Coolant leak

[Cummins2014]

I have had a coolant smell in my garage after its been driven , been that way for quite some time, never any visible signs of a leak that I could find . Never had to add any coolant .Today I have a puddle of antifreeze on the garage floor after sitting overnight, had driven it yesterday for awhile. Thought the coolant smell was a bit stronger then usual ,well its leaking now. It's stopped now because i'ts cooled down , but it leaked for awhile yesterday after it was shut down .

Its on the far drivers side, pretty much under where the Y-pipe is located on that drivers side , but for the life of me I cannot see where its coming from, the Y-pipe is dry, no visible signs of it leaking or spraying out anywhere around it. No signs of where it has leaked in the past ,and has dried in that area. Is there any other places that coolant can leak on that drivers side, sure no signs of a previous leak anywhere under that truck . I am going to drive it for awhile today , and get it warmed up again ,and see if I can see where its leaking , hopefully its that Y-pipe, it over 7 years old on that 2014 . Any other ideas on that drivers side , sure no visible signs under the radiators, or anywhere on the passenger side .Thanks

 

[EDankievitch]

I’d put my money on the Y pipe having failed. When mine failed I couldn’t see the crack. One of the more stupid ideas RAM came up with. Probably the reason they dropped the 2nd radiator after only two years.

 

[Ram4Sam]

I'd be looking at the water pump next.....

Sam

 

[Cummins2014]

I'd be looking at the water pump next.....

Sam

Thanks.Isn't the water pump more over towards the passenger side ? It’s had the water pump recall , but I’ll sure take a look for sure . It’s coming out of somewhere.

 

[Cummins2014]

I’d put my money on the Y pipe having failed. When mine failed I couldn’t see the crack. One of the more stupid ideas RAM came up with. Probably the reason they dropped the 2nd radiator after only two years.

It’s sure possible, if it is leaking there it’s coming out and not getting anywhere visible up there , and running off underneath that drivers side .

 

[Ram4Sam]

Thanks.Isn't the water pump more over towards the passenger side ? It’s had the water pump recall , but I’ll sure take a look for sure . It’s coming out of somewhere.

Drips/liquid don't always take the most direct path to the ground, sometimes they can take the long way back to mother earth......good luck.

Sam

 

[kthaxton]

t’s coming out of somewhere.

Correct.

You're welcome.

 

[Cummins2014]

Correct.

You're welcome.

I knew I could depend on you.

 

[petersonj]

Pressure test the radiator with the engine cold. You will save a lot of time and you will find the source of the leak. If you don't have a tester, you can usually borrow or rent one from an auto parts store.

- John

 

[Cummins2014]

Pressure test the radiator with the engine cold. You will save a lot of time and you will find the source of the leak. If you don't have a tester, you can usually borrow or rent one from an auto parts store.

- John

I understand the pressure test, apparently the system holds the pressure ,if not then there is a leak, being I have a leak , does this pressure test force out the coolant where it's visible. I had a puddle of coolant on the garage floor yesterday morning, but could not see where it came from . Took it for a drive yesterday ,got it up to operating temperature same as the day before . Parked it, not a drop anywhere today . I'm guessing the puddle from the day before was a cup full or so, not like it drained the system, so I didn't lose a lot of coolant. I didn't top it back off , I'll do that today ,and see if I can get it to leak again after driving it .

 

[petersonj]

being I have a leak , does this pressure test force out the coolant where it's visible.

Yes. The pressure test is the simplest and most conclusive test, and the fastest. Cooling system components expand and contract at different rates during engine operation which many times makes it difficult to find a small coolant leak. Plus, a warm engine will hide a small coolant leak because the coolant will evaporate before reaching the ground.

As @Ram4Sam mentions, liquids don't always take the direct path to ground. Leaking liquids can be easily driven by turbulent air movement in directions that defy gravity.

A coolant pressure test on a cold engine will usually expose the leak in less than five minutes. Since the engine is cold, the evidence will not evaporate which will allow you to follow the leak to its source.

- John

 

[Cummins2014]

Yes. The pressure test is the simplest and most conclusive test, and the fastest. Cooling system components expand and contract at different rates during engine operation which many times makes it difficult to find a small coolant leak. Plus, a warm engine will hide a small coolant leak because the coolant will evaporate before reaching the ground.

As @Ram4Sam mentions, liquids don't always take the direct path to ground. Leaking liquids can be easily driven by turbulent air movement in directions that defy gravity.

A coolant pressure test on a cold engine will usually expose the leak in less that five minutes. Since the engine is cold, the evidence will not evaporate which will allow you to follow the leak to its source.

- John

Thanks, I'll go get a tester from an auto parts , if they don't lend or rent I will buy one. I have a suspicion its the Y-pipe , hopefully the pressure test will show it .

 

[Topzide]

You can also line paper towels under the hose to help with pinpointing the leak. When I've pressure tested to find coolant leaks, found them in no time at all! Took me weeks trying till I bought a pressure tester!

 

[Cummins2014]

I priced the OEM Y-pipe from a dealer yesterday ,they are $116 , at this point regardless where that leak is at I think I will replace that Y-pipe. Any recommendations for a billet aftermarket ? From what I read, it sounds like stay away from the welded ones . The one piece XDP brand seems to be a popular replacement , for a few dollars more then the OE ,makes sense to go the aluminum .

 

[Topzide]

If you could find someone to make you a stainless without filler. Old neighbor was union welder and did all types of stainless TIG without filler for food service and specialty pipes that used no filler due to possible contamination issues. Aluminum should be fine with the antifreeze used in our rigs.

 

[Cummins2014]

You can also line paper towels under the hose to help with pinpointing the leak. When I've pressure tested to find coolant leaks, found them in no time at all! Took me weeks trying till I bought a pressure tester!

I have had this coolant smell for quite awhile , never have had a visible leak as said until yesterday, all I had done was look around the motor hoping to see something ,and never have . I have towed my fifth wheel thousands of miles in 100 degree weather ,and no problems other then that coolant smell, its been crazy where that leak is at, even crazier is the that I haven't had to add any coolant until now with the loss of it yesterday.

I will pressure test it today, and see what happens . Thanks

 

[Cummins12V98]

No expert here but the 13 and 14's have two "Y" pipes??????

 

[Cummins2014]

If you could find someone to make you a stainless without filler. Old neighbor was union welder and did all types of stainless TIG without filler for food service and specialty pipes that used no filler due to possible contamination issues. Aluminum should be fine with the antifreeze used in our rigs.

Curious ,what Y-pipe did you replace yours with ??

 

[Cummins2014]

No expert here but the 13 and 14's have two "Y" pipes??????

They do, one lower on the passenger side , and the one on the top on the drivers side . It seems the upper one on the drivers side is usually the culprit ,not many issues with that lower one that I have read . That lower one looks like its fun to try to get too, kinda like changing that oil filter from the top , sorry couldn't help it . gotta have a little humor here on this stuff to keep from crying .

 

[Jim W]

My younger son's 2013 failed the water pump last week. He drove the truck home and parked it in the garage, he saw fluid dripping out of the bottom of the truck. He look at the engine and the entire passenger side was wet. His water pump did not have the weep hole in the pump.
After buying a pump from Geno's and several swear words later the truck is back in order.