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Does this look bad

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Old Nov 20, 2013 | 03:18 PM
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Does this look bad

I noticed this like 2 weeks ago, about the same amount, on my degas bottle. I wiped it off and hoped it was just spilled from a while ago or something but i just looked again today and its back. This is all the coolant residue there is, it starts on the backside and goes to where you see...thats it.. WTF. Ive had a few guys that know quite a bit about 6.0s tell me they wouldnt worry about it, but i want to know why its there. I dont beat on this truck at all, ive accelerated hard like 2 or 3 times in as long as i can remember. This truck is under 2300rpm about 99% of the time

 
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Old Nov 20, 2013 | 03:30 PM
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Cap not seating properly plus overfilling is one of the causes.
 
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Old Nov 20, 2013 | 03:38 PM
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Take a picture from the top and side from the driver side. Could just be an old cap, your truck is an 03.
 
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Old Nov 20, 2013 | 03:40 PM
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I replaced the cap with the new style when i bought it (already had the new style but whatever) and i just replaced it 2 weeks ago with another new style one for the hell of it.

I havent touched the coolant since the oil cooler was done in july. would have thought it would have puked out any extra by now. You cant see any coolant looking at it from the top or the drivers side. All the residue you see is in this picture
 
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Old Nov 20, 2013 | 03:45 PM
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Hard to say. It doesn't take much to do that. I would imagine a lot more if you were having some serious issue taking place. But, I haven't seen a photo of that little of coolant. Most I have ever seen pretty much covers that area of the tank. Best thing you could do is get a gauge and test the PSI of the cooling system.

So the level of the tank is below the minimum line?
 
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Old Nov 20, 2013 | 03:53 PM
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Yea, its pretty much been about 1/2" - 3/4" below minimum since i bought it
 
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Old Nov 20, 2013 | 04:01 PM
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Perhaps there is a hairline crack in the neck of the tank itself??
 
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Old Nov 20, 2013 | 04:40 PM
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Go to the autoparts store and grab some test strips for coolant. If it's a head gasket it should pick it up. Gave me some piece of mind.
 
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Old Nov 20, 2013 | 04:45 PM
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What will it pick up?
 
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Old Nov 20, 2013 | 04:50 PM
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I had to purchase 2 new caps in order to get one that would actually hold pressure. I got a Stant from Amazon, and started having minor coolent trails too. Took it to O'rielly's and it was only able to hold 5 lbs. (cap was only a couple weeks old). I suggest starting with making sure you have a good cap.
 
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Old Nov 20, 2013 | 05:08 PM
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This is my second new ford cap, this one's less than a month old
 
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Old Nov 20, 2013 | 05:12 PM
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Just 'cause it's new doesn't mean it's good...... have it tested.
 
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Old Nov 20, 2013 | 05:14 PM
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May be dumb question but how do I test The cap?
 
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Old Nov 20, 2013 | 05:30 PM
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Originally Posted by acf6
What will it pick up?
exhaust in the coolant.

To test the cap you can rent a kit from O'Reilly's I believe
 
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Old Nov 20, 2013 | 05:34 PM
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Dont have any oreillys here
 
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