trying to narrow down an issue.

[egregg57]

2005, Ford F-350 FX4, CC, Lariat, long bed, 87,000 miles.

So in doing my best to maintain my truck, I have taken care of a few issues in the past year.

EGR Cooler, EGR Valve, Oil Cooler, HPOP STC, FICM Reflow.... All have been succesful.

BUT (I hate "Buts") One thing has been nagging me almost everyday. When towing, and only when towing up a grade, I end up with white specks on and around the degass battle. I know this is from the coolant being vented from the cap.

Before I go down the road of head gaskets I want to make sure I am clear of what sort of condition I have. I may have inadvertantly caused this through not reading directions in the first place.

- Degass bottle does not have the upgraded sticker.
- Coolant level is currently maintained at the Minimum mark.
- Edge Insight with Attitude and Juice installed. (It is on the "0" Stock setting. I use the Edge for codes and monitoring running temps etc.
- Degass bottle cap has been changed it is a 16 PSI cap.
- I added, over the period of one year, one bottle of Ford Gold coolant to the Degass bottle.
- Until today, I did not realize it was to be diluted 50/50. So I have at least a gallon of straight concentrated coolant in the system
- Running temps are: @ 75-80 MPH EOT/ECT ranges from 180-187, oil temp is usually 2-4 degrees higher until I slow down to 40-60 mph and ECT/EOT is nearly matched with temps varying about 178-180.
- 50 mph or less temps are matched almost consistantly at about 178-180 once the engine has been warmed.
- Towing ECT/EOT are 190's and can reach 210, within 8-13 degrees between the two temps while climbing a grade. Coolant temp lagging. Fan High Speed kicks in at 210 and drops ECT temp promptly with EOT following 8-10 degrees behind until level road where both return to about matched 190-195 with in a minute or two. I have seen as high as 215 F.

What is nagging me is that from all that I have read my truck is operating just as it should be, in fact in most cases EXACTLY as it should.

So what gives? Why am I getting the white residue (Looks like some one sprinkled the general area) around my degass bottle?

I am going to have a shop check for Hydrocarbons in the coolant to try to determine if I have a head gasket going.

When Ford replaced my oil/EGR Cooler (November 2010) they checked the Head Gaskets and said that I was in "good shape".

Is it possible that the undiluted coolant I added is causing boiling while towing?

Is the minimum level mark on the Degass bottle too high?

Hoping I can get some education of this final thing that is bugging me!

Thanks, Eric

 

[troutwest66]

Nobody responded in four years? I'm still driving my IDI but I'm looking for a 7.3 or maybe a later 6.0.

 

[JLDickmon]

sorry to say some posts do get "lost" from time to time..

I would not be scared of a 6.0..
change the EGR & Oil coolers, and don't try to make an ingernt amount of HP out of it..

 

[troutwest66]

Just watched a video about the degass bottle cap can lose it's spring tension. That could cause problems. I just might replace mine as a preventive measure. Stant was the brand the shop uses. It has a much bigger spring and housing to maintain the 16 PSI.

 

[troutwest66]

Picked one up on the way home from church today at NAPA. They said it's made by Stant and I get a discount through the school district. Cost me $5 and change. Can't hurt.

 

[RandyH]

I just made a coolant system pressure tester for less than $20. Works great to chase down leaks (like the cracked injector bore I'm currently dealing with) but you can pump it up and hear/feel when the cap opens up to make sure at 16 psi. Pressurized through a Schrader valve on the bottom.