Notices
6.4L Power Stroke Diesel Engine fitted to 2008 - 2010 F250, F350 and F450 pickup trucks and F350 + Cab Chassis

EOT & ECT Spread

Old Jun 30, 2012 | 11:53 PM
  #1  
RM2738's Avatar
RM2738
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,213
Likes: 1
From: The Woodlands, TX
EOT & ECT Spread

On my way back from a small road trip this evening, I noticed my spread a little larger than usual. My EOT reached 208 with my ECT at 197. It didn't last long as traffic came to a crawl about 4 mins after I noticed the difference and couldn't get it back to that spread again over the next hour of my trip. I know that alone isn't really much to be concerned about and I may be a little OCD about my truck, but my spread has never been more than six degrees and it's usually only four degrees. Anyone think of any potential issues? Usual operating temps for me empty are 203 & 199 (EOT & ECT).

Wasn't towing. Fairly flat grade minus a few good sized overpasses. Ambient temp was 80 degrees. Fluids are all fine, no codes.

I'm thinking it's just a fluke, but like I said, I'm OCD/Paranoid about my truck and just want to make sure it's not an issue.
 
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2012 | 08:06 AM
  #2  
senix's Avatar
senix
Super Moderator
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,379
Likes: 1,863
From: Frederick, MD
Club FTE Gold Member
Subscibing, I thought 15 deg was the concern time and should be diagnosed on flat level road at a steady speed under normal operating conditions.

Lets hear from the experts!
 
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2012 | 08:13 AM
  #3  
Gearitis's Avatar
Gearitis
Laughing Gas
15 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 950
Likes: 6
From: Waco, Texas
Club FTE Silver Member

I was coming in from Texarkana to Waco, via Dallas, towing, and my EOT and ECT spread was around 3 degrees on the flat, going up the few hills there, I would get as much as a 12 degree spread for a bit. The Intake Air temp was 140 degrees most of the time so the ability to cool quickly was absent. Even empty, I see spreads and always have seen the heat spread of 3-15 degrees. I don't worry about it as long as it starts coming down when I take the load off. FYI, the ambient temp was 100 most of the way and the EOT never got above 215 and the EOT never got over 208 traveling 65.
 
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2012 | 08:39 AM
  #4  
parkland's Avatar
parkland
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,267
Likes: 5
Mine always was within a few degrees, then one day 5-6 degress, then within a week around 10 deg difference.

Now even if it's cold out the EOT is way over ECT.

I still don't fully understand how oil coolers fail, I have to imagine the surface of the metal gets built up with crud. I don't know if the problem is on the oil side or the coolant side.
 
Reply
Old Jul 2, 2012 | 05:24 PM
  #5  
RM2738's Avatar
RM2738
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,213
Likes: 1
From: The Woodlands, TX
Pulled a 9,000lb tandem trailer today about 60 miles highway. Temps were EOT 214 and ECT stayed low at 201-203. Then I drove empty back and was at my norm 203 & 199 (4 degree spread).
 
Reply
Old Jul 2, 2012 | 05:39 PM
  #6  
senix's Avatar
senix
Super Moderator
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,379
Likes: 1,863
From: Frederick, MD
Club FTE Gold Member
I think that when towing you really can't look too closely at the ECT/EOT spread
 
Reply
Old Jul 2, 2012 | 05:45 PM
  #7  
RM2738's Avatar
RM2738
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,213
Likes: 1
From: The Woodlands, TX
Originally Posted by senix
I think that when towing you really can't look too closely at the ECT/EOT spread
I didn't think so, but I figured I'd share just in case.
 
Reply
Old Jul 2, 2012 | 05:49 PM
  #8  
senix's Avatar
senix
Super Moderator
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,379
Likes: 1,863
From: Frederick, MD
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by RM2738
I didn't think so, but I figured I'd share just in case.
I am not the authority but I think when you are towing and really working the motor up and down the hills alot of the point spread can really vary from hill to hill so that is why I'd ignore it while towing.

