coolant overflow...not radiator leak... - Diesel Forum

stunya · 05-17-2008, 04:23 PM

Hey all...have a question i hope you can help with. I was doing my first oil change today (4k miles) and i noticed that my coolant resovoir had some streaks of coolant that had dried to the side of it...

i thought no big deal...until i noticed that a good portion of the wiring on that side was coated in dried coolant and i found traces of dry coolant all the way back my framerail to about where the bed starts...

the level of the coolant is down about an inch from the cold fill line in the resovoir. I know for a fact that it was not overful from the dealer...i also know that i am a guage freak and i have never been in an overheat condition with the truck...so...that being said...does anyone have some ideas of what could have happened? has anyone seen this before?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

installking · 05-17-2008, 05:07 PM

had mine at the stealership a couple of weeks ago getting a couple things looked at and my first oil change. i had the same thing on mine and they told me it wast anything to worry about......mine has 7500 on the clock....ill just watch and see what happens

737tdi · 05-17-2008, 06:52 PM

I have read a few threads where the coolant resevoir was cracked at the seam between the top and bottom. Ford replaced the resevoir. I believe I have the same problem. The wiring harness under the resevoir is wet with coolant and have the same streaks on the frame. Just waiting for my first oil change to have it fixed. I won't accept the "that's not a problem answer", fluids leaking out of a vehicle has never been normal.

737tdi

stunya · 05-17-2008, 08:02 PM

thanks for the input...im going to have mine looked at ASAP...they better clean up the wiring loom as well...

installking · 05-17-2008, 11:06 PM

yeah i didnt like that answer either..i havnt had a chance but im going to a different dealer soon..and the coolant is clearly coming from the cap area not the seam...let us know what your dealer says so i can tell mine

CMB430 · 05-18-2008, 07:02 AM

I have over 18,600 miles on mine and no fluid leaks. I did however have some fluid vanish from the radiator and fuel cooler. Both resivoirs were a little short around 12,000 miles. The fuel cooler took a couple cap fulls and the radiator about 2" of fluid. Since then, nothing has changed. Check your cap as it is some special deal where it can not be over torqued.

FordNewbie · 05-18-2008, 08:42 PM

I have been seeing the same thing since the truck was 2 days old. I have cleaned up the area twice and it has returned. It is definitely not coming from the seam. I, too, have been monitoring closely. I have not been back to the dealer because the total quantity lost has also been extremely low. I will be watching this thread closely, please let us know if anyone finds the source of the problem. I will be sure to post if I get my issue resolved.

Lee

rlchv70 · 05-19-2008, 07:02 AM

Could be a number of things. I'll list some possibilities:

Bad pressure cap
cracked bottle
EGR cooler leak (overpressurises cooling system)
Head gasket (not likely - 6.4Ls have been pretty good)
thermostats (leads to pressure fluctuations in the coolant)

stunya · 05-19-2008, 09:23 PM

took to the dealer today...not real confident they will actually find a problem...will post results tomorrow...

stumppuller08 · 05-20-2008, 09:26 AM

I had my resevoir replaced. It had a crack at the seam. Same symptoms as posted above. I looked at my level last night and it was just at the bottom of the cold fill mark. Saw a little dried coolant/water on the side of the resevoir.

My gut tells me that it is seeping from the cap. I wouldn't be surprised to see a bulletin come out in the future requiring replacement of the cap with an 'improved' design. Something is not right.

dit6_4 · 05-20-2008, 06:44 PM

Same thing here. I have noticed this since day one and have been monitoring it. I need to clean it off and see what happens.

stunya · 05-21-2008, 07:12 AM

well...they told me they could not recreate the problem (duh). So they decided not to top of the fluid (its about an inch low) and said bring it back if it happens again. I asked them to give me a new cap and clean the engine bay...so well see what happens next.

dit6_4 · 05-23-2008, 06:40 AM

There is an SSM on this. I need to run OASIS and then I will post it on here! It does not mention anything about replacing parts though.

737tdi · 05-24-2008, 02:34 AM

Hey darling: It's nothing to do with the cap. It is failing at the plastic weld. If, it's and candy or nut's. It's failing at the seam. I seem to remember a member talking about this. Oh Yeah: It was me. Replace and go on.

737tdi: