Where is the coolant going?
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Where is the coolant going?
I was told that the coolant disappearing is indicative of head gasket leaks.
The coolant loss is about two gallons+/- over 3,000+ miles.
The truck is in the shop, and the tests show no leaks. Other causes have been checked, too, -- the egr valve, radiator, and the plastic reservoir. None show leaks. Minor crack found in the reservoir, but it had no signs of leaking. They are going to drive the truck to heat it up real good and test again. He said that maybe it only leaks while under load, like when we pull our 8 ton 5th wheel.
He also said that you can check the reservoir and the level will be high and check again and the level will be low.
Is that true?
How does that work?
Does that mean there is not a problem here?
Where could the coolant be going that it's so well hidden?
To check the head gaskets by removing the cab is a $1k look. That seems foolish without more evidence. Thank you.
The coolant loss is about two gallons+/- over 3,000+ miles.
The truck is in the shop, and the tests show no leaks. Other causes have been checked, too, -- the egr valve, radiator, and the plastic reservoir. None show leaks. Minor crack found in the reservoir, but it had no signs of leaking. They are going to drive the truck to heat it up real good and test again. He said that maybe it only leaks while under load, like when we pull our 8 ton 5th wheel.
He also said that you can check the reservoir and the level will be high and check again and the level will be low.
Is that true?
How does that work?
Does that mean there is not a problem here?
Where could the coolant be going that it's so well hidden?
To check the head gaskets by removing the cab is a $1k look. That seems foolish without more evidence. Thank you.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,834
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From: Middle Tn.
No offense meant but it sounds like whoever is working on your truck is not too familiar with the 6.0. Other areas to leak are the egr and oil coolers and the egr cooler hose. Before spending a 1,000 bucks on a witch hunt I would belly up and take it to a dealer or shop familiar with your truck.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 425
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2 gallons in 3k miles is a lot of loss and should not be that difficult for a compentent tech to locate.
You are correct in not chasing it by pulling the cab for mutiply reasons. First off there isn't much besides removing the heads that can be checked with cab off that can't be checked with it on. I don't see how anyone could r&r cab and heads for $1k. On the other hand several places can "tell you" they removed the heads for even less.
You are correct in not chasing it by pulling the cab for mutiply reasons. First off there isn't much besides removing the heads that can be checked with cab off that can't be checked with it on. I don't see how anyone could r&r cab and heads for $1k. On the other hand several places can "tell you" they removed the heads for even less.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Woodbridge, Ontario, CA
Tee a pressure gauge into the coolant degas bottle on the hose between the instake and degas bottle at the degas bottle end. Drive it under wide open throttle full boost load and see what pressure readings you observe. If system pressure exceeds 16psi significantly, your question regarding where the coolant is going, is answered, namely being vented.
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Tee a pressure gauge into the coolant degas bottle on the hose between the instake and degas bottle at the degas bottle end. Drive it under wide open throttle full boost load and see what pressure readings you observe. If system pressure exceeds 16psi significantly, your question regarding where the coolant is going, is answered, namely being vented.
Excuse me for being such a newbie, but it's being vented -- that's a leak? -- and how -- and from where?
Thank you for taking the time to dumb it down for me!
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,420
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From: Ouray, CO
Tee a pressure gauge into the coolant degas bottle on the hose between the instake and degas bottle at the degas bottle end. Drive it under wide open throttle full boost load and see what pressure readings you observe. If system pressure exceeds 16psi significantly, your question regarding where the coolant is going, is answered, namely being vented.
temps. You NEED to monitor these temps on the 6.0 (plus others)
* reference all the postings regarding ECT and EOT.
Check your oil level - might be some missing coolant there too.
(not trying to be a smart a$$, but trying to figure it out)
Wouldn't the pressure NOT exceed 16psi if it's being vented?
Couldn't he drive until it's well warmed up, and then loosen the
degas vent.
If pressure escapes it's pressurized aka: not venting to atmosphere?
If it's being burned up in the Exhaust cooler, wouldn't he have lots of
white smoke @ the rate he is loosing coolant? Whether or not there
is pressure, or a leak in the heater core.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,505
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From: Woodbridge, Ontario, CA
Yes. In the most catastrophic of EGR cooler failures, there is also a substantial risk of hydrolocking the engine too. Seen it many times. Repaired it many times.
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Gentlemen, thank you for your replies. If anything else comes to mind, I'll gladly read it. I certainly feel better equipped to discuss with the tech. Thanks again.
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Elder User
Joined: May 2008
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From: Patricia, Alberta
What about parking the truck facing down hill over night and pulling the egr valve out and checking for coolant? Fairly simple to do, and could point you in the direction of the egr cooler. What I found just before I changed my egr cooler was that if I loosened the degas cap, it wouldn't hardly smoke at all. If your egr cooler was only compromised a little, it might only be using coolant at high cooling system pressures. Just stuff to think about. And have a look at the oil cooler to egr cooler hose. You can see it without removing anything, and if it's leaking, you should be able to see it. Do you smell burning antifreeze, or have any smoke out the exhaust?
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,420
Likes: 16
From: Ouray, CO
m-chan,
I figured out what you meant. 16 PSI ABOVE atmospheric pressure.
I was thinking we were measuring the absolute pressure in the coolant
line - which is close to 15 - sorry for the added confusion.
My wife - has grown accustomed to this.
I figured out what you meant. 16 PSI ABOVE atmospheric pressure.
I was thinking we were measuring the absolute pressure in the coolant
line - which is close to 15 - sorry for the added confusion.
My wife - has grown accustomed to this.
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