Hi...

First post here. Just discovered this site. I have a question on a leak with my 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi. I recently started to notice some spots in the driveway and wasn't sure what they were. Today the ground was wet and the spots looks like a greenish color. I don't see anything leaking under the truck, but I am guessing it happens after the truck has been running and I come home and park it.
I know most antifreeze is green, but when I looked under the hood the coolant is red.
It isn't oil judging by the color so I am not worried about that. I do use the 4x4 occasionally here in upstate NY, so I thought that it could be something to do with the transfer casing, but I am not sure if that is possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated. My warranty is only good until 36,000 and I am literally at 35,990 as it sits in the driveway, go figure. So I need to make a determination if the next drive will be to the garage before it is over and out of the warranty period.

Thanks in advance for anyone who answers this email!

Derek - NY

 

is it coming from the front, rear, middle? try and be a little more specific about where the leak is coming from...i know u said you cant see anything under the truck, but from the ground can you tell about where it's comin from?...and welcome to DF

if it's greenish in color, it's not the t-case since that uses ATF+4....gear lube is sometimes a greenish color

 

+1.....

normally i would say antifreeze but we use dex cool i believe... might be brake fluid... idn.. its hard to say..

 

If you have a good camera get a pic for us. might help. and where is it in regards to the truck. Mortorarea, mid or rear. The transfer case is atf4 unless you bought the truck used and someone may have done something else. Even though it is not common for them to leak.

 

I just bought a new 08 Ram 5.7L Hemi 4x4 in Oct. about a month later I was changing the oil and having (OCD) with my vehicles I did an inpection from underneath. I noticed a green slime comming from where the axle tube presses into the front diffhousing on the passenger side. It was pretty thick and bright green. It had formed a drip but had not dripped yet that I had noticed. I took it to the dealership and they inspected it. They told me it was the lube/sealant that the factoryuses when they press the axle tube into the diff housing. They said it was nota concern but I still keep an eye on it. They had wiped it all down and I have not noticed it since. Not sure if that is your issue but that may be a start. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the replies so far. It is for coming from the engine areas or middle somewhere. I can tell by where the spots are on the driveway. I would gauge by the spots it is in the middle of thr truck or a little on the left of center. Mostly middle I would suspect. I bought the truck brand new and never changed the atf4 fluid as you call it. Also one thing I did do recently before all this leaking started was put 4 qts of oil in the truck. It was very low so I added the oil. However, I initally though this was what it was, but the oil level is the same and has not gone down. Plus like I mentioned today the ground was wet and it made the spots look greenish/yellowish on the ground. I will take some pictures tomorrow if I can and post them. Thanks again for the responses so far. I also tried to run the truck for 20 minutes in the driveway to build up pressure and see if something leaked. Nothing appeared to be leaking when I did look, but that could also be because whatever it is is now empty, which isn't good either.

 

These were taken at night so they might not be good. I can do more in the daylight.

 

Well, that is nothing like what I was talking about. Sorry for the usless post. Not sure what that could be from the pic. but I hope you find it. That certainly does not look good. With the fact that you were 4 quarts low it almost makes me wonder if it is an engine oil issue. I know you said that you had added oil and the level had not changed. Have you by chance checked around your oil filter? Sorry if this does not help. I am just trying to throw out idea's.

 

I'd play it safe and take it right to the dealer and let them inspect it.

The will put it on a lift and really check it out under there.

 

My 2 cents! Call AAA, and get it on a flat bed! Don't drive it and risk them saying, "oh sorry your 3 miles over your warr!". I hear that Dodge is famous for that.

Zack