer said its probably heat gaskets since "oiler coolers failing is a 3.6L issue" (makes me loose confidence in fca engineering or their parts manufacturing)

Service writer said coolant flush isn't covered by powertrain warranty even if oil cooler or oil engine heater if bad. Only will cover the specific heat exchanger and labor. I didn't ask if heads/gaskets get coolant flushed. No idea how diagnostic charge is billed.

The part that was bad on father-laws 2019 is what mopar calls the "engine oil heater" which is between the oil filter and block. The Oil cooler lives in the valley under the intake? 2017 ram had cooler located there.(youtube video)

I'm new the FCA. My 2012 f150, 5.0L had a oil cooler (heat exchanger) between the oil filter and block. Used radiator coolant. I was only under that hood to change 2 water pumps and a starter in 238k miles. This Hemi/mopar isn't making a good impression on me.

The part between filter and block is what everyone is talking about as the oil cooler.

Not sure how an engine and coolant flush isn't covered when that part fails. Especially when it puts oil into the coolant. Seems like the dealer is just full of **** on that. Seems contacting @RamCares is hit or miss but can't hurt to try once you decide on what dealer you are going to