A week ago driving home Isuddenly got the coolant smell through the cab of my 2019 ram 1500 crew cab big horn with E-torque.
I was on the interstate doing about 75 mph following traffic and a few tractor trailers in the mix.
After I get passed them all I notice the smell was less but not going away. I switch the dash to see the coolant temp and to monitor it.
Temps float from 198 up to 215 depending on speed, grade etc.
I get it home and start inspecting looking for a leak, can not find anything under the hood. Over flow was low, but not dry/empty.
Next day I go to the dealership, grab a gallon of the coolant concentrate. I do a 50/50 mix while motor was cool and add to overflow tank, maybe about a quart total.
Have been keeping a eye in it since and it is holding the level . I check the radiator as well by removing the cap, Full.
Over the past week I figure has to be heater core, keep getting the sweet smell, sometimes its strong and others its weak.
While driving I switch the system to recirculating mode, smell gets weaker as I drive at interstate speed. Outside morning Temps in the low 40's and interior heat set at 65-68.
I do not get any fogged windows or residue on the windows when switched to defrost mode.
If I raise the temperature up , it still won't fog up the windows. It will blow out max heat if put to max. I will smell some coolant but it goes away after a few minutes when the heat is on max.
Carpet is dry on top so I removed the door sill trim and popped the trim plugs holding the carpet down. Reach around all over the place from firewall back to the seat. Then went from the trans tunnel to the door, 100% dry. Underside of carpet is dry and the sniff test indicates no smell of coolant on the top or bottom.
I then reach under the bottom edge of the black foam sound deadner below the hvac box behind the glove compartment. It is dry as well no moisture at all. Reinstall everything and curse at the truck a few times and walk away to think everything through.
Talk with a buddy who had to do a heater core a few months ago. He gave a me a unopened bottle of coolant dye. Checked that it was safe with the coolant and it was good to go. Pulled radiator cap, dumped the 1 oz in closed cap and off to drive it to get the Temps up. Get the dash to show 212°, and head back home to put upon ramps and grab up light start searching.
I look at the following..
radiator outside side tanks.
where tanks attach to core. filler neck, drain valve, hoses from radiator to pump.
lines to heater core on firewall, water pump from all possible angles and thermostat housing and hose connections. On to the overflow tank from top and from bottom. Look at radiator core again front and back side top and bottom.
Look at the block/heads from underneath as well thinking maybe head gasket, dry. I look around from radiator all the way back to the rear driveshaft output, no signs of coolant or dye with the light and naked eye or yellow glasses.
Go back into the Interior and remove door sill trim and look under carpet again, nothing and everything is dry. Rech under the sound deadner roam, dry and no signs of the dye.
In a little bit I will go back out to look again once things cool off. Maybe with contraction as everything cools it will show...
This brings some questions and thoughts.
1- is there any coolant that flows through the intake manifold or under it?
2- do any lines containing coolant go over to the drivers side or the rear of the center console for the rear heat vents?
3- I do have the dreaded cracked exhaust manifold, do any of the manifold bolts go into a water jacket in the heads?
4- any crossover coolant hoses or tubes going from one cylinder head to the other at the back of motor?
5- does the hvac box where heater core is have a drain? If so does anyone know where it is located and comes out of cab.
Vehicle has 156,000 miles on it. When parked there are no leaks on the ground either. I do a 62 mile commute one way to work. Never see any spots under truck when I come out in the afternoon.
But this dang smell just appears and goes away.
When it first started while driving it was strong enough to make you think a hose or the pump/radiator was leaking bad. It was strong and would not go away.
Heat seems to work fine, just gets the coolant smell. Actually seems the higher the temp setting the less you smell it.
I did not do a pressure test on the system as of yet. I would have to get the tools to do it. Figured the dye was a quicker and easier way. When out to test drive and circulate the dye, was driving around for 20-30 minutes.
Any thoughts or input would be greatly appreciated
I was on the interstate doing about 75 mph following traffic and a few tractor trailers in the mix.
After I get passed them all I notice the smell was less but not going away. I switch the dash to see the coolant temp and to monitor it.
Temps float from 198 up to 215 depending on speed, grade etc.
I get it home and start inspecting looking for a leak, can not find anything under the hood. Over flow was low, but not dry/empty.
Next day I go to the dealership, grab a gallon of the coolant concentrate. I do a 50/50 mix while motor was cool and add to overflow tank, maybe about a quart total.
Have been keeping a eye in it since and it is holding the level . I check the radiator as well by removing the cap, Full.
Over the past week I figure has to be heater core, keep getting the sweet smell, sometimes its strong and others its weak.
While driving I switch the system to recirculating mode, smell gets weaker as I drive at interstate speed. Outside morning Temps in the low 40's and interior heat set at 65-68.
I do not get any fogged windows or residue on the windows when switched to defrost mode.
If I raise the temperature up , it still won't fog up the windows. It will blow out max heat if put to max. I will smell some coolant but it goes away after a few minutes when the heat is on max.
Carpet is dry on top so I removed the door sill trim and popped the trim plugs holding the carpet down. Reach around all over the place from firewall back to the seat. Then went from the trans tunnel to the door, 100% dry. Underside of carpet is dry and the sniff test indicates no smell of coolant on the top or bottom.
I then reach under the bottom edge of the black foam sound deadner below the hvac box behind the glove compartment. It is dry as well no moisture at all. Reinstall everything and curse at the truck a few times and walk away to think everything through.
Talk with a buddy who had to do a heater core a few months ago. He gave a me a unopened bottle of coolant dye. Checked that it was safe with the coolant and it was good to go. Pulled radiator cap, dumped the 1 oz in closed cap and off to drive it to get the Temps up. Get the dash to show 212°, and head back home to put upon ramps and grab up light start searching.
I look at the following..
radiator outside side tanks.
where tanks attach to core. filler neck, drain valve, hoses from radiator to pump.
lines to heater core on firewall, water pump from all possible angles and thermostat housing and hose connections. On to the overflow tank from top and from bottom. Look at radiator core again front and back side top and bottom.
Look at the block/heads from underneath as well thinking maybe head gasket, dry. I look around from radiator all the way back to the rear driveshaft output, no signs of coolant or dye with the light and naked eye or yellow glasses.
Go back into the Interior and remove door sill trim and look under carpet again, nothing and everything is dry. Rech under the sound deadner roam, dry and no signs of the dye.
In a little bit I will go back out to look again once things cool off. Maybe with contraction as everything cools it will show...
This brings some questions and thoughts.
1- is there any coolant that flows through the intake manifold or under it?
2- do any lines containing coolant go over to the drivers side or the rear of the center console for the rear heat vents?
3- I do have the dreaded cracked exhaust manifold, do any of the manifold bolts go into a water jacket in the heads?
4- any crossover coolant hoses or tubes going from one cylinder head to the other at the back of motor?
5- does the hvac box where heater core is have a drain? If so does anyone know where it is located and comes out of cab.
Vehicle has 156,000 miles on it. When parked there are no leaks on the ground either. I do a 62 mile commute one way to work. Never see any spots under truck when I come out in the afternoon.
But this dang smell just appears and goes away.
When it first started while driving it was strong enough to make you think a hose or the pump/radiator was leaking bad. It was strong and would not go away.
Heat seems to work fine, just gets the coolant smell. Actually seems the higher the temp setting the less you smell it.
I did not do a pressure test on the system as of yet. I would have to get the tools to do it. Figured the dye was a quicker and easier way. When out to test drive and circulate the dye, was driving around for 20-30 minutes.
Any thoughts or input would be greatly appreciated
