What are CAC tubes? I had an oil leak through the flywheel cover. Still under warranty ($100 deductable). The dealership diagnosed CAC tubes leaking. Said they cleaned and resealed CAC tubes and cleaned the oil from the valley. I thought the common leak was some sort of turbo seal. Anyway, it's 2000 miles later and the leak is back.

Any one have any comments. I don't feel like taking it back to the dealership. If they wanted to fix it they would have done it the first time, right? I have a good shop and plenty of air and hand tools. But, I have zero experience with the diesel or the turbo. What is the level of difficulty of making the repair myself. Can I do it without a service manual? How about special tools?> I'll probably need a service manual eventually anyway so I'm not opposed to buying one but I am in a bit of a hurry. Ideas anyone????

Stan

 

Charge Air Coolers? My guess anyway. I had the same thing replaced too. Slow seep from the orange tubes.

 

Seems that the Ford fix for "oil in the valley" is tightening up the orange intercooler boots to the tubes. Seldom is the fix.

Take a flashlight and look at the valley under the turbo to see if anything is running down the turbo pedestal or under the pedestal where it mates to the block. If so, it's the turbo "O" rings leaking and can be quite an undertaking. I do have instructions.

Or, their could be a leak at the high pressure oil pump. (under the plastic Powerstroke embossed cover)

 

CAC = Charge Air Cooler a.k.a intercooler, aftercooler, etc. The CAC tubes are the tubes leading to and from the intercooler. The reason they leak is because the crankcase ventilation system exits into the intake right in front of the turbocharger. After it passes through the turbo it collects on the inside of the tubes and the intercooler itself and often (read: always) leaks out the blue boots that hold the tubes on. It will continue to happen until/unless you re-route the crankcase vent.

The difficulty level for cleaning them is "extremely easy" and the only tools required are a 7/16" deep socket and a ratchet.

 

Cookie and all responders, thanks. I'm gonna climb up there and see what I can see. Cleaning up the mess sounds easy but futile. I'll probably go for a cleaning and inspection and a repair when I get back from Alaska. (Sept or so)

 

Was there ever a follow up on the fix here?

 

WOW... it's only been almost 11 years since the last post in this thread... until today!

The fix, at this point, is fairly commonly known as re-venting the doghouse vapors to an external separation device and then discharge the vapors to atmosphere. Some folks put take the vapors right back into the intake after capturing the condensed oil vapor in a catch can (which has a drain valve for dumping the captured oily condensate). I just let mine vent to the atmosphere right near the rear axle.

Search for "CCV Catch Can" and you'll find several approaches to this issue.

 

WOW!! I started reading and was going to suggest he was in the wrong forum. It appears his fix for this was to trade it in on a 2014 6.7L ;-)

Correction...traded on a 2008, and then the 2014.

 

^^ Me Too ^^ Posts mainly in the 6,7 & 6,4 Forums (Poor *******).