So I have been slowly loosing coolant out of my primary bottle since I purchased my 2012 F-350 last year with 7500 miles on it. Since I am now not moving around the country, and had some time to kill, I thought I would bring it in to the local dealer to have them take a look at it. Currently still under my 3yr/36k coverage and figured it couldn't hurt to start the dialog with getting to the root of the issue.

I got the expected responses: pressure test was good, no leaks at the turbo, no sign anywhere of coolant flowing outside the system. It took about four days but I got the truck back with no real explanation.

Fast forward the next month was spent getting new oil in once I got the truck back and getting about 800 miles on it, at which point I had lost another bottle and a half of coolant. When I say bottle, I mean the overflow bottle going from the full line to having just a trace in the bottom.

So I pulled a sample and sent it up to Blackstone. Came back with a LARGE amount of Potassium (118 ppm). It said the universal average was two (2).

Here is what the comment section said:
The concern here is with the potassium. It's a common element in coolant, but usually sodium is also. It would take both elements to confirm coolant, but we have just one. Maybe the potassium is from an additive like Rev-X or Archoil, used a while ago? Or maybe your coolant only has potassium. Leave this oil in use another 1,000 miles and check back. If potassium goes up, you'll have your answer.

So I ran the another 600 miles (not much going on to drive) and grabbed another sample and wouldn't you know it, potassium went higher.

So I am making an appointment this week to address the issue again with this additional information. I would assume that they will run their own tests and hopefully figure this out for good.

TL/DR
Does anyone know if this 'special orange' coolant Ford uses is a potassium based product?
I keep a pretty good eye on the 6.7 board here at FTE and havent read anything about coolant loss outside of the turbo connection and the leaky radiators...Has anyone else read about coolant in oil?

 

Do you remember how much oil you drained? If you are adding that much coolant, you were certainly over 13 quarts. My reports show potassium has been two except one test was five. I think you unfortunately found your answer.

The specialty orange revitalizer has the additional sodium hydroxide chemical but Ford only lists ethylene glycol for the OAT based specialty orange concentrated. Blackstone may be thinking to the gold coolant which would report both.

 

I lost about a quart or so at the beginning of winter.


I fully expected to loose a little due to the temp changes.


It has been steady ever since. No oil growth.

 

Unfortunately, I never really measure the amount that comes out. It never really struck me as excessive though.

 

Speciality Orange is Dex Cool... And an OAT "coolant". Found this on Wiki, which explains wy you are getting only Potassium in the oil sample.

One of the anti-corrosion components presented as sodium or Potassium 2-ethylhexanoate

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifreeze
I have a feeling you have a blown headgasket.

 

every get any bubbleing or puking out the degas bottle? Does it bubble if you run the rpms up?

 

Can you explain why you would expect that? Is it common to lose a little? I've never heard of that, nor understand why we would lose a little, where would it go? I lost about a 1/2" to 1 inch over the winter. That has never happened before, brought my truck in, and they couldnt find a leak either... I dont smell anything either. Had the typical leak on the primary 20K miles ago, and had the radiator replaced.

I have never done Blackstone in the past, but out of caution, I ordered a sampling kit, and will mail it in. Im at 85K right now, so if i have cracked heads or something along those lines, I want to know now.

 

so how much is a quart for a degas bottle level? About the same I think as an inch or so for the bottle?


Hot temps vs -1F weather.

 

Yea, I'd guess a quart. I guess though, given what you say that when the ambient temps warm up, that the level would come back up, assuming engine has been cold soaked overnight. Since I added that quart, I should expect my degas to be overfilled?

 

My level has come back up now that we are seeing about freezing temps. It is right at the full when cold now. Before it was at the min line when cold.

 

I have approx. 7500 miles on mine and when I checked the fluids the other day my main coolant was at the low cold fill mark. I attributed that to just filling in all the voids/air pockets in the engine from manufacture.

Should I get an oil anaylsis just in case?

 

They purposely fill those to the low cold full mark. It's normal. Mine even dips a little below and because the bottom is BLACK PLASTIC that you can't see through it doesn't even look like there is coolant in it. The techs are hesitant to top off the coolant because when the motor gets hot the coolant really comes up in the degas bottle.

Check it when the motor is hot or warm and you'll understand why they want the extra space.

 

That's normal. I've only had mine topped off in this circumstance twice in five years where it was at the cold fill on a hot engine. Having to refill the entire reservoir on a recurring basis, that's an issue.

However, Blackstone Labs makes taking a sample easy so I encourage taking one next time you change the oil just because you can. You get to learn a little about your engine.

 

Just wanted to close out this issue I was having and to pass the word about it.

Looks like the problem was in the EGR. I got the truck back today with the following information:
"Pressure test EGR coolers on vehicle found loosing 10psi in less than a min, remove EGR coolers and bench test off vehicle, found psi dropping removed read cover and found EGR coolers wet and leaking. Replaced cooler core and seal kit."
Parts installed:
BC3Z-9V425-A Tube Asy
BC3Z-9P455-B Gasket

I will continue to monitor but I imagine this should end my coolant loss mystery. I dont know why the EGR issue wasn't found the first time it was in the shop...but maybe the second time was the charm.

Also had the 14E03 recall done while in there. But there are plenty of threads on that one.

 

Nice they got it fixed. Was everything taken care of under warranty including coolant?

Where did all of this coolant go downstream of the EGR cooler? Since you didn't find it leaking, does it enter the exhaust and evaporate?