[rancholago]

The Truck;
06 f 350, 4.30 gears, 67000 miles, 2 wheel drive, Crew Cab. No problems with coolant loss, new ford degas bottle cap, runs good, ( just installed coolant filter) drained coolant had a brownish tint, but clear/clean.
The problem;
My deltas reach a high of 15*
When I first got the truck took it on the road for about 20 miles, at about 60mph the deltas were about 8*
Today I installed a new coolant filter, took it on the road for about 40 miles, drove 20 miles turned around and returned home. The road has some fairly good grades, light traffic, no wind, ambient temps were about 80* drove about 65 mph about 2200 rpm my deltas were pretty consistent at 12 to 13 degrees reaching 15 degree high. My oil temps reached 207* with coolant temps 15* lower. The high on coolant temps was about 203* On the return trip home the deltas reached 14* with them mostly staying about 10 to 12 degrees. The oil temps stayed below 206*
Notes; There is no coolant loss, no signs of coolant boiling over or over pressurizing the degas bottle, no residue around the cap, no leaks. If I drive slower, at about 55 mph my deltas stay in the 2 to 5 degrees.

I want to take the truck about 600 miles if i would not hurt it, but I do not know if these temps are a sure sign that I will have bigger problems on the trip. I have read that things can go down hill fast, all this reading has me freaked out little.
Any help will be appreciated

 

[bismic]

Sounds like you have some blockage starting on the coolant side of your oil cooler.

To answer your question, I would ask a few back ...

What coolant are you using?
When was it last changed and is it in good shape (different types of coolant require different maintenance plans)?
Does the coolant in the degas bottle look good (clear and free of solids)?

 

[rancholago]

Coolant is ford gold, it was pretty much clean and clear, with a tinge of brown. No idea when it was changed last, the best I could get from the dealer was it was changed not long ago. The degas bottle looks clean, clear with no solids.
I plan to do the flush/change after I make this 600 mile trip

 

[bismic]

Probably no worries for the trip then.

HOWEVER - most people say that the test for the "delta" is at 65 mph, on level ground (after the engine is fully warmed up). That test is fine, but a completely healthy system wont change that much when driving faster or even pulling a light load.

Ford has changed their recommendation on the Ford Gold. No more than 60k miles and then it needs to be flushed and new put in.

Most people change to an ELC coolant that is EC-1 rated. The proper ELC coolant is better due to less maintenance required and it stands up to the heat of EGR equipped engines.

Ford Gold is susceptible to coagulating and having silicate "drop-out" if it gets too hot or if it mixes with combustion gasses. Personally, I would change it out as soon as possible.

Lots of threads on flushing the cooling system. They don't drain well (a lot stays in the block) so it is a little more involved than you would think (and it is not recommended to mix different types of coolant).

 

[rancholago]

Thanks, I plan to change out all the fluids after I get home again.