So...my first filter change at 500 miles was disappointing but not. No pictures to post because well..nothing to take pictures of.

The filter for the most part was clean. I did see sand granules, no argument about that, but nothing in comparison to what other users have posted on this site.

With just under 50K on the ticker and not much crap to be had, perhaps I can settle with the notion that I have a truck that was not subjected to the same casting issues as others.

I do not regret the coolant filter whatsoever. I'll be making my regular changes as expected with normal maintenance.

 

Just change less often, watch the overflow and when it starts to slow, then worry about changing it. Better safe that sorry.

 

I see your truck is an 06. Any idea when your engine was built? International claims they fixed the "crud" problem and "Units (VT365s) built after 1-9-06 did not come with or need coolant filters."

 

I have a 3rd quarter 06 build and had a TON of crud in my system.

 

I have an early build truck and I too found nothing to speak of either. There was maybe 10 grains at the bottom of the filter when I cut it open and nothing at all noticable in the filter media/ This was with 4700 miles on it.
The truck build date is May. Don't know the build date of my engine, guess I'd have to look.

 

The red label on the passenger valve cover states '06'

Build date per Oasis was was April 06
Delivery was August 06.

 

If you look on top of the FICM (module that sits on top of the driver's side valve cover), you'll see a decal/tag. This decal/tag will have the mfg date of the engine on it. I think it's in yymodd or yyddmm format (I can't remember). This is the date Orig was referencing, not the truck build date.

 

My 06 is an 05 build and I will be doing my coolant filter at the next oil change. I will pst then to see whats in the filter. If nothing then I guess I will stick to about once a year...unless for some reason I start to put the miles on again.

Nice to hear not all of you have the castig sand issues. With those that havent have you had EGR/Oil Cooler replacemants?

Sarge

 

Ditto. I had nearly nothing in my filter at the first 500 mile change. My engine build date is October 2002 (VERY EARLY 6.0).

 

my early build 2006 was rolled off the production line May'05 and purchased a couple months after that.
Still haven't looked at the engine tag date. But it's been good to me.
Thanks to the first coolant filter I cut open, I can be reassured that the oil cooler and everything else is just fine.

 

I too have an early 2006 6.0. Bought truck in Feb of 06 so know the engine would have an 05 build date (have not actually looked, but will). I cut open my first coolant filter with 5K miles on it (29K on the truck at the time) and had very little crud, just a little sand in the bottom. Still worth it for the insurance in keeping the engine in the best shape possible.

 

By only driving 500 miles a couple of things can be happening to cause you to not see any crud or sand.

1) You may be driving a lot of short trips and the sand, which is heavier than the coolant) has collected and not moving around through the system.

2) Since the coolant filter is a by-pass set-up, only a small percent of your coolant is being filtered at any given time... so it is quite possible the sand is still in your motor but has not actually passed through the filter.


I recommend a nice long day of driving and getting more miles under your belt before changing or checking again. Hey, don't be disappointed if you have less than many of us... that is a good thing. Keep an eye while your truck is running on the "flow" into the degas bottle. Sometimes a flashlight behind your degas bottle will make the flow more noticable.

If you see a decrease in "flow" then your filter is working and getting clogged. My first filter change was not until 5,000 or so (when I changed my oil)... so I think your just checking to soon to see results!!!!!

How do I check my coolant filter when I take it off...

1) Have an old glass or plastic cup (like what beer comes in at a bar).

2) Have a regular size coffee filter handy.

3) Have a funnel (to hold the coffee filter) to place in the cup.

4) When you unscrew the coolant filter keep it upright to hold the coolant in it.

5) Pour the coolant inside the just removed filter and pour the coolant through the filter/funnel into the clean cup.

6) There will be loose bits of sand and other stuff in the coffee filter.

7) When the glass is full of clean coolant (you just filtered it through the coffee filter) it can be poured back into the degas bottle after you have installed your new filter... and your all topped off!!!

8) After the old filter has drained, you can cut open with the tool and technique of your choice.
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The pictures shown on the dieselsite.com website in the 6.0L section are pictures I took and sent them several years ago. You will see the filter I used and the crud that was loose in the coolant filter and stuck to the media inside the filter.

Again.... don't change filter unless you have driven 5,000 miles or you notice no flow in the degas bottle.... then I think you will see results.

When the motor is up to temp (thermostat open) and your driving and working your motor, the "loose sand and crud" is moving around under the pressure of the cooling system... which will allow for more rapid capture of the "crud" in your system.

Good luck.....

 

Fordsdowner,
Are you the original owner of the truck? The reason that I ask is that if you have 50K mi. on it, and there has been work done in the past that required draining of the cooling system (headgaskets, egr or oil cooler, etc.), then the "crud" might not be present due to the fact that much of it might already has been flushed with the coolant removal.

I never cut open my filters. I changed my 1st one at 1K mi. and I am still on my second one. But the biggest thing that I noticed is that the coolant in my degas bottle used to be dirty yellow to light brown and cloudy. But after adding the filter, it is now YELLOW and clear. This can only be a good thing.

 

This topic has been on my mind as I installed a dieselsite coolant filter about 3500 miles ago and I haven't noticed that it's clogged up yet. I did have my system drained last year when the headstuds were installed and maybe this is why there's not a lot in the coolant system. I have been towing my 30' enclosed trailer most of these miles so I'm definitely working the motor. I was really hoping that it would've clogged by now (just to justify the purchase), but I guess it's better that I already had a clean system.

 

Guys, do not be disappointed if your not seeing immediate results.

1) Like I posted above, I drove for 5,000 - 6,000 miles before I cut open my first filter.

2) I too drained and flushed (with distilled water) my entire system before I installed my coolant filter and still removed a bunch of stuff/crud. The sand and such is heavier and does not necessarily drain out when one dropes the lower radiator hose.

3) You may just be lucky and have less sand and crud in your system.

4) The filter is working and just becuase it is not "plugging up" quickly does not mean it is not working and protecting your motor... becuase it is.

5) The color of the coolant in my degas bottle changed from a murky/slight brown to the proper yellow of the Ford Premium Coolant color. As well, the sediment or "black stuff" that was on th bottome of the bottle worked loose and was eventually filtered out of the system.

Again, if you have not done so, please check out the photos I sent to the www.dieselsite.com website that they then posted in the 6.0L section.

For those wondering about their purchase, you made a good one and after adding mine several years ago I think that this is the best mod for improved 6.0L operation and longevity.