What am I missing?
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What am I missing?
The other day my engine overheated on my 03 with 6.0L. Was driving up hill, started to loose some power so I pulled over. As I opened the hood, my coolant was boiling, but my gage showing normal temperature. It is third time my truck overheated, but my gage has always been showing normal temp. All three times I had different reasons for overheating, which were fixed, but what is wrong with the gage? Anyone had similar problems?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
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You may also have a leaking cap on the degas reservoir (not holding the normal backpressure).
Have you been losing coolant level? If so, for how long? If so, what have you used to "make up" for the lost fluid? Has your coolant ever been changed? If so, was it replaced with the "premium gold" coolant as specified?
Have you been losing coolant level? If so, for how long? If so, what have you used to "make up" for the lost fluid? Has your coolant ever been changed? If so, was it replaced with the "premium gold" coolant as specified?
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There were three different issues three different times for overheating that were fixed, but my question is why do we need temp gage if its not registering overheating? Is it just my problem or others have the same issue with temp gage?<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Fleet Owner
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The reason I asked my questions was to see if you have diluted your coolant to the point that it is mainly water. It will boil at a temperature that is very near normal on your gauge if your degas reservoir cap is leaking and not holding back pressure.
good luck with it.
good luck with it.
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I see. No, I had 50/50 in it. In my other truck with 7.3, I had water in it because leaking water pump, I had to add water to gat back home, and it was still registering hot temp. So my thought is that I either have faulty sensor or not properly working gage or may be it is the problem that others have as well with the same trucks.
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From: S CAL
Originally Posted by Vitaliykit
There were three different issues three different times for overheating that were fixed, but my question is why do we need temp gage if its not registering overheating? Is it just my problem or others have the same issue with temp gage?fficeffice" /><O></O>
ffice" /><O></O>The gauge is ok but like rollerstud said it is a dummy gauge and is not accurate. All the powerstoke 6.0L trucks have the same gauge and they all read the same way. They are just not very useful and that is why so many owners go to aftermarket gauges. If the truck is like you said, boiling the coolant then it is probably overheating and you need to find out why.
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Fleet Owner
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Originally Posted by 3000 FPS
If the truck is like you said, boiling the coolant then it is probably overheating and you need to find out why.
3000 FPS has great advice. You simply have not posted enough info for us to tell if you really are boiling coolant and overheating. You say it is, so it must be. If so, surely you have seen other signs of it?? Why not take the time and let folks know what has already been fixed? Just wonder ... if it was in 3 times for overheating and the gauge never showed it, why didn't you ask the service department to investigate the bad gauge / sensor?
If all you want is a gauge answer - I guess you got it.
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Sorry, I guess I just didn’t make myself clear enough. It has happened on three different occasions some time apart. Each time the problem was fixed, so my question is not about what caused it to overheat, but why the gage wasn’t showing it? From your replies, if I understand you correctly, that 6.0 has dummy gage and is not working properly.
Thank you for all of your replies.
Thank you for all of your replies.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Grande Prairie, Alberta
I think the degas cap issue sounds most likely or you got a bad thermostat that is not allowing proper circulation of the coolant, thus not exposing the temp sensor to the actual coolant that is over heated. Another possibility is that you have been loosing coolant to the point of over heating. Since the sensor is not a steam sensor and must be submerged in fluid to register (as I was told by a diesel tech) it will read normal when in actual fact you are overheating due to a lack of coolant.
Do you have any indications of coolant loss?
Do you have any indications of coolant loss?
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No, there was no coolant lose.
Any one know where the temp sensor located without doing too much of a research on it?
The top or the reservoir has a crack and sometimes I can hear air coming out when the truck is hot, but it is not loosing coolant, so I am assuming that the temp sensor is still in the coolant and should reed it hot.
Any one know where the temp sensor located without doing too much of a research on it?
The top or the reservoir has a crack and sometimes I can hear air coming out when the truck is hot, but it is not loosing coolant, so I am assuming that the temp sensor is still in the coolant and should reed it hot.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Middle Tn.
If the reservoir has a crack then it is certain that you are not holding the proper pressure in your cooling system. That may not be your problem but process of elimination should tell you to replace the degass bottle first. Start with the obvious!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Airdrie Alberta
Only thing that will resolve the gage problem is to buy an aftermarket coolant temp gage, they show that it actually takes a lot longer to get to operating temps then the factory gage does and will fluctuate while driving
Posting Guru
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From: Grande Prairie, Alberta
Originally Posted by Vitaliykit
The top or the reservoir has a crack and sometimes I can hear air coming out when the truck is hot, but it is not loosing coolant, so I am assuming that the temp sensor is still in the coolant and should reed it hot.
