Notices
6.7L Power Stroke Diesel 2011-current Ford Powerstroke 6.7 L turbo diesel engine

Coolant changed color

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 22, 2011 | 03:09 PM
  #1  
ruschejj's Avatar
ruschejj
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
Club FTE Gold Member
Coolant changed color

Hi, my main coolant reservoir surprised me today with a new color. Instead of the fluorescent orange color it is now kind of a dark blue/grey. At the top of the tank where the return line comes in from the main radiator there is a dark stain left by the flow of the coolant.

The secondary reservoir tank on the passenger side of the motor is still the bright orange color.

Any thoughts? 56,700 miles on the truck, coolant test strips have been used at the recommended intervals with no need for any action. I will check the pH tonight when things cool down.
 
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2011 | 03:16 PM
  #2  
Marauder92V's Avatar
Marauder92V
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 0
Club FTE Silver Member

Originally Posted by ruschejj
Hi, my main coolant reservoir surprised me today with a new color. Instead of the fluorescent orange color it is now kind of a dark blue/grey. At the top of the tank where the return line comes in from the main radiator there is a dark stain left by the flow of the coolant.

The secondary reservoir tank on the passenger side of the motor is still the bright orange color.

Any thoughts? 56,700 miles on the truck, coolant test strips have been used at the recommended intervals with no need for any action. I will check the pH tonight when things cool down.
I'm not aware of any "wear" indicators in the Ford Orange Coolant. The fact it changed colors suggests something was introduced into it. Truck running okay otherwise?
 
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2011 | 07:22 PM
  #3  
kper05's Avatar
kper05
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 83
Club FTE Silver Member

Hopefully you're at home and can stop by your dealer and ask them tomorrow (unless your tech doesn't work weekends).

I have not heard of this but I imagine you're in a short list of total 6.7L pickup owners with this many miles already.
 
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2011 | 07:38 PM
  #4  
ford390gashog's Avatar
ford390gashog
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
Club FTE Gold Member
Did you have the truck into a quick oil change place at all????
 
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2011 | 07:57 PM
  #5  
Tom's Avatar
Tom
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
Club FTE Gold Member
Sounds contaminated with something. Could anything or anyone have tried to fill it with the wrong coolant?
 
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2011 | 08:55 PM
  #6  
azking_Ranch's Avatar
azking_Ranch
Tuned
15 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
From: Limestone County
Sounds like your in for a coolant flush to get rid of whats in the coolant system.
azkingranch
2011 F350 KR LB SRW FX4
 
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2011 | 09:21 PM
  #7  
Davgt500's Avatar
Davgt500
Tuned
10 Year Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 287
Likes: 2
From: Arvada, CO
My first thought would be oil, boy I hope not. Would definitely get it flushed and or sample tested for what may be contaminating it.
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2011 | 07:09 AM
  #8  
ruschejj's Avatar
ruschejj
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
Club FTE Gold Member
No work has been done to it, runs great as always, temps steady at 212-220 while towing fairly light. Never any smoke.

I have to drive out to Bartlesville, OK this weekend so I have no chance to get it looked at.

Thanks for the ideas.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jul 23, 2011 | 08:24 AM
  #9  
senix's Avatar
senix
Super Moderator
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,375
Likes: 1,860
From: Frederick, MD
Club FTE Gold Member
How does your oil look? Trans as well? My concern would be cross contamination. As long as everything else looks ok then maybe it is just time for a flush.

At this point I am subscribing.
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2011 | 07:05 PM
  #10  
ruschejj's Avatar
ruschejj
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
Club FTE Gold Member
This is where my work and lifestyle make things interesting. I will keep an eye for any fluid contamination, milky oil or trans fluid, etc. All levels are the same as when I got the truck 1 year ago, so nothing yet.

Funny thing is with my job, I have to drive another 1500 miles before I can sit down long enough for a fluid flush, truck is yelling at me for an oil change too. Same attitude I had with my '08, NOTHING can stop me from getting to my job site. If the truck will move, I gotta drive it. If it won't move (there's nothing wrong with it right now so stay cool) I gotta rent a truck and keep going. No matter what.

If anything interesting comes about, I will let y'all know.
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2011 | 11:46 PM
  #11  
brandon4's Avatar
brandon4
Fleet Mechanic
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 401
From: Logan, Utah
What do you do?
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2011 | 11:46 PM
  #12  
marchare011's Avatar
marchare011
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 1
From: WY
Say hi to my friends in Nowata, OK.

Good luck!

Subscribing.
 
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2011 | 07:50 AM
  #13  
ruschejj's Avatar
ruschejj
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by brandon4
What do you do?
When a hospital gets a new x-ray or MRI system myself and my crew put them in. When a new CT scanner arrives by truck at a hospital, if I am not there or late people get very uncomfortable really fast, both the vendor and the customer.

It's a fun job, I'm self employed, I travel a lot. My 53 week old truck has 57,300 miles on it so that's over 1000/week average. This week will be 2000 miles in 4 days. I tow a 16" tandem axle trailer everywhere I go that pretty much weighs about 8k with my tools and gear in it.

It's funny too, I will drive 1000 miles to work in Coffeyville, KS, work for 4 hours, and then drive home. Kinda crazy.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
smokersteve
2009 - 2014 F150
50
Sep 20, 2023 10:01 AM
buckeyes8603
1997 - 2003 F150
15
Nov 16, 2015 11:17 AM
Texas 6.0
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel
15
May 24, 2011 11:22 AM
jh818
Modular V10 (6.8l)
6
Jan 29, 2011 02:46 PM
borland
Explorer, Sport Trac, Mountaineer & Aviator
2
Jul 30, 2006 11:34 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:28 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE