Coolant level
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Coolant level
I'm on a road trip from tx to Colorado. Filled up with coolant before we left. Stopped in raton NM over night and checked levels it's now sitting just below cold fill. Would temp, altitude, unlevel ground cause the reading to be off or lower coolant level?
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Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Frederick, MD
By below cold fill...you mean the lower line? Sometimes ambient temps would do that.
Only you can judge whether you are stilling on level ground to take the reading.
If you have some coolant there is no harm in adding some so that you are at least in the middle between min and max line.
Ensure you are using the ford gold coolant or napa one that has the ford specs on the front of the bottle.
Only you can judge whether you are stilling on level ground to take the reading.
If you have some coolant there is no harm in adding some so that you are at least in the middle between min and max line.
Ensure you are using the ford gold coolant or napa one that has the ford specs on the front of the bottle.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Georgia
It seems the important thing is to never never ever let the coolant get below the little inlet hose just below the bottom "cold fill line". That lets air in and screws up the coolant system. Mine uses some on hard pull trips. It's not in the oil and it's not on the ground and it's not coming out the fill cap. So, about once a year I add a quart or so of 50/50 mix (ford coolant and distilled water) and write it off as one of the many things that puzzle me about this truck.
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Did you check the level soon after driving for awhile? I had mine in Saturday so Son could instal new computer update and air filter. While hood was up I noticed coolant level even with lower level line and commented that it wasn't that low last time I checked. He opened the tank which relieved some pressure and the level came up to halfway between lower and top line where it was last time I checked. He said that happens frequently and not to worry if there's no indication of a leak or level doesn't change when checked under the same conditions. (It's nice to have your own personal diesel tech.)
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More Turbo
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Centerbrook, Ct.
No. The NAPA gold coolant has the Ford spec #. Exact same stuff as the Ford, in a different jug.
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Well she is definitely using coolant. Had to add coolant the next week after getting back from Colorado. Its not on the ground and I cant find any signs of leak. I guess now is a good time to take to dealership and get the PCM recall as well. I have a list of symptoms that is for sure....white smoke when engine get to normal operating temp, exhaust smell in the cab, using coolant....This sounds like EGR cooler. Does anyone know if egr system is covered under 5yr/100,000?
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: maryland
this weekend i noticed my coolant level drop as well. after a day of pulling heavy trailers i was checking fluids, i noticed the coolant level (with motor warm) was below the rubber hose on the bottle. the next am i noticed (motor cold) the level was back up to even with the hose...... i worry that the level fluctuates and allows air in........