Coolant loss with no leak....

[sea71]

Hey Folks, been awhile since Ive been active here, but I am cross eyed from reading, so i decided to post and and hope. Sold my 02 a few weeks ago and bought a 2011 with 54k on it. 2nd day I smelled coolant. Took to dealer. He pressure tested and no leaks. Radiator crimps are good, water pump is good. ZERO visable leak. He marked degas bottle. I drove 40 ish miles that evening. Next morning, inch low. Carried back, and he calls a few hours later. "I was standing at the front of your truck with hood up and caught it. I actually saw the degas bottle "burp" and then i smelled it". So he starts with pressure testing and makes the bottle repeat the burp. He flags Ford, and starts following their guide. Tested egr "system" and said held without a single inch loss in pressure for 10 mins. After a few more tests, He said the secondary cooling side is eliminated, and Ford is eyeing the primary side which He then said is either the timing cover or cylinder heads. At present time, they have been waiting on a tool and kit due tomorrow to test for exhaust gas residue in coolant bottle. He says if test fails, Ford says start tearing down. I personally am not interested in a truck that has to have the cylinder heads removed at 50k, but I have no choice. I am not even close to knowing what I need to know about this engine as i was my 7.3. Does all this info sound up to par, and is there some other way for the degas bottle to be pressurizing and losing coolant? I had the truck 1 day since i bought it and they have had it the rest. Thanks in advance for any technical info you have.

[Rob]

I know you've mentioned you have no interest if the heads come off, BUT, if that has to happen, make sure they check them over.. make sure they are not warped. Also, their work will be warrantied also, not only by the remaining power train warranty, but by the dealership itself. Hopefully that will give you some reassurance with head removal if that happens.

[sea71]

Good news is that the leak FINALLY showed up after overnight pressurization- its the radiator. Bad news is the selling dealer wants to only pay a portion. Mind you I bought on the 9th and trucks been in since 11th.









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[richc22a]

BEFORE !!!!!!!

I would have my radiator replaced, I would have them check the water inlet connection at the turbo. I lost coolant and smelled antifreeze for a year. I added almost a gallon at one point. When cold I noticed antifreeze dripping from the rear of the block, when warm... no leak.

The Ford shop told I needed a radiator and the water inlet fixed at the turbo. I asked them why the radiator. They stated they noticed 'water marks' on the side. I requested they limit their repairs to the turbo inlet. They did, problem solved. Radiator never has shown a drip. Just my .02 cents.

The water inlet is a quick connect type fitting that when warm seals up, and evaporates the coolant that seeps prior to becoming a noticable leak.

Good Luck

[Six0~Stroker]

I would be very mad if I bought such a new truck from them and three days later something like this would have happened

[richc22a]

EDIT!!

If they did find a coolant leak at the radiator, I would want to see it, not being cynical but after being told I needed over $2k in repairs for a coolant leak (radiator/turbo water inlet/brakes) I felt that I needed to slow this process down. The dealers are amping up their ads, going after the maintainance market which is fine. Unneccessary repairs are my concern...

And I agree with Six-Stroker, buying a product on good faith, and being asked for more $$$!!! After hardly driving it would cause me to discuss refund and another shopping trip.

[sea71]

Thanks for the replies and the info on the turbo water inlet. After MUCH trial and tribulation today between me and selling dealer, they are overnighting me a check for radiator replacement,labor and diagnostics- $1946.50. I will have no out of pocket on this. THANK YOU LORD!!!!! I am still very interested in this turbo inlet connection. There are absolutely no signs of a leak anywhere on,under etc this engine. Only showed a quarter sized drip after being held at pressure over night. Supposed to pick truck up in a little while, and will look at old radiator then.

[richc22a]

I was puzzled over a year. Smelled antifreeze, no leak. At 100,000 miles plus noted water on the concrete at the rear of the engine. Oil and water looked good, a bit nervous without a warranty. Local mechanic could not locate the source. Ford shop KNEW right where to look. It is a kwik connect type fitting, it is not a major issue, it will seep, seal then leak. I never worried as temps stayed normal, I put it in engineering test mode to watch a digital read out on the dash (hold down arrow on steering wheel when starting) and never saw a spike in temps. This truck is awesome, pulls, works, gives good economy and looks good doing it. No complaints.

[sea71]

Here is the culprit. Glad its sitting on the shop floor and not in my truck anymore.