First time this happened I was in Utah just crawling along mtn. forest roads tree hunting 10 deg. outside not really working motor. had to melt snow to fill radiator, that was fun and time consuming. Got rig home found the orange oil cooler hose dripped. Replaced hose with blue one and blocked off egr. at same time flushed with distilled water and refilled with Zerek gold G-5, have coolant filter so replaced it, changed oil and oil, fuel filters. Yesterday left home pulling 5er going across Satus pass fan came on and temp started climbing, 100 yards from top so I backed way off the throttle. Made it over the summit and temp. immediately came down to normal but had no heat in cab. pulled over at a turn out and the damn lower radiator hose was off again (radiator side). the clamp was as tight as it could go. Had to refill with tap water again from local house and one gal. of Zerek g-5. Got to thinking maybe hose clamp won't go tight enough sort of out of threads. It is attached to the hose by a staple.
I stopped in next town baught more anti-freeze (just reg s--- is all they had) also baught a new worm clamp and put on hose next to old clamp.
Am I on the right track? wouldn't pressure be relieved out the cap? I replaced the cap when changed hose and filters, so I doubt 2 caps are deffective. I don't understand why it would blow same hose on same location unless it was a bad clamp. Should I be looking for other signs? No residue was noticed around de-gas bottle..NO fluid loss other wise.
I am 5 hours from home sitting in Wilsonville trailer park headed to Oregon coast, and wondering do I continue or high tail it homeward.

 

You might just have a bad clamp. The OEM clamps always suck, but other clamps can skip teeth too. I like to consider radiator clamps as a one-use item.

I like to double clamp on radiator ends with two new clamps.

I also use this stuff on all coolant hoses:


http://www.permatex.com/products/Aut..._Sealant_a.htm

It's a syrup thickness. Brush a little around the ID of the hose end. It lubricates the hose so it goes in place easily, and then it dries and seals them. Use very sparingly.

 

Bad clamp.. sure...


Follow this thread.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...er-puking.html


Causes.. most likely... air in system.

2nd cause (bad news)

EGR cooler leaking, Head Gasket gone...

 

Thats a good idea Bill, I have always greased the inside of my hoses so they come off easier,bad choice in this case.Drove for 2 hours after installing 2nd clamp, parked all night coolant is just below the min. mark about 1/4 inch.
Gearloose1 I did the egr. block. so thats ruled out.
If it was head gaskets, wouldn't it be a problem all the time.I was traveling fairly hard down the freeway last 2 hours at 60 mph. up and down small hills pulling 13,000 lb. 5er. Or would a head gasket leak only under heavy load such as pulling a long hill?

 

Probably, but it would blow out the degas cap, not blow a hose. If it's not puking white stuff around the cap, it's not overpressured.

Also, most any grease will break down the rubber in hoses. Not a good idea.

 

Thanks Bill, thats what I was thinking, also I should have clarified, I use dielectic grease, same stuff for plug wires. I have cussed too many heater hoses on chevys. have to cut them off or risk ruining the heater cores.
I guess I will continue on to the coast and monitor things, what I can all I have is stock gauges, but I feel more confident now... Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year... all you guys are great..

 

I didn't notice where you changed that regular anti-freeze after you bought new clamps. You'd better change it and get the Ford approved stuff in ASAP....

 

Just to update made it the next 100 or so miles with out a hitch. Coolant level is the same..Had some hood pulls with no problems. After engine cooled I checked the cap and system actually had a vacum on it. So I am guessing it was the cheap a$$ clamp, and yes I plan too find the proper anti-freeze the day after christmas and some more disstilled water... I am getting to be good at this as it will be the 3rd time in 2 mths. I have refilled the system and it ain't cheap buying that special gold color. (guess thats why its gold) Had too have some kind of anti-freeze since the temps. around Portland Ore. were near freezing.I guess its cheaper than a new motor.. Thanks for all the help and support guys.It's embarrasing I didn't figure that clamp out sooner..

 

I've already replaced all my rad hose clamps with the "Breeze Style" that are on my 3406E Cat engine.They work well they almost look like the CAC clamps but have a 7/16 bolt head instead of 7/16 nut style.Alot cheaper then ford stuff way stronger,just don't over tighten, don't want to crack that plastic rad.Can be found at any class 8 truck. IE: pete,kenworth,volvo.Good luck have a nice Christmas.

 

you may also have a hose issue. the hose can swell and not seal right. if it happens again whaile on the road use and you cant find a new hose use some spray paint on the inside of the hose. it will help act like a glue to hold the hose and make it seal a little better hopefully.

 

Thanks for the ideas I think I will play it safe and try the breeze style clamps and install new hoses, I'll check here on the coast if I can't get em here I will change them out at home. Hopefully I can find em here, the climb at Biggs Junction up from the columbia river is pretty steep and long..

 

I would also bet on defective clamp. Degas cap blows at 16 psi which apparently you did not reach. Get the zerex GO-5 at Napa. Same as gold for 10.99 a gal. concentrate or 50/50.
Hose clamps and t-stats are two of the most important yet cheaply made parts on just about any engine on the road. They are crucial to an engines life blood and are made extremely cheap. Hate to think about how many defective t-stats I have gotten new over my lifetime.

 

And a whole lot cheaper than all the anti-freeze and distilled water I have gone thru, I have got to have the cleanest cooling system by now...ha ha..
I will be doing like previously suggested and double clamping that lower hose with new clamps...call me paronoid or just ticked..

 

I would definitely double clamp and do not use any grease. Ford had problems with the hoses blowing off on the '03 6.0's, enough to put out a TSB on it requiring either double clamping or changing over of the clamp. I know because mine blew off on the way home from the dealer the day I picked it up with less than 50 miles on it. Granted they were using the POS spring clamps instead of the worm type but apparently this cooling system likes to build up some pressure.

 

You mentioned you actually have a vacuum on the system after cooling. Is it not normal to have a pressure release when you remove the degass cap?