19k miles and low coolant message pops up.........

[DonFitzwater]

Of course I'm away from home and my wife says the low coolant light is coming on. Truck is the 2018 3500/aisin/maxtow package. No spots in the driveway and no smell of leaking coolant. The message goes away after about 10 minutes of run time (coolant in overflow tank rises). Anything in particular I should look at? I know my dealer and all they'll do is add a few quarts of coolant and say it's good to go. Never had a truck consume coolant without a root cause. Ideas?

 

[DonFitzwater]

 

[Mx1103]

Not much help but I’m pretty sure I saw a recall about losing coolant.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Not much help but I’m pretty sure I saw a recall about losing coolant.

I think that's only for the Ecodiesel.

 

[AH64ID]

I’d add some coolant and see if it comes back, only way to verify it’s losing coolant.

 

[sag2]

Probably nothing to be concerned with. Add some coolant, or a little water and watch it. It may just be your temps are getting low and the level dropped enough to turn on the light.

 

[TFucili]

Pressure test the cap and the system(not as simple as the old days). Refill and monitor.

 

[Timd32]

Dealer prep issue possibly they did not top it off prior to delivery? Do you remember seeing it full cold?

My one new truck we have yet to open the hood, get it and drive is about all we have done, maybe just shy of 5k on it.

 

[gsbrockman]

Probably nothing to be concerned with. Add some coolant, or a little water and watch it. It may just be your temps are getting low and the level dropped enough to turn on the light.

The above exactly.

Seems as if FCA installs the bare minimum coolant in these trucks as they roll down the line. At the first temperature drop of fall (for most) the above problem arises. My 2013 3500 and 2014 3500 both did it....oddly enough, my 2018 4500 did not though.

 

[nukegm]

above squared. my 18 2500 light popped on last week. no spots no smell either. added 2 cups exactly. no more light. 29,000 miles. make sure its OAT coolant. cheers comrades!

 

[Wiredawg]

I've Fallen completely off the horse on my 2017 Ram 5500: It's the first truck that I haven't checked ALL the fluid levels personally after taking delivery. Stuff happens. Got a Lil Red Express Truck project I need to complete first, then I'm going to do exactly that: Axles, transfer case, power steering fluid, etc....

Cheers, Ron

 

[DonFitzwater]

The Mrs is going to stop by the dealership and have them top off the coolant. We'll see what happens.

 

[gsbrockman]

I've Fallen completely off the horse on my 2017 Ram 5500: It's the first truck that I haven't checked ALL the fluid levels personally after taking delivery. Stuff happens. Got a Lil Red Express Truck project I need to complete first, then I'm going to do exactly that: Axles, transfer case, power steering fluid, etc....

Cheers, Ron

I was in Del Valle about 10 days ago. I was almost in your back yard.....I could have lended a hand or two.

 

[Cummins12V98]

The Mrs is going to stop by the dealership and have them top off the coolant. We'll see what happens.

tell them to give you a gallon of pre mix and you top off when COLD.

 

[Wiredawg]

I was in Del Valle about 10 days ago. I was almost in your back yard.....I could have lended a hand or two.

Greg,

Next time, please do drop by... doesn't take long to fire up the BBQ pit and have a visit.

Cheers, Ron

 

[mwilson]

If it’s like my Mopars there should be a blue magic marker line on the overflow jug that the factory does to indicate the fluid levels when vehicles are assembled.
I use it as a reference point to this day..

 

[Jim W]

My 2008 has a line on the overflow bottle also. This is what I use to insure that the coolant level is correct when cold.

 

[Timd32]

18- 2500 6.4L, has a small blue line for cap tightness possibly, did not see any line by the coolant level, but it was half way between min&max, when cold.

 

[Jim W]

The bottle on your truck has a min max line visible. The older trucks did not have that embossed wording on the coolant bottle. Just a drawn on line to the fill point from the factory.

 

[Lawrence Gysin]

Of course I'm away from home and my wife says the low coolant light is coming on. Truck is the 2018 3500/aisin/maxtow package. No spots in the driveway and no smell of leaking coolant. The message goes away after about 10 minutes of run time (coolant in overflow tank rises). Anything in particular I should look at? I know my dealer and all they'll do is add a few quarts of coolant and say it's good to go. Never had a truck consume coolant without a root cause. Ideas?

could be one of the “Y” pipes in the system that connects the radiators together! They are made of plastic and are notoriously failing! They get a small hairline crack they is very hard to see and only leak a small amount when under pressure while driving. Once the load is off the engine, the crack is too small and the leak stops. I never saw mine leaking but I did see white stain spots on the underside of the hood and on top of the motor on the black plastic parts on the engine where it squirted onto and dried. I ended up replacing the upper y pipe with an aftermarket billet aluminum y pipe which solved the issue! Took a while to figure this one out for me as the coolant low would come on and I would add coolant and then go another month before it would do it again! Hope this helps!