Well, she has been running great until for no apparent reason my upper radiator hose decided to rub on my alternator pulley, making quit the mess. This is when i noticed my coolant. It looks weird. I had changed to the gold stuff about 2 years ago, and have never had a cooling problem. It smells a little like diesel, and it looks weird. Its not gelled up, but honestly it looks like someone spit a big loogey in it. Its gold with some kind of whitish stuff floating in it, but is super slick, and when you touch it it feels like regular antifreeze. Does anybody know what this could be? I check my fluid pretty regularly. It has never been over-full or low. I was about to flush it and replace it, but since i dont know what is going on, i dont want to just waste the antifreeze. Any ideas? Thanks guys.

 

could be injector cups? how many miles on her? others will chime in soon!

 

Two ways fuel can get in the coolant 1. Injector cups 2 internal crack in the head

 

Drain the oil to see if it has water in it

 

man that sounds horrible... and expensive... Does anybody know what fuel looks like in the antifreeze? She has 225,000 miles. I have only put about 40000 on her, and replaced just about everything since i brought her... except injector cups. If it was a crack in the head, would she still run so well? I mean I get 18 mpg, and I am very heavy footed. How bad is fuel in the coolant? I mean I have noticed for a while that one of the injectors may not be working right. How much does replacing the cups normally run? Unfortunately, despite the expensive education, my marine biology job really barely pays the bills. I am pretty good at fixing things, but from what i have read, this is pretty intense. This is the worst part about living in Florida now, I dont know any good diesel mechanics down here.

 

no water in oil. What does that mean?

 

the cups can be replaced easily with heads on engine. There is a nice tool available to make job easy. Jim Rosewood the sponsor here from Rosewood diesel has them for sale

 

Clay at riffraff diesel rents the tool out.

I don't think you have a crack in the head I think you have injector cup issue. He only way to check is to pull the injectors

 

Changing Ford Diesel Injector Sleeves (Part 1 of 2) - YouTube



Changing Injector Sleeve on ford diesel 7.3L Part (2 of 2) - YouTube

 

Click on the blue

Riffraff Diesel: Motorcraft 7.3L Injector Cup Kit

 

there is a newer tool that does not require removing the rocker's as well

 

Yea that the tool clay has. I just post the vids to give the op a idea of what it takes to change the cups

 

thanks guys. I really appreciate it. So if i am removing the injectors, then this would also be the time to install new ones? I dont have the money, but if did... then since everything will be apart, this would be the best time?

 

You will need new injector orings to put the injectors back in. Do not use the part store ones only use alliant orings you can get them from riffraff, ford, or international.

I don't know what yor budget is but Rosewood diesel can rebuild your injectors back stock or to stage ones starting at $500 if all internal parts are in good shape

 

I just ordered o-rings from Riff Raff, Clay is great to deal with!!!