Another "Coolant gone" saga
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2007
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Well, I called the dealer after a day and a half in the shop. They still don't have any info. All the service writer can tell me is "We removed your tuner for no charge." ( I asked them to unplug it before they did anything) That seems to be alot of diagnosis for $88. They had gotten that far yesterday so either they didn't work on it today or I imagined the coolant loss and they can't find it. I will add this. I marked the coolant level when I added the coolant cold. After I drove it to the dealer I opened the hood and it was a lot higher. If it was filled to the MIN line at flush and rose that much I think it would have been overfilled.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Edmond, OK
Well Tracy, I'll just buzz in here for moral support if nothing else. Hang in there, alot of us have the same issues with expense on not just 6.0 engines but all have their issues at some point or another.........yes, some more than others......but look at it this way......you didn't give 45 to 60k new for it and still end up having problems so you've got alot of room to wiggle. When you get it worked out you'll still have an awesome truck and a dang powerful one. Pulling a load comes with a great truck comes with a price. I'm in the same boat as you......I puchased mine a few months ago and just wonder when my head gaskets are gonna go.......lol But I sure am having fun with it for now.
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Elder User
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Thanks for the support. That's exactly why I kept my old workhorse. If it does break down on the road at least I can rent a car and get home then take my other truck and go pick up my 5th wheel. I have the towing covered through Good Sam's emergency roadside service. As far as the money goes, I can get a lot of repairs done for the $30,000 I saved compared to a new truck. I ordered the coolant filter yesterday and I'll install that first thing. So, if it is EGR and oil cooler maybe at least I can prevent it from happening again.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: SoCal/Poway ,By San Diego
Coolant
I feel your pain. Mine did it twice. Both times after towing. My jeep only weights 4300 pounds but that is the only time it has done it. Doesn't seem to do it running around town or on the highway doing 75. Been to the dealer both times and they ran their pressure tests and couldn't find anything out of the norm. Mine only has 21,000. Good luck.
They did give me a new cap and moved the sticker lower on the bottle on the first visit. Didn't even wipe off the white residue.
They did give me a new cap and moved the sticker lower on the bottle on the first visit. Didn't even wipe off the white residue.
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Elder User
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Well, day three came and went. No call from the dealer. Maybe the tech is reading this post and that's why I have no truck. If so, can you please figure out what's wrong with my truck so I can have it fixed or take it somewhere to get it fixed. Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Edmond, OK
Don't that just blister your backside about dealers and really most auto repair shops? Why don't they just tell you it's gonna be 3 days before they can look at it? At least you would know and wouldn't wake up the next morning thinking "maybe i'll know today". I own a wrecker service and when I need to get a truck in i'd like to know just what day I can expect to get it looked at. How about making me an appointment on a certain day........just consider my truck is sitting in your bullpen on Tuesday and you know your not gonna look at it till Friday so tell me so I can make some money with it till Friday? PLEASE????? They won't do it........nada!!!! Ticks me off to no end!!! And cost me lots of money.........sooooo I end up not getting little things fixed and they loose business.
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Elder User
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Day 4(Saturday). I drove over to the dealer at 8 this morning. Its a large service dept and I could see my truck sitting in a bay at the end of the shop with the tailgate down. I've used this dealer before. They are very professional and do great work so I don't want to bash them too much. Anyway, I talked to the only service writer on duty. There is usually about 4 there during the week. I told him the deal and he checked the computer. Tells me they removed the module, which they did on Wednesday, and no other comments. I say "Well that's about a 2 minute job". He tells me the tech doesn't work today so no more info is available. So I say, "3 days to diagnos a problem seems a little long don't you think, can you tell me what he has ruled out?" No, maybe he has a message into Ford hotline and he's waiting for info. OK, so there's nothing else I can do but assume either they can't find anything or they haven't tried. Either way, I'm suppose to use the truck Thursday for vacation and still don't know anything. Now when they call to tell me something I think I'll wait 4 or 5 days to get back to them and if they say they didn't find anything I'll wait 5 days to go pay them for the diagnosis.
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Elder User
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Finally got the dreaded call from the dealer today. The tests show the oil cooler is bad. They're going to start on it today. If the EGR cooler turns out to need replacing also, it will run $2,767. If not he said $500 less. I ordered a coolant filter and it will be here Wednesday. I guess it could have been worse.
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Elder User
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He's calling me back when they get it torn down. I'm sure he'll recommend it and if not I'm telling them to do it anyway. What else should I ask for. Does the turbo need to be cleaned since they have it off? What about the EGR valve, should it be pulled and cleaned or replaced? Is there anything else they can take care of while its torn down? Thanks again for the help.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Whittier, CA
They will have the intake manifold off. Seems to me like they should check it for carbon buildup and clean it up. They will probably evaluate the buildup on the EGR valve, but it is easy enough to get to so I would not ask them to replace it outright. Cleaning the turbo sounds reasonable to me. Ask them to replace the EGR coolant connector hose with the new updated version. Someone with experience will probably have some other suggestions.
I think you are in Alabama where I'm sure they will be the last state to adopt diesel smog tests. I would be seriously considering an EGR delete.
I think you are in Alabama where I'm sure they will be the last state to adopt diesel smog tests. I would be seriously considering an EGR delete.
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Elder User
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Yes Alabama would probably work out ok. But, my wife is active duty Air Force and we're moving in December and I don't know where we are going. So I'm leaving it stock. I hope with the coolant filter and proper scheduled maintenance I can get some miles out of it without too much more trouble. I still drive my '99 everyday and only put about 10K on it per year. I'm giving it to my son when he turns 16. Our goal is to put a million miles on it, although I think that may be impossible. Anyway my point is I hope to keep this one till it hits the 11 year mark also. So I don't mind spending the money to keep it going, as long as its done right.
Jäger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,491
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From: Northern Arizona
Make sure they change the EGR cooler hose with the updated version:
Page 74: Unique Service Procedures
The original style has been known to leak and it's a headache to get to and change.
I would ask them to inspect the turbo. Here's some info from the Ford Doctors regarding the VGT unit: Diesel Technician Society
My oil cooler failed about 1 year after the EGR cooler was replaced, and I've had a coolant filter on my 6.0 since 10,000 miles (currently 58,600). My feeling is it should have been replaced when they had it all apart! I agree with Bill, have them replace it while it's already apart, no matter how the test goes.
Hope this helps!
Page 74: Unique Service Procedures
The original style has been known to leak and it's a headache to get to and change.
I would ask them to inspect the turbo. Here's some info from the Ford Doctors regarding the VGT unit: Diesel Technician Society
My oil cooler failed about 1 year after the EGR cooler was replaced, and I've had a coolant filter on my 6.0 since 10,000 miles (currently 58,600). My feeling is it should have been replaced when they had it all apart! I agree with Bill, have them replace it while it's already apart, no matter how the test goes.
Hope this helps!
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Elder User
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Thanks for the info about the hose. He just called me back and said the EGR cooler was bad. I told him about the hose and they are replacing it. The EGR valve was clean and clear, the turbo is clean and no other codes or problems showed up so far. I think it will be ready Wednesday.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Edmond, OK
Glad you got it figured out even though it was pricey. My EGR cooler & Oil cooler was replaced about a month before I bought it. The day I was to purchase it, the EGR valve stuck or something and started blowing trememdous black smoke out of it. He had to have it replaced and then I bought it. Poor guy.....lol Anyway, I hope they last awhile, it sure is costly.