I had some nice ones today that probably would have sent me into the shop if we went by that while towing.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

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

 Brett Foote
story-7

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jul 8, 2012 | 02:54 PM
  #9  
CKetchum's Avatar
CKetchum
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: Coldwater, MS
Club FTE Silver Member

Last Saturday my ECT and EOT started to get further apart, normally they were always within a degree or two of each other (198-200). My ECT and EOT dash gauges looked normal with their needles in the exact same place they always are, but my Scangauge II was showing temp splits of 25F-30F. The wrench light on the drivers information display illuminated and the truck went into reduced power mode. I got my truck to the dealer on Monday and after they looked at it they said the computer had stored temp splits as high as 40F. They said there are tiny fins inside the cooler that get coated/clogged with coolant, maybe as the coolant breaks down. Not really sure.

My F-250 is a Job 1 2008 with 102,850 miles on the odo. Pretty big bill to replace the oil cooler though...

Oil Cooler, Dual Thermostat Kit, New Oil & Filter, New Coolant = $535
30 Hours Labor @ $76 an hour (by the book to lift cab) = $2280
Tax & Shop Supplies = $316
TOTAL = $3131
 
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2012 | 04:14 PM
  #10  
RM2738's Avatar
RM2738
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,213
Likes: 1
From: The Woodlands, TX
Originally Posted by CKetchum
Last Saturday my ECT and EOT started to get further apart, normally they were always within a degree or two of each other (198-200). My ECT and EOT dash gauges looked normal with their needles in the exact same place they always are, but my Scangauge II was showing temp splits of 25F-30F. The wrench light on the drivers information display illuminated and the truck went into reduced power mode. I got my truck to the dealer on Monday and after they looked at it they said the computer had stored temp splits as high as 40F. They said there are tiny fins inside the cooler that get coated/clogged with coolant, maybe as the coolant breaks down. Not really sure.

My F-250 is a Job 1 2008 with 102,850 miles on the odo. Pretty big bill to replace the oil cooler though...

Oil Cooler, Dual Thermostat Kit, New Oil & Filter, New Coolant = $535
30 Hours Labor @ $76 an hour (by the book to lift cab) = $2280
Tax & Shop Supplies = $316
TOTAL = $3131
Ouch! Makes me feel better about the coolant filter I installed that everyone said wasn't necessary on the 6.4.
 
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2012 | 06:03 PM
  #11  
CKetchum's Avatar
CKetchum
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: Coldwater, MS
Club FTE Silver Member

I'm having the dealer save all the parts so I can see what exactly is in the oil cooler. Pics to follow...
 
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2012 | 06:11 PM
  #12  
parkland's Avatar
parkland
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,267
Likes: 5
Originally Posted by RM2738
Ouch! Makes me feel better about the coolant filter I installed that everyone said wasn't necessary on the 6.4.
I certainly could be wrong,

I doubt the filter would help anything, I don't think it's solids that settle on the fins, I think it's solids that form ON the fins, from the temperature.
 
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2012 | 06:21 PM
  #13  
parkland's Avatar
parkland
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,267
Likes: 5
I've never take an oil cooler out yet, what about pushing some high pressure water through it, hitting it with some CLR, blasting it with air, rinsing?

Acid?
 
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2012 | 06:28 PM
  #14  
RM2738's Avatar
RM2738
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,213
Likes: 1
From: The Woodlands, TX
Originally Posted by CKetchum
Last Saturday my ECT and EOT started to get further apart, normally they were always within a degree or two of each other (198-200). My ECT and EOT dash gauges looked normal with their needles in the exact same place they always are, but my Scangauge II was showing temp splits of 25F-30F. The wrench light on the drivers information display illuminated and the truck went into reduced power mode. I got my truck to the dealer on Monday and after they looked at it they said the computer had stored temp splits as high as 40F. They said there are tiny fins inside the cooler that get coated/clogged with coolant, maybe as the coolant breaks down. Not really sure.

My F-250 is a Job 1 2008 with 102,850 miles on the odo. Pretty big bill to replace the oil cooler though...

Oil Cooler, Dual Thermostat Kit, New Oil & Filter, New Coolant = $535
30 Hours Labor @ $76 an hour (by the book to lift cab) = $2280
Tax & Shop Supplies = $316
TOTAL = $3131
Crazy to think that the whole cab has to come off when the cooler is right below the oil filter housing.
 
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2012 | 07:35 PM
  #15  
CKetchum's Avatar
CKetchum
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: Coldwater, MS
Club FTE Silver Member

Turbos have to come off to get it out of the valley...or so I'm told.
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:13 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-4
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

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


VIEW MORE
story-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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