Pre-purchase Low Coolant
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Pre-purchase Low Coolant
I am looking at a 2006 F350 4x4 crew cab short bed dually from an individual with 110k miles. The degas tank was almost empty so I was very concerned. We drove it anyway and had no problems with heat or anything. I was trying to watch the EOT and ECT with torque pro but it turned off a couple of times and with me not knowing how low the coolant was, I didn't put much stock in the numbers.
He added some coolant after I left (probably green stuff) and said it took half a gallon. They live in the middle of no where and it wont be easy or convenient to take it somewhere (and I probably wouldn't trust them anyway).
I didn't see any white smoke coming from the exhaust (it was in the 40's that morning).
How concerned should I be that this is head gasket problems? I will delete the egr cooler anyway and not worried about that but the low coolant has be worried quite a bit.
Thanks
Will
He added some coolant after I left (probably green stuff) and said it took half a gallon. They live in the middle of no where and it wont be easy or convenient to take it somewhere (and I probably wouldn't trust them anyway).
I didn't see any white smoke coming from the exhaust (it was in the 40's that morning).
How concerned should I be that this is head gasket problems? I will delete the egr cooler anyway and not worried about that but the low coolant has be worried quite a bit.
Thanks
Will
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From: Roseburg, OR
The real test would be to see if it's losing coolant or if it was under filled to begin with. The minimum mark on the bottle should be the maximum amount of coolant in the bottle.
Hopefully he didn't top it off with green or it will require a flush.
Hopefully he didn't top it off with green or it will require a flush.
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They said they pulled a loaded 6 horse trailer over one heck of a grade last weekend and didn't have any problems and temp gauge was fine.
He probably filled it up with green because he said he would get some antifreeze at Napa. I'm not as worried about that because I will do a complete flush, new oil cooler, and egr delete soon after buying.
I just don't want to find out it needs head gaskets after buying
He probably filled it up with green because he said he would get some antifreeze at Napa. I'm not as worried about that because I will do a complete flush, new oil cooler, and egr delete soon after buying.
I just don't want to find out it needs head gaskets after buying
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From: SW Florida
They also sell the green stuff....but I would be more concerned why it was low in the first place....for now.
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Yea, I am definitely more concerned about why it was low to start with. I would like to know if it had been changed sometime and maybe had some air in it and not topped off afterwards, but I cant help to think about $3500 worth of head gaskets! haha.
It ran just fine, didn't have any issues with driving, but I don't know. I guess they can run fine sometimes and be leaking through the gaskets or a cracked head.
It ran just fine, didn't have any issues with driving, but I don't know. I guess they can run fine sometimes and be leaking through the gaskets or a cracked head.
Hotshot
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From: Middle Tn.
Yea, I am definitely more concerned about why it was low to start with. I would like to know if it had been changed sometime and maybe had some air in it and not topped off afterwards, but I cant help to think about $3500 worth of head gaskets! haha.
It ran just fine, didn't have any issues with driving, but I don't know. I guess they can run fine sometimes and be leaking through the gaskets or a cracked head.
It ran just fine, didn't have any issues with driving, but I don't know. I guess they can run fine sometimes and be leaking through the gaskets or a cracked head.
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I have an OBD2 Bluetooth adapter and torque pro app on my phone, I was watching FICM voltages and EOT, ECT temperatures.
I am only concerned about, why was the coolant low. If I could just eliminate the possibility that it needs head gaskets, I would feel a lot better. Like I said, I will be deleting the EGR and EGR cooler, and replacing the oil cooler with a complete coolant flush. I just don't want to be surprised with $3500 worth of head gasket work if I can help it.
Thanks
I am only concerned about, why was the coolant low. If I could just eliminate the possibility that it needs head gaskets, I would feel a lot better. Like I said, I will be deleting the EGR and EGR cooler, and replacing the oil cooler with a complete coolant flush. I just don't want to be surprised with $3500 worth of head gasket work if I can help it.
Thanks
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Posting Guru
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From: SW Florida
He has Torque Pro...but it doesn't have a "coolant leak detector" gauge on it. How would the Scangauge help determine where coolant is going?
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From: Roseburg, OR
If the owner will allow it, pull the egr valve and inspect for moisture in the bottom of the intake manifold.
Another test would be to tee in on the degas bottle with a pressure gauge to check how high and fast the pressure spikes.
Another test would be to tee in on the degas bottle with a pressure gauge to check how high and fast the pressure spikes.
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The delta was around 10 degrees but I never really got it on level ground cruising about 65mph. With the coolant low, I never did run it hard or very long. I will definitely drive it again for a long while looking at Temps before considering buying.
I thought about the tee method and run the gauge in the window but I'm not sure what to look for besides pressure rising past 16psi. I haven't seen a video on doing that when the gaskets were not leaking.
I thought about the tee method and run the gauge in the window but I'm not sure what to look for besides pressure rising past 16psi. I haven't seen a video on doing that when the gaskets were not leaking.
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When doing the Tee test with a guage connected to the degas tank, would the pressure rise the same with blown head gaskets as it would with a ruptured egr cooler? I have also seen the video of a rubber stopper in place of the degas tank cap with a clear hose running over to a water bottle and watch the bubbles. Then disconnect the turbo switch and see what changes are made to determine if it is head gaskets only, egr cooler only, or both.
I may be way over thinking this, and had the degas tank been at the proper level, I would have not thought a thing about leaking coolant. But now my mind is running away with a coolant leak. lol
I may be way over thinking this, and had the degas tank been at the proper level, I would have not thought a thing about leaking coolant. But now my mind is running away with a coolant leak. lol
Cargo Master
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From: Roseburg, OR
With an uncompromised system, the pressure shouldn't go above 12psi.
With a blown egr cooler, the pressure will spike with throttle quickly and shoot above 16psi, it will drop rapidly when you let off the throttle.
With a blown headgasket, the pressure will rise with temp and throttle (not rapidly) and hang at 16+psi. Letting off the throttle it will back off slowly.
With a blown egr cooler, the pressure will spike with throttle quickly and shoot above 16psi, it will drop rapidly when you let off the throttle.
With a blown headgasket, the pressure will rise with temp and throttle (not rapidly) and hang at 16+psi. Letting off the throttle it will back off slowly.