6.0 loosing coolant but not puking

Bloodhound · Oct 6, 2008

My 04 6.0 is loosing coolant but isn't puking. I recently had it at the dealer where they changed out the flex pipe, reflashed to heat induction, changed out fan clutch because of a tsb, and pressure tested the coolant system. I mentioned the truck was loosing coolant and not puking. The dealer said everything tested ok but I had to add almost a gallon of water yesterday.

The oil cooler and egr cooler was replaced at 54000. It now has 88000.

blacksnapon · Oct 6, 2008

look on top of the engine, under the turbo. The egr cooler hose is under the pedestal, they have been known to leak. Usually, the coolant will be coming off the rear of the engine if that hose was leaking.

bowtiehatr · Oct 6, 2008

done several water pumps on the early models for coolant leaks out the weep hole on the pump. pressure test it cold and hot. pumps are under the 100k.

Bloodhound · Oct 6, 2008

Thanks guys. Another thing is that I do not smell coolant. Also no white smoke on start up.

bowtiehatr · Oct 7, 2008

you wont "smell" the gold like you can with the green coolant. gold smells more like oil burning.

Bruteforcerider · Oct 7, 2008

Check the egr cooler hose as stated, although it should have been replaced with the cooler. If the truck is chipped, head gaskets and cooler can fail again quickly to do overboost and higher exhaust temps.

Bloodhound · Oct 7, 2008

It never has had head gaskets. EGR and oil cooler has been replaced. I am running a sct but on economy setting. Most of my driving is on the interstate.

Thanks for the info I will get out here and check it out.

Kep4 · Oct 19, 2008

Have you resolved the coolant loss issue?

Bloodhound · Oct 21, 2008

Not yet. I have checked all over the engine. I havent found any leaks. I checked it earlier and the degass bottle is empty. I will fill it up before I go home tomorrow. It will be about a 220 mile trip. It just has me puzzled because it isn't puking.

Could it be the egr cooler?

bowtiehatr · Oct 21, 2008

have you let it sit with pressure on it? sometimes temp makes the difference

Bloodhound · Oct 21, 2008

I really don't know what the dealer did. If they really did pressure test it.

I have heard of the baloon test. What is this and how do you perform it?

blackhat620 · Oct 21, 2008

The balloon test is used to detect compression leaks around the injectors, which results in low power and rough running engine. Here is a link to the procedure.
www.forddoctorsdts.com/articles/article-05-03.php

Also there is a bubble test, used to find smaller compression leaks that the balloon test does not always detect.
www.forddoctorsdts.com/articles/article-08-03.php

Bloodhound · Oct 22, 2008

Thanks Blackhat. I thought that it was for detecting bad head gaskets.

Bloodhound · Oct 22, 2008

I got home today. Stopped to fill the truck up. I checked the degass bottle and I cant see the coolant. I did see evidence of puking. I will fill up the degass bottle tomorrow and see how much it takes.

blacksnapon · Oct 22, 2008

Bloodhound said:
I got home today. Stopped to fill the truck up. I checked the degass bottle and I cant see the coolant. I did see evidence of puking. I will fill up the degass bottle tomorrow and see how much it takes.

The procedure for "coolant loss" unfortunately is quite involved. Pressure testing degas bottle, cap, egr cooler, and oil cooler. Only then can you move on to head gaskets. If you bring it to the dealer, be prepared for a wait.

Bloodhound · Oct 22, 2008

Last time it took them almost a week to even look at it.

Kep4 · Nov 18, 2008

Hey Robert, did you ever get your truck to the dealer and have it checked out?

Bloodhound · Nov 19, 2008

It is going in the shop Monday. The tech is pretty sure that it is the head gaskets. I have already bought the arp studs. They are going to make sure that my truck is fixed right.

fordf150_79 · Dec 17, 2008

there is a tsb to check it out need to get the truck up to temp drive and see if you here a hissing noise under a load will tell. Watch for white smoke. If no white smoke from tail pipe. Check under the hood and look at degass bottle see if wet. If it is you have headgaskets. The problem is head bolts strech. Need head studs. If doesn't fix it reply

Bloodhound · Dec 20, 2008

Well i checked on my truck yesterday. they were installing the heads. They had to shave both heads for flatness, replaced #8 injector, changed nozzels, orings, and copper washers on the other 7, and they are going to replace the egr cooler. I decided to leave the cooler stock untill I upgrade the turbo.

I will have my truck back by Tuesday. I got all of my info from the tech and not the service writer. Well maybe with the studs in i won't have to worry about this again.

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6.0 loosing coolant but not puking

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