Have a 2011 250 with the 6.7. My batteries were weak so I changed them out today at work by our mechanic. No problems with the batteries. But he noticed that my radiator hose is half collapsed. I noticed it before as well but never payed any mind to it because the truck always has held the proper temp according to my gauge. My mechanic said that's a sign of a head gasket going bad. Is the radiator hose supposed to be like that is my question. He checked the antifreeze and said it was at the proper level

 

I noticed the same issue with my truck a few months back. I only noticed it by visual inspection, my truck never ran hot. This is my first diesel, but I remember a collapsed hose being a sign of a faulty radiator cap. I purchased a new radiator cap from Ford and that solved the "problem". A fair amount of info on the web about the Ford radiator cap being generally poor quality.

 

THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This is always step one with a collapsing radiator hose with no other reasons to suspect a head gasket problem.
Your mechanic is probably thinking this engine is related to the 6.0, hence quickly pointing at the head gasket.

 

Well I be dammed, put a new radiator cap on this afternoon and drove home in 20 degree weather and checked the hose when I got home and the radiator hose wasn't collapsed anymore. Would have never thought that would have been the problem. Thanks a bunch. But what actually causes the cap to go bad?

 

Poor quality control.

It's a pressure release cap, so like all things with springs and gaskets, they go bad.