Help with disappearing coolant,
New to Dbombers and wished I'd have found you guys 4 years ago! I have a 2004 F250 Supercab. Always changed oil & filters by the book. Now having to put 2-3 gallons of coolant every week or so.
Finally took it to local dealer for the recalls and this issue. My company has had 4 of these from 03 to 05's, when we took them into dealer for recalls is when the major issues started. two are on their 2nd engine and still not able to haul without breaking down. Both had cooling problems. Three of these truck are parked now (18 months) and Ford has no idea what to do, just an idea of the dealer I am working with.

So on my personal truck I decided not to allow them access to engine until a problem cropped up. Anyway, they first fixed all recalls, the service rep said the EGR cooler recall would most likely fix the issue. It did not. If needed I am getting the long list of all the recall work that was done. They said that 4-5 of the recalls could be the issue.

After all were done they said the issue was not fixed and they wanted me to pay $109.00 to hook it up to diesel diagnostics. This yeiled nothing and now they want to get into the engine and estimate $2000. to $5000. to find and fix the problems. Most likely a head issue. service manager said if they went into the engine I'd still have to pay for the labor even if they find it isn't the heads.

White smoke for 10 minutes, and (the twist) 4-5 times it has run so rough I was barely able to get home. Not enough power to get out of the parking space, until it started to get warm, then runs like new for a day a week or more. I have read all I can find here and nobody mentioned the rough running with this issue. I am as far as you can get from being a mechanic. But after 20 plus fords (personal and company) over 25 years I know I can't trust this dealer to get anything right the first time not even once!

No modifications, and the only work was $1100 worth of AC repairs in May and $700 on the alternator a year ago. 2004 w/87,000 miles and out of the powertrain warranty by a year. oil is clean, no oil in water or vice versa, nothing leaking on ground or smoking under hood. Mostly a family truck and very little towing, with none in last 2 years.

Any advice on how a lady with very little knowledge or money to avoid getting railed roaded here. Sorry I'm so long winded, hopefully it will yell you something about the problem.
Thanks
BW

 

welcome to diesel bombers blue water by the way cool name hope you enjoy the site

 

Welcome to DB. It is truly the best site on the net. As far as loosing coolant are there any puddles under the truck? Any white residue located in the engine compartment anywhere? Around the coolant resevoir? With the white smoke, does it do it most of the time when you start it up in the morning when cold, or everytime when you first start it? It is starting to sound alot like the EGRcooler&/or oil cooler.

 

Sounds to me the cold start running poorly is perhaps a FICM/Fuel injector issue.

PM me the VIN and I will look into it.

 

I was having similar but not as severe issues and replaced my FICM. My friend was also having the same problems your describing and just as bad took his truck in and replaced his FICM and is #2 injector and now he is back in action as well.

 

As well -- there is a VERY specific diagnostic procedure for diagnosing coolant loss on the 6.0 that's been handed out by Ford.

They HOLD YOUR HAND to diagnose it. If they can't do that, you need to find another dealer. I realize that sometimes it is not as cut-and-dried as that, but it's really not that difficult to tee in a cooling system pressure gauge, road test the hell out of it, watch the scan tool, and pull a vacuum on the cooling system a couple of times.

Under warranty we're given 1.5 hours to diagnose it -- and it better be done right the first time.

Keep in mind that this is under warranty -- retail usually pays between 2-3 hours depending on how deep I gotta tear into it. I don't have to pull heads off or tear down the engine to any major extent to tell you if the heads are leaking, or where your coolant's going for the most part.

At your comment for $109 for diesel diag - that leads me to believe your dealer's shop rate is $109 an hour, so even at three, hell FOUR hours diagnosis -- you'd be into about $440, assuming you have a competent guy wrenching on it.

Just my .02

 

Oh and welcome to the site. I'm the BIG ANGRY HILLBILLY or as the ladies like to call me, "Hey you behind the bushes".

There's myself and a couple of other Ford guys, but they let us hang around anyway. Anyone who's name is in Gold and has a powerstroke truck in their sig or avatar is generally a moderator for the Ford section. We generally get picked on because we don't drive Dodges. See, being a Ford guy, I like to DRIVE my truck, not PUSH IT (Kidding Dodge guys, Kidding!)

There are some really knowledgeable guys on here, and most of them can likely recommend a competent dealer in your area.

And I have tools will travel.