ok, it's kind of a weird title. I guess I am looking for opinions.

Truck is a 2005 F250, 123K miles. It did have headgaskets (at dealership before I got the truck, so not studded), egr delete, hpop gasket updates, stand pipes, blue spring, MBRP turbo back with cat delete, injectors were replaced around 75K when headgaskets were done, FICM w/atlas 40, CTS2 monitor, Mishimoto tstat, coolant flushed last fall, coolant filter last fall. I'm not running any programmer, I do have an SCT but have not reconnected since I did the FICM

the truck runs like a top, does not use any coolant unless I tow heavy. I recently towed a bunch of RV's to set up for one of our shows and after pulling a big heavy 5w I smelled coolant while unhooking, lifted hood and found the degas bottle had some coolant splash around the cap. Coolant was only about a quart low. Temps never got over 204* for EOT, my EOT temp is consistently with 5*, EGT never got over 960*

I never see any off color smoke, the truck runs like a top. I have not plugged it in yet this year (I live by Grand Rapids MI), temps have been getting down to the lower double digit range at night (I think the new FICM has helps that)

Am I really looking at headgaskets again? It only does it when I tow over 5000#. Is there something else I should be looking at?

Thank in advance

 

It is possible you have a small head gasket leak, but there are a few things you should rule out first.

Where do you keep the level of coolant in the degas bottle? The old min. line is the new max. line. Some people even run it a little lower than that.

Have you tried replacing the degas bottle cap yet? They tend to get weak over time, especially the old style caps. If its not holding the pressure it should, the coolant may boil a bit in certain spots internally. This would cause the small amount of puke when towing (running hotter).

 

I keep the coolant just a bit lower than the old cold line. The cap that is on it is not a ford cap, there is no ratchet sound when tightening it down. There is pressure in there, when I check it the next day and it's cool it hisses when I loosen it.

 

new cap, old one may not be venting at all. Temps look good. Maybe a pressure gauge tapped into the vent line is due.

I'd be plugging in, helps with a cold start... that oils pretty thick at 16* and it ain't helping the pump.

Have you tested the coolant for freeze point with a tester. It tests the boiling point as well, shouldn't boil at less than 225*, more like 250*.

 

I'll grab a cap while I'm out today. Not sure how soon before I would be towing anything again.

I could use the port on the side of my coolant filter to add a pressure gauge. Now to find one of those also. Lol

 

If it keeps becoming a problem its not a bad idea to install a permanent coolant pressure gauge. I just bought an autometer one off amazon for 60$, I thought I had a HG issue but it turns out the pressure doesn't really exceed 10-11psi

 

I wonder if I can get a pressure sensor for the cts2......

 

absolutely...

 

Yep, found that the same time you posted it Ultrasks700. I may do the mechanical set up right now while I confirm.

I do have the port on the side of my coolant filter that I can add the pressure sensor to.

I do have a new Ford cap that I will put on tonight and see what happens.

 

FYI,, degas caps should not be venting ever. The pressure will never go above 16 with a healthy system. Prob another case of non milled heads being reinstalled.

 

That sound like what may have happened. I'm pretty sure the heads do not get resurfaced through the dealer. I am going to keep an eye on it for a little bit and see what it does, I've got the spare port on my coolant filter I can easily add a gauge to.

I'll post up my finding and numbers.

 

It's fairly common for headgasket failure to first show up under high temps and pressure (like towing)when they are beginning to fail and get worse with repeated leaking.

 

That's the odd part is my temps do not get excessive at all. I have the mishimoto 200* and it may have hit 204* for a few miles on Monday.

My EGT never got over 975*. and the EOT is always within 5* of ECT, and has actually been the same or just below with the outside temps being below freezing lately.

 

Should also mention that when I am not towing, even on a long trip there is no coolant loss. Took a trip to Chicago last weekend with my enclosed trailer with the kids stuff for his new apartment and never had any coolant loss then. It seems to show up more when towing over 6-7000#.

I am gearing up to replace the head gaskets next summer anyway, need to get my barn built so I can pull the motor and do a complete reseal, the bedplate is seeping a little oil also. So easiest to just pull the engine and do it all at once.