Ghost Ram

i now have just over 600 miles on my new 2500 and since i left the dealership i have smelled gear oil or something close to it when i get out of the truck. front and rear ends are completely dry. cant find any fluid leaks, but i did find what looked to be an oil leak on the block above the oil pan. upon wiping it w/ my fingers i found that it wasnt oil, but alot thicker/stickier like assembly lube. i have a friend that used to work for chrysler and he told me that most new chryslers had a coating sprayed under them before they left the plant. this coating kept water and road grime from sticking/staining the components under the vehicle. the dealer is supposed to clean it off after delivery. could this be what i am smelling?? anyone else notice this on their new truck as well??

Jeff in TD

Mine smelled when new, too. There were theads about that when the 3rd gens first came out.

I think it's a combination of the paint on the engine curing, and there does seem to be some sort of preservative (cosmoline type stuff) on some of the metal parts.

It will go away with a little time. Washing the engine/drivetrain (when cold) with some simple green or soap and a garden hose might help.

ScottH

Mine did the same thing for the first month or so. Its all the new stuff just getting hot. You can really smell it if you pull it in the garage. It will slowly go away....I would just leave it alone. I still poke around my truck just to make sure no leaks have sprung anywhere....Enjoy your new truck!

Scott

KBennett

It could be some of the blowby from the breather tube. Completely normal.

wiskeyVI

That's almost how I'd discribe the smell in th ecab when I have the heat on!?!?!?!

dodgeduner

I have an 04 and when I first got my truck and changed the oil it smelled really bad for the first 2000 miles then it went away. It would smell bad when I stoped at lights or when turned my truck off when I got home. It took about 4 oil changes for it to disappear. Every now and then after I change my oil I will smell it but it is not as bad as when I first got my truck. I also thought it was the blowby hose venting that nasty smell so I got another hose and made it longer. It made no difference in the smell though. It kept all the build up grime off the tranny pan so im glad I did it anyways.