[XIntel007]

Well I didn't even make it a week with my Extreme Street tunes before the dreaded whistle started. I always let it warm up to 180 degrees before getting on it but I half expected this would happen given the problems everyone else has had with these trucks. I can't say I am surprised.

I am trying to remember what others have said about this but I believe it is proof positive the head gaskets have gone. Is that true?

Next question, anyone have a dealer in Northern VA they like? Sheehy provided the best service on my 5.4L but I don't know how their diesel techs are. They also used to be mod friendly.

 

[mylesdixon]

I had similar experience, mine started puking only while heavy towing in hot weather. Now that I'm running extreme street, she pukes frequently under normal driving. I did the up-pipe mod from Elite which did not help the puking out the dugas, but still needed to be done
I'm putting in ARP studs, checking the heads and OEM head gasket next week. Also 3 pilar Autometer gauges to check EGT, trans temp and boost. ... Great truck crippled by the weak EGR system and weak head bolts. Stock trucks can puke under heavy towing, but it seems that the more aggresive tunes increase the odds. That said, i won't go back to a stock program now that i have had Erics tunes

 

[Ford4Eva]

Can you describe this whistle?

My truck just recently started making a somewhat high-pitched noise at high PSI. It doesn't look like it's puked at all, so I'm thinking it's the turbo rather than the headgaskets.

 

[XIntel007]

There have been developments since then. The SCT tunes shut off the EGR valve but the exhaust still flows past it. Under high boost (>25 psi) it will sometimes flash boil. That boiling occurs for a moment but the coolant none the less it has to go somewhere. My coolant bottle started off about an inch over the "min" line. It is now an inch below the "min" line. I contacted Innovative and Eric told me what was happening. He also suggested that I replace the coolant cap and make sure the coolant was about an inch below the "min" line. Well, he was right. I have had no problems since.

The sound was a high pitch whistle that sounded like it was coming from the coolant resevior. When I heard it there was no confusion as to what it was. There was only a little bit of collant arround the bottle but there was some. It tended to only happen at 60 mph or more under medium throttle.

 

[theclient]

Is your coolant level dropping, it can only go a couple of places (out the tailpipe or in the oil)? If not then I would say not head gaskets. Do a preasure test on the cooling system which will tell you for sure.

 

[XIntel007]

Nope, Eric from Innovative said the level in the bottle should be about one inch below the "low" line and that would give the expanding gasses enough room without blowing coolant out. He was right. It blew coolant until it was one inch below the line and hasn't dropped any more. Everything seems to be fine.

 

[trailerlugging]

Ford was to place stickers on a few model years that lowered the coolant level by just about one inch, if the truck was never in for service or the engine was pressure/steam washed then the sticker either was never put on or it came off.

 

[XIntel007]

Good to know.

 

[Strokin' 6.0]

The new degas bottles will have the new "Max" line on it now too, in addition to the sticker, which will tell you both the "Min" and "Max". I just replaced mine and the cap, because the original had some casting sand that just did not want to flush out, and the bottle was turning opaque, and I like to see how clean my coolant is.

 

[lubbockguy1979]

The 08-09 degas cap is said to be a better design. I have it as mine was whistling. I replaced ic boots first then heard about the degas cap tried it. Haven't had a issue and wasn't loosing coolant or puking before this. It fixed the issue that was 2 months ago. Even with hot tunes no puking

 

[dennisj2003]

I was having the same problem, and finnally left the coolant about one inch below the min line, it quit puking but still whistled, I bought a new cap and stopped the whistle, also added a little more coolant and so far no more puking or whistle.:thumbsup:

 

[NMPOWER]

The 08-09 degas cap is said to be a better design. I have it as mine was whistling. I replaced ic boots first then heard about the degas cap tried it. Haven't had a issue and wasn't loosing coolant or puking before this. It fixed the issue that was 2 months ago. Even with hot tunes no puking

I noticed you have an 04... My question is that the 08-09 caps fit on our degas tanks??