I should have connected the dots earlier, but I have been smelling the sweet smell of antifreeze when I start up for about the last couple or three weeks (and my '07 3500 is not a daily driver). I did finally isolate it to the exhaust, but I don't get any of the classic white smoke coming out of the tailpipe along with the smell ... although with the after-treatment system, that may be potentially masking that symptom (?).

I just checked my crankcase oil and it is fine (no milkiness or emulsified look). The antifreeze in my coolant reservoir is well above the low/fill mark (it's about half way between the low and high marks), but it may be a little lower than I last remember.

From what I generally know or have heard, smelling antifreeze in your exhaust typically points to a blown head gasket, cracked head, and I believe I heard once that it could also have something to do with injectors.

The engine has been running fine and I don't seem to be having any other issues, but this development does worry me. Also, my original dealership is a 6 hour trip from my location, so I don't know whether it would be a good idea to drive all that distance to get this looked into or not. (However, I don't really trust the service departments and mechanics at the two dealerships that are closer to my location to handle a major job ... should it turn into that).

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions on this, I would appreciate hearing them.

Thanks,
Don

 

I'd call the dealer you're comfortable with, explain things, drop the truck off and let them fix it. The antifreeze smell could have something to do with the turbo as they are now liquid cooled as well.

 

I have read about the EGR cooler failing as well. It will let coolant into the exhaust at idle and low loads.

 

Yeah, I have been hearing about the EGR as a potential source of this problem from others as well. That would beat the heck out of a blown head gasket or cracked block any day of the week.

Thanks

 

I cured all the egr problems in about two hrs !