What brand of oil cooler did you install 56k miles ago?

 

I assume it was Ford OEM. I had it done at the dealer in Hoover, AL. I bought it in April of 2009 with 69K, it now has 126k. I got the Oasis and saw nothing major had been done other than all 8 injectors replaced at 59k. It was empty on coolant when I looked at it and I had it checked out before I bought it and knew it needed an oil cooler and EGR cooler. So first thing, I had the coolant flushed, the transmission flushed, oil and filter, fuel filters, and did the oil cooler and EGR cooler. They did the new blue hose while they had it and reflashed the computer. As soon as I got it back from the dealer I installed the Dieselsite coolant filter and changed the filters several times the first year. I didn't have gauges back then to see what temps I was dealing with. I started using the Torq gauges about 2.5 years ago. I had the FICM replaced in June 2011, and the turbo serviced. This year I had all 8 injectors replaced because the dealer here couldn't find the broken connector on the FICM and replaced all the injectors before replacing the wiring harness and solving the problem. I've never had any of the head gasket problems, no puking, and I have no codes other than the occasional P0299 when I tow. I always clear that after towing and it doesn't come back until I tow. It runs perfect, no smoke, and gets great fuel mileage.

 

I had the chance to do another flat 20 minute run to the next town today. It was about 30 degrees outside and my ECT stayed right around 181 or 182. The EOT was consistently between 11 and 11.5 degrees higher at 192-193. I think I'm still in the green on the oil cooler but I can't wait for warmer weather to check it again to be sure. Instead of the spread getting larger it looks to have gotten smaller.

 

You need a new thermostat

Josh

 

That's what i was thinking since its not getting to 185, but on warmer days it seems to open at 185 and the temps seem normal. I'm gonna hold off until the weather gets warmer to see how it looks. That way I can change out the coolant at the same time. Its just too cold to be wrenching outside if I don't need to. I did check the temps on the gauge after a 12 cold setting. They were within 1 degree of each other so I think that's right.

 

You'll want ECT to be 190+ at operating temp.

Josh

 

And waiting is killing your mileage.

 

Fortunately I only drive it about 100 miles per week.

 

I'll never understand why people take these things to the dealer. That's a $400 job in the real world...I could get head studs/gaskets installed for less than $2500...

Would you go to a grocery store that charged $40 for a gallon of milk?

180 isn't that bad. My truck is doing the same - weak thermostat - and I can still get 21mpg unloaded if I'm careful.

Something to keep in mind - the delta changes and gets closer at full operating temperature. While heating up I can see about a 15 degree difference. Once hot, never more than about 5 degrees. A hotter thermostat might actually reduce your delta.

 

While heating up the temperature differential is irrelevant. The oil temperature is lagging the coolant temp at that point. Also, not arguing, just educating.

 

The point is with a weak thermostat he has no idea what his delta really is. It will likely get closer together with a better tstat.

 

Personally I doubt that it will get better. When a heat exchanger is limited, it will have issues no matter what the water temperature is. If the cooling fluid becomes hotter going into the heat exchanger, then the hot fluid temperature will go up also. The main point of the Ford TSB is that the engine and the fluids need to be fully heat saturated. Regardless, the thermostat is a cheap and easy thing to resolve before deciding for sure on the oil cooler situation. The downside is that when he is towing, his oil temps are likely to go up some more (and his towing oil temps are already pretty high).

 

[QUOTE=F357;15079834]I'll never understand why people take these things to the dealer. That's a $400 job in the real world...I could get head studs/gaskets installed for less than $2500...

Would you go to a grocery store that charged $40 for a gallon of milk?


It's not going to the dealer if it has to be done again. I have talked to a local independent shop that specializes in 6.0 Fords. But please remember, we are not all mechanics on this site. I can do simple stuff like shocks, coolant filter, bushings, etc., but for most of us this is a major repair. I use my truck to haul my family and I wouldn't trust the job I could do tearing most of the top of my engine down and putting it back together, not to mention the down time without my truck if something goes wrong. I don't mind spending the cash if a job is done properly that's why I drive an old truck that's paid for.

 

I agree Mark. Using the parameters you posted for the 6.0 I'm getting too close to that 235 degree sever service limit for EOT while towing. I ran the truck down to the next town about 20 miles away so it was warmed up to the normal temps. I did the testing on the way back. I always monitor everything with the torque app on a phone that is permanently installed in the truck. Unloaded I rarely even get it on the highway up to 65. When I drive it around town during normal driving I do run it hard once its warmed up to keep everything happy. When I'm towing, even though its only 4 or 5 times a year, is when I get concerned. Even though my first post was from towing during 105 degree temps, I don't like to see a constant EOT of 230. I guess the only thing that keeps me from doing the oil cooler and egr cooler again is that since I got gauges about 3 yeas or so ago, nothing has changed. My delta is still around 11-13 degrees. That may just be normal for my truck. I read these posts where guys get gauges and their deltas are 30 degrees + and they freak out because its way over and it needs to be done immediately. I'm not in that boat. I watch it everyday, just not in conditions that follow the guidelines in the TSB for determining the condition of the oil cooler. At any rate, I appreciate all the input and use it collectively to help decide what to do when problems arise.

 

There have been a few examples here that replaced a cold t-stat and saw their ECT EOT temp difference improve @ 65

Josh