2003 6.0 problem What could it be?

[jekl]

Got a 2003 6.0 that when driving normal not under any load runs great but the other day was pulling a trailer for the boy scouts and heard the sound of the engine start to change .Sounded like the fan was speeding up and slowing down then it would get louder and more constant. I could slow back down to around 55 mph and it would soon stop but if I sped back up to 70 mph it would start again. On the way home started to notice a faint smell of antifreeze.Stopped but couldn't find any leaks or anything wrong.Does anyone have a clue to what the problem could be? With no load will run fine but the trailer I was pulling was only about 3000 lbs.

the sound could have been the fan clutch kicking in and out, might be bad. just a thought off the top of my head, ill think about it more and check back in

[WEWILLE]

Probly fan, how does the truck run? What was the ambient temp in your area?

[jekl]

The temp was around 80 degrees. The truck ran fine but I've never heard the fan surge and constantly get louder. Then there was the smell of antifreeze, but no sign of any leak.

[fordfan30]

It is your turbo. I will trade you a 06 for your 03 "just to help you out". I don't have a better answer than what has already been given but here is a bump.

[mikeproc]

If i tow anything at 70 mph in the heat the trucks fan will surge like your saying. I only really noticed it if i was pulling up a decent hill. No smell of antifreeze though. I would check and see if the truck puked? But the fan noise is normal, smell not so normal. good luck

[2005F250]

Your EGR cooler is busted. I had the same thing happen on my truck. Fan screaming while towing and then the sweet smell of coolant. So I'm thinking EGR busted and oil cooler plugged.

[WEWILLE]

It sounds like it could be egr cooler, remove egr valve jack up the rear of the truck pressurize cooling system and see if there is coolant in intake manifold. As far as the oil cooler, whens the last time youve flushed your coolant? If so what kind of coolant did you use? See if there is evidence of coolant puking out of degass bottle. Any white smoke??

[fordfan30]

How hard is it to replace the egr cooler an oil cooler?

[97singlecab]

You can either pull the intake and take the egr cooler out the top. Or the way I do it that seems to be alot easier is pull the cab, then the up pipes and turbo take all the bolts loose in the intake lift it a small amount and pull the egr cooler out the back. Reverse to install, can be done in one day usually. I will tell you also that from my experience the egr cooler bursts do to overpressurizing of the coolant. So usually if the cooler is leaking so are the head gaskets. And if the cab is off already you might as well do them while your there and stud it. Of course all of this only works if you have a lift to use.