Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5
captcruz is starting off with a positive reputation.
Need Some Really Good Advice
Background, I have owned this 04 Excursion 6.0 diesel since new, it is in mint condition and looks great with 122,000 miles on it. I have since day one have had it serviced at a local shop here every 3000 miles and have always asked please check all the fluids and they say everything looks good. Present, last month before a trip trip to memphis I had it serviced, the guy in charge showed me the coolant reservoir and it was very rusty looking and the fluid was very thick. They flushed it 2-3 times and said it would be good for a while. On my my to Memphis and noticed a coolant odor, I pulled over in the rest area and the reservoir was over flowing, next morning had it flush again at a local shop and they said it will be fine. I drove from Memphis to KY and back to S. Florida and noticed it was rust color again but not THICK.. Last week brought it to a Ford dealer and they said they would not flush it because the block was corroded and that it would happen again but OFFERed to sell me a brand new long block with new radiator , water pump ect for 22K.. After a few phone calls I was advised to bring it to a local shop, 2 days ago they flushed it and said drive it for a few weeks and bring it back to be flushed again.. now to days later the coolant looks rusty … I have read where some placed do a real through job and drain the block and thermostat and flush with VC9 and it takes 3-4 to do,,, what do some of you think and why wold Ford not even attempt it.. Thank you

 

Was the coolant thick with solids or was it like a pudding consistency?

 

pudding, now when engine cools, you can see the rest go to the bottom of the tank

 

Sounds like you might have fuel in the coolant. If it were oil or transmission fluid, you could readily tell by the color. Do you think it could be diesel in the coolant?

 

the first time it was thick like pudding, now after 3 flushed its not thick but very rust in color and and when the engine cools you can see the rust sink down in the reservoir

 

Coolant is what I think, the coolant color when first put in is gold color after you run it 10 minutes it turns to a rust color, like i said , you can see the residue in the coolant,

 

another key point, when they flushed it, i could see the water coming out and it was clear during the flush.

 

Coolant by itself should not get thick like pudding. Maybe (I guess) it could if you mixed two incompatible coolants.

Coolant properly maintained will not allow rust, but it sounds like you have plenty of it in the system. Hard to say how bad the rust has become.

You need to first establish if anything is leaking into the coolant (and it sounds like to me that it is).

 

I think need to find a good diesel garage here in Fort Lauderdale.

 

Do you know what type of coolant is in it?

 

Sounds like some shops have already been taking advantage of you (or at least trying).

I would at least get a sample to someone that can analyze coolant and find out if it is contaminated (if you can't determine that yourself). I would also question the shop that serviced it every 3000 miles. Definitely try to answer mattdoc88's question.

best of luck - maybe someone can point you in the direction of a good shop.

 

it was gold color , i think he said IDF, Thanks

 

Agree can anyone recommend a good shop in Ft. Lauderdale that can get to the bottom of the problem.

 

Pull your oil dipstick and see what it looks like.

 

Thank you for your replies..