Weird overheating problem
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Weird overheating problem
I am having a problem with the V-10 in my 2001 excursion.
I believe that this problem started when the truck overheated while I was towing a trailer. After the truck overheated I replaced the radiator, thermostat and water pump.
Since then I have been having an intermittent problem. Occasionally the temperature gauge will immediately spike to full hot and the temperature warning light and CEL come on. The error code set is cylinder overtemp. The engine drops power and from my research I believe that it is turning off 5 cylinders to help cool the engine.
All that I have to do is turn off the engine and restart it and everything is fine until it does it again (anywhere from 30 minutes to 5 days).
I did a compression test on all 10 cylinders and they were very close to each other.
At the same time this happens, some coolant escapes the system. I believe that it is coming out of the radiator cap but I am not 100% sure.
I have replaced the coolant tank and radiator cap and the problem persists.
I am inclined to believe that it is a head gasket problem.
Has anyone heard of a similar problem and what caused it?
Any other questions?
I believe that this problem started when the truck overheated while I was towing a trailer. After the truck overheated I replaced the radiator, thermostat and water pump.
Since then I have been having an intermittent problem. Occasionally the temperature gauge will immediately spike to full hot and the temperature warning light and CEL come on. The error code set is cylinder overtemp. The engine drops power and from my research I believe that it is turning off 5 cylinders to help cool the engine.
All that I have to do is turn off the engine and restart it and everything is fine until it does it again (anywhere from 30 minutes to 5 days).
I did a compression test on all 10 cylinders and they were very close to each other.
At the same time this happens, some coolant escapes the system. I believe that it is coming out of the radiator cap but I am not 100% sure.
I have replaced the coolant tank and radiator cap and the problem persists.
I am inclined to believe that it is a head gasket problem.
Has anyone heard of a similar problem and what caused it?
Any other questions?
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That was my initial thought but I don't think so. This has been going on for a year now and I have to believe that I would have all of the bubbles out by now. I filled it with the nose up an incline and let it idle for a while.
I know that it is pushing coolant out somewhere in the system. I believe that it is either relieving pressure somewhere in the system or introducing pressure from combustion but I am not sure.
I know that it is pushing coolant out somewhere in the system. I believe that it is either relieving pressure somewhere in the system or introducing pressure from combustion but I am not sure.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
My first thought was a head gasket as well---have you performed a system pressure test or leak down check yet?
Are there any signs the coolant has escaped from the radiator cap? Oil/coolant mixed together?
Are there any signs the coolant has escaped from the radiator cap? Oil/coolant mixed together?
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Ford has had some issues with the radiator cap. It can loose spring force and allow the coolant to loose pressure and boil off.
Try replacing the cap with a new one, it might just be the easiest fix around.
There was a video about this on powerstrokehelp.org in regards to the 6.0l head gasket failures possibly being linked to early boil off of coolant damaging the gasket.
Oddly enough in the past the radiator cap on the trucks are the same as the ones used on even the smaller cars.... go figure.
Try replacing the cap with a new one, it might just be the easiest fix around.
There was a video about this on powerstrokehelp.org in regards to the 6.0l head gasket failures possibly being linked to early boil off of coolant damaging the gasket.
Oddly enough in the past the radiator cap on the trucks are the same as the ones used on even the smaller cars.... go figure.
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Fleet Owner
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From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Good info on your post Shogun6!
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[QUOTE=Wren;11763638
At the same time this happens, some coolant escapes the system. I believe that it is coming out of the radiator cap but I am not 100% sure.[/QUOTE] Expand on this, please.
There are visible signs of a leak around the cap area?
How much coolant loss do you notice? And over what time period?
At the same time this happens, some coolant escapes the system. I believe that it is coming out of the radiator cap but I am not 100% sure.[/QUOTE] Expand on this, please.
There are visible signs of a leak around the cap area?
How much coolant loss do you notice? And over what time period?
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I ziptied a shop towel around the radiator cap. It stays completely dry except when the incidents happen and then it is completely soaked afterwards. That is what makes me think that it is coming out of the radiator cap. It could be coming out somewhere else and splashing on the cap though.
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