Ford Powerstroke 03-07 6.0L Discussion of 6.0 Liter Ford Powerstroke Turbo Diesels

coolant leak at reservior cap

  #1  
Old 02-11-2012, 08:57 PM
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Default coolant leak at reservior cap

hey everyone,

I just purchased a 2007 f350 outlaw edition with the 6.0. some reason after i got this truck home i smelled coolant when i parked it. it was a 2 and a half hour drive home and never had a problem. the temperature gauge never moved and i did a few systems checks on the way home and it said all systems ok. there were only a few drops of coolant just enough that i could smell it. i drove it to work yesterday morning and it was fine coolant level stayed the same. after i went home it was also fine. i took it to a birthday party and it was also fine. i had driven it kinda hard on the highway and it was fine when i parked it. no smell and engine compartment dry. i took my friend for ride and excellerated hard with it once. we got back and could smell it. popped the hood and it was everywhere. it looked like a hose clamp going to the reservior we put a different one on and it was fine on my way home except for a couple drops of coolant on the top of the reservior (we did add coolant to the min line thats where it still is). i drove it today and the only coolant that showed up was a couple drops right around the cap on the reservior. i have read storys that it could be the cap or a small crack in the reservior (it looks like its getting old and brittle) I have also heard horror stories about this being caused by head gaskets. i hope this is not the case. please help give me some ideas. this truck is chipped by not sure with what. that was gonna be my first investment in a reader. HELP!!!!!!!!!!! this motor and turbo sound great.

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i forgot to add that this also had a k&n air intake on it

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i just took the truck for a ride. my coolant level is around a 1/4 inch below the min line which from some of the posts i gather is ok. the level did not move at all and everything was bone dry when i got home. i beat on it with no problems. i still smell coolant but i think its just left over from yesterday spraying all over. i will keep a eye on it but i'm hoping that it was just overfull. please feel free to give me any other ideas i will post more updates
 

Last edited by fatboyslim; 02-11-2012 at 08:57 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
  #2  
Old 02-12-2012, 12:46 PM
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First of all i would check and see if see if its already had head studs installed. It sounds like its building too much pressure in the tank like a head gasget problem. They are simple to check thought, get about 10feet of 3/8 gas line with a t fitting and a 15psi guage. Unhook the small line that goes to the resevoir and put that new line inbetween it with the parts. Run the guage into the cab and take it for a drive. I cant remember for sure but if the guage goes over 5 psi u most likely have a problem with a hg. And if it pops off at 15 psi then u have a hg problem for sure. I think also if your pullin a trailer up a hill it helps mak better results. Just to put a bigger load on the motor. They have better videos on here that explain it in more detail. I am not completely sure about what psi u should worry about a bad head gasget but they have lots of info on here to help out.
 
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  #3  
Old 02-12-2012, 01:04 PM
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thanks cfarley i will deff give it a try. last night and today its been fine i've even really romped on it going up hill. i have been told to check the head bolts. what is the best thing to do go to ford and have them run the vin? thats one of the options i've been told to do.
 
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Old 02-12-2012, 01:22 PM
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studs are an aftermarket item, all trucks have head bolts from the factory... studs are a aftermarket upgrade
 
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Old 02-12-2012, 01:36 PM
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i know that much haha. thank you. someone told me to bring the vin to ford and see what its had done. the past 2 days its been fine coolant levels stayed the same no bubbles anywhere everything is dry. i was thinking they over filled it i'm gonna keep an eye on it and try one of those quick easy head gasket checks.
 
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Old 02-12-2012, 01:48 PM
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oh ok, your talking about an oasis report from the ford dealer...
 
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Old 02-12-2012, 02:09 PM
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ya i guess thats what its called. if it doesn't blow out any more coolant you think it might be ok?
 
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Old 02-12-2012, 02:12 PM
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i hope, my truck has 180k on stock HGs... i beat on it too.

i plan on studing it this summer
 
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Old 02-12-2012, 05:23 PM
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like i saw in other posts it has the sticker on the degas bottle for the fill lines it is now about a 1/4 inch below it and hasn't had a problem since. the temp stays the same it has heat with no cool periods. when i start it it blows blue smoke for about a minute if it is cold. we have a old 7.3 at work and it does this for about 5minutes. no white smoke from my truck.

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Well back t the drawing board took the truck out to dinner tonight and it blew a little coolant. Not much just enough to **** me off. This must be why the dealer had me sign a waiver cause of the chip. I will be trying to go after him now.
 

Last edited by fatboyslim; 02-12-2012 at 05:23 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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Old 02-12-2012, 05:33 PM
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some trucks run lower than others, unless the bottle goes empty just monitor it and don't add unless it goes empty, that what I would do. I got 250k on stock HG and maybe put a quart of coolant in it since 03, and that was before they came out with that sticker.
 

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