I have a 2011 F250 SD with the new 6.6 diesel. Yesterday at 12,500 miles the "check coolant additive" message came on. I went to the dealer and was told the antifreeze has to be chemically analysed to make sure it is not corroding the aluminum in the engine. I have never heard of antifreeze "going bad" and in only 12,000 miles!! THe tech said the kit cost $100 and it cost $62.50 to check it. I was also told this message would come on about every 12-15K miles. WHen I asked what happens if it dosent pass the chemical test, I was told the antifreeze would have to be drained and new antifreeze would have to be put in at a cost of $33 per gallon + labor. THis truck is becoming a bit too expensive to own with the dieselexhaust fluid, $200 fuel filter every 15k miles and now possible antifreeze change every 15-30K miles. I am real concerned what will happen what will happen after this truck is a few years old. Will the engine be destroyed from the antifreeze and the truck be worthless? I am considering selling or trading now to avoid any further loss.

Anyone else experiencing this problem? Is Ford doing anything about it?

 

Check this thread out, should answer most of your questions.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-additive.html

Thanks

 

It is all the cost of ownership for a new diesel engine truck, you can blame EPA for the DEF but everybody is going to be paying for that. If you bought a diesel because you need a diesel then you should have known what to expect. If you bought it for any other reason then I don't know what to say.

BTW I would write a long letter to Ford and demand the other 0.1 L though, I can't believe they shorted you like that!

 

Agreed and maybe there is a Chevy with a6.7

 

Maybe I'm pessimistic but the post just sounds a little peculiar.

 

One reason I don't post on these forums very often is that there is always a smart *** that chimes in with his useless 2 cents worth. I have owned several diesel, all GM, and NEVER had problems. THis is the first and last FORD. As far as FORDTUF1.....best of luck to you and I seriously hope yoiu never need advise and if you do, I hope I am the one that can give you a smart *** response like you feel the need to post. I guess it makes you look big to yourself...mirror mirror on the wall..............

 

I'm not replying

 

You are not allowed to complain or say anything bad about Ford here.

 

Do you have a 3 year 36,000 bumper to bumper?

 

That is what Chevy forums are for

 

Checking the coolant is part of it.
I doubt it's bad but you wouldn't know that without checking.
I find it strange they are charging you for the kit and labor.
The dealer should buy the supplies and charge you a fee based on one use and labor.

 

I would find another dealer. They are giving you bad advice (in my opinion). Depending on what chemical test doesn't pass in the coolant, there are additives to correct the situation. Do a forum search on coolant test and you will find many threads on this with a lot of good advice.

$200 for a fuel filter change is also very expensive in my opinion. My dealer sells both filters for about $62.00. I do them myself. If I had them change the filters they would charge me $129 which includes the filter.

I agree that these trucks are very expensive to maintain. It sounds like your current dealer is just trying to make a buck and not trying to build a long relationship with customers. I would shop around, you may find a better service department at another dealer.

 

My dealer checked my antifreeze for nothing. If I remember correctly you can add treatment twice to correct the chemical make up of the antifreeze. I haven't heard of anyone needing their antifreeze treated the first time the message comes up. I buy my DEF for around$12.00 a gallon at Oreillys or Walmart. You can get fuel filters online for around $50.00 a set from dieselfilters.com. It is my understanding that eventually all diesel trucks and pickups will use DEF. The new Ford Specialty Orange Coolant is the equivalent to GM Dexcool so they may have the same problem with their diesels. I have heard of Dexcool going bad in cars if left in too long. I miss the regular antifreeze I had in my 7.3

 

So sorry there J Lo, but your original post sounded so far off base and unrealistic that you looked like a troll. 6.6L was my first clue. Complaining that fuel filters cost $200 is somewhat absurd I believe, it was also mentioned that is about double what it would cost installed. I'm not sure that I wasn't the only one that thought the same thing looking back at some of the posts.

Also adding to my suspicion is you had 3 posts, and the first thing was to come onto the Ford site and rant about 3 or 4 or so items complaining about them.

I made one little comment about getting your 0.1 L and you get all huffy. BTW I need nothing to make myself look "big to myself", nor to anyone else for that matter. I'm not looking for, nor do I care if someone thinks of me as "big"; whatever your description of that word is. I wake up in the morning and put on my big boy pants though and if someone teases me; rightly, wrongly or unknowingly, I can handle it and usually return in the same manner.

However you have came back and replied with your own choice of words. Don't worry about giving me any of your answers, as you have called me an inflammatory name "smart ___"; I feel that you may fall into the category of people that represent the opposite of that statement.

 

I feel for you I had the same problem at 14000, miles while visiting my son in Florida last year. I went to a dealer there and he tested my coolant, then told me it was bad and needed to be flushed and replaced. I told him I would get it done when I got back to Il. Then when we stopped in Mo. for a couple days on the way home I went to a St. Louis dealer on a Monday with short notice. The dealer got me right in checked my coolant with the correct test strips, reset the warning screen and did it for no charge . Go find a different dealer. A dealer makes more money for a warranty repair by a visiting customer than ford will allow to the selling dealer. and don't worry Good luck