ive just recently in the last few months bought a 6.0l. truck has roughly 250k miles on it. From what i can tell the truck is 100% bone stock.
last month had all injectors and glow plugs replaced and oil pressurr switch replaced.
just replaced the air filter also a few days ago.

Everything seems to be running fine. i have noticed my coolant keeps fluctuating. i get a little bit of white smoke when starting up the truck for a little bit. but seems to go away.
some white resdue around the deegas bottle.
any ideas?

Also sometimes when i go to take off the truck stutters like its not sending all the power to the wheels.

 

Did you install ALL OEM parts or did you get the cheaper "parts store" parts?

Do you have a scan tool? If not you absolutely need one! ForScan Lite or torque Pro on a Smart Phone (or tablet) are two of the best. $5 download and a $35 (ish) adapter. IMO ForScan reads codes better than all the other choices for economical scan tools.

After getting a scan tool, scan for codes.
The second thing to do with the scan tool is to evaluate whether or not your oil cooler is plugged up.

As far as coolant level fluctuating, that may or may not be normal.

What coolant is in it?
You may need to install a pressure gauge on the coolant system (ie tie a gauge into one of the small hoses that go into the degas bottle).

 

i did not install the injectors and glow plugs. i had diesel shop in ohio install them. id assume it was oem they specialize in powerstrokes.
as for the air filter i did use the s and b.

i have a cheap walmart obd reader. but nothing to read a powerstroke. its on my list to get one.

the coolant cap was not a oem i replaced that since i read that the aftermarkets are trash.
on my deegas i only see 1 line on it. i dont see if it is the mim or max line

atm the coolant from what i put is just water. i havent bought any coolant itself. until i can see if something is going on

 

If you own a 6.0L, you have to have a good scan tool.

 

Fluctuating coolant level can be related to coolant temp and how long it's been sitting. White residue around the degas bottle means it has the factory coolant (G05) in it, not the best. The residue can be from spillage or the bottle having too much coolant. It was revised to be at or under the minimum line. If there is continued residue, it can be a leaking cap, bottle lip, or the very worst case, head gaskets. Then you need to pressure test the coolant system.

But as Mark said, if you own any modern diesel engine, you need to monitor the engine conditions in real-time to know if there are things to take care of and what they are. You also need a fuel pressure gauge that will be separate from the phone monitor.

 

i do indeed. i was honestly looking at the reader that bulletproof offers on it website

anyway i can figure out what going on without a gauge or should that be my next purchase for the truck?

also will that datascanner they sell. will it monitor everything?

 

In general the white residue does indicate the GO5 coolant, but not always. I have the Rotella ELC Ultra that will leave white residue when it dries.

Anyway, post a link to the scan tool you are asking us about. That said, I do not think ForScan can be beat (except torque Pro has a little nicer display for multiple parameter viewing). If you are talking about AutoEnginuity, then you are wasting your money because ForScan can do everything it can for a free download and an $80 adapter (for a laptop). The $5 ForScanLite can do most of the basic stuff and the adapter is $30.

But then advice often times is worth what you pay for it ......

 

https://bulletproofdiesel.com/collec...mount-90100064
thats the scantool i was talking about. its pretty basic.

 

I like the ScanGauge II. It is small and continuously displays 4 parameters. That said, it is expensive and a little "clunky" on the interface.

The BIG negative - it does not read codes very thoroughly.

 

i saw someone hide it in drawer i use to put change in. right below the aux.
i like it because it could give continuous readings.
but in other wordd still would need a good code reader?
any links to them?

 

As I said ForScan.

Google it and you will get all you need. It is a download for a smartphone (iOS or Android) or a windows laptop. The adapter you need depends on the device you have.

There is even a ForScan Forum that gives you all kinds of information.

 

i assume this is the app you are talking about.

 

Yes - and it used to be $1 cheaper!

 

i went ahead and bought it. just need a obd reader thats Bluetooth. thanks

can you guys share info i need to look for when reading temps in my truck? like what temperature everything should be around?

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/974357-recommended-readings-temperature-and-pressure.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1234146-engine-operating-values-koeo-high-idle-etc-pdf-attached.html#post13016183