In 2012 I had most of the updates done on one of my trucks except for headstuds. The stand pipes, dummy plugs, pressure sprint, EGR delete, etc. were all done along with new STC fittings, CAC hoses, new oil cooler, etc. Coolant filter installed prior to that work and a bypass oil system installed at the same time as the work. I have a Edge CTS with an EGT probe to monitor temps. The shop that did the work installed new Ford Gold after doing the work. It's now 4 years and 50,000 miles later. My delta's are fine, though I need to put in a new thermostat because my ECT isn't getting above 175 so I am assuming it's failed open.
The truck has 160k on it. Blackstone oil analysis has been great. The factory head studs were replaced under warranty at about 30k miles and I haven't had a problem since.
I'm wondering if I should leave well enough alone, or given the miles since the head studs were replaced if I'm over due for a head gasket leak due to the studs? Some time in the next week I'm planning to at least drain the cooling system and flush it out a few times with distilled water and replace the coolant filter. Thinking the common wisdom is to use a ELC coolant? I talked with Rob at Fleet Services NW the other day and he said Caterpillar published a report that using distilled water in cooling systems is no longer recommended. I've been using distilled for years (and I'm a fleet owner) so not sure what to think about that? He has worked on a lot of 6.0's and says he just flushes them out with a garden hose and replaces the coolant mixed with tap water.
My quandary is whether or not I should have ARP head studs put in as a preventative measure, though my truck has made it 130 since they were replaced with no problems. If I'm getting the head studs done I'm thinking about having a Bulletproof Diesel Air/Oil cooler with the thermostat installed at the same time, just so I know I won't have to replace another factory oil cooler, but I'm wondering if that's overkill?
What's the collective wisdom? Flush out the Ford Gold and replace with ELC and then do/don't do ARP's and do/don't do the external oil cooler?
Thanks for any thoughts or advice.
The truck has 160k on it. Blackstone oil analysis has been great. The factory head studs were replaced under warranty at about 30k miles and I haven't had a problem since.
I'm wondering if I should leave well enough alone, or given the miles since the head studs were replaced if I'm over due for a head gasket leak due to the studs? Some time in the next week I'm planning to at least drain the cooling system and flush it out a few times with distilled water and replace the coolant filter. Thinking the common wisdom is to use a ELC coolant? I talked with Rob at Fleet Services NW the other day and he said Caterpillar published a report that using distilled water in cooling systems is no longer recommended. I've been using distilled for years (and I'm a fleet owner) so not sure what to think about that? He has worked on a lot of 6.0's and says he just flushes them out with a garden hose and replaces the coolant mixed with tap water.
My quandary is whether or not I should have ARP head studs put in as a preventative measure, though my truck has made it 130 since they were replaced with no problems. If I'm getting the head studs done I'm thinking about having a Bulletproof Diesel Air/Oil cooler with the thermostat installed at the same time, just so I know I won't have to replace another factory oil cooler, but I'm wondering if that's overkill?
What's the collective wisdom? Flush out the Ford Gold and replace with ELC and then do/don't do ARP's and do/don't do the external oil cooler?
Thanks for any thoughts or advice.