Cold Weather Coolant Level

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Dec 9, 2010 | 07:37 PM

Gental Ben 2

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Cold Weather Coolant Level

First winter with my 05 6.0l so quick question: is it 'normal' for the coolant level to drop from the min (at this level in summer) mark right down to barley being visible?
It's fairly cold at about 40 so I figured truck is not really getting fully warmed just puttering around.
Had the heads redone in July and everything checked out (cooler etc.) & never dropped coolant until now.

Dec 10, 2010 | 10:13 AM

w_huisman

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From: IA MN SD

If I had to guess, I would say you have a problem other than cold weather causing your coolant level to drop that much.

I know my coolant level in winter weather is nearly identical to the level during summer time.

Dec 10, 2010 | 11:15 AM

Culvert

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From: Cold Lake, Ab

you may have a hose leaking, when it get cold the lines shrink. you have any puddles or drips under the truck in the morning?

Dec 10, 2010 | 01:42 PM

Gental Ben 2

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Culvert

you may have a hose leaking, when it get cold the lines shrink. you have any puddles or drips under the truck in the morning?

Tough to tell right now as I park on gravel and can't actually get this truck into my garage.
For now I will top it up and see if it drops over the next few weeks.

Dec 10, 2010 | 01:59 PM

ljutic ss

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From: Green Lane, Pa.

Tempature this morning when I started the truck was 23f same degas level as it was back in the summer after the coolant flush.

Dec 10, 2010 | 05:06 PM

Gental Ben 2

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ljutic ss

Tempature this morning when I started the truck was 23f same degas level as it was back in the summer after the coolant flush.

Just picked up the GOLD (literally at $25 for a gallon) and will see if I can find place to check for leaks.
Whatever it's doing it's SLOW......it looks like it's gone done about 1/3 of a gallon in 4 months.
If the EGR cooler was going it would burn faster than that I hope so I'm hoping for a dripping hose or something stupid like that.
The heads were redone in July by Ford so you never know......

Dec 10, 2010 | 06:48 PM

69cj

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From: Middle Tn.

If you still have the orange egr cooler hose that is a good place to start looking for cold temp leaks.
You can get Zerex GO-5 at Napa for about 11.95 a gal. Same stuff.