Wow I just screwed my cooling system up...

[Banshee365]

Man I really need some help here. My truck just did something worthy of a Darwin award. I was finishing installing a coolant filter today, trying to be preventative. I tore the seal off of the coolant jug to refill the system to capacity. I set the seal on the wiper cowl because I didn't want to just throw it on the ground. It's been windy in FL today and a gust of wind came by and PERFECTLY blew the jug seal into the degas bottle with the cap off while the truck was in high idle. I tried to fish it out but it disappeared. I shut the truck off afterwards and here I sit, wandering what just happened to my truck. I should have just threw the seal on the ground... Is there by chance a coarse strainer in the degas bottle or is this seal going to end up clogging my EGR or oil coolers or will it just end up in the radiator. I'd imagine it would be okay in the radiator. I can't believe this happened and I bet you guy's probably havn't seen this before.

How bad am I screwed, this truck is my baby...

[skanj0]

I'm guessing it's in the bottom of the degas bottle. Let the truck cool down and take a look. May need some of those "remote fingers" (used for retrieving dropped nuts, etc. from tight spaces) to retrieve it. Wost case pull the degas bottle and flush it out from the bottom.

[amdriven2liv]

It might just be stuck on the inside of degas. There are a lot of ribs and nook and crannied in the degas bottle. Real easy to remove the bottle. 3 hoses, and the two screws on the top. Hope it is in there. Good luck!

[Banshee365]

You guy's are dead on. I tried to post shortly after my first post but the internet died. I posted in panic being pretty sure that it ended up in the system since it the flow moves pretty good. I went right back outside and drained some coolant into a bucket and removed the degas bottle. I stuck a hose up the bottom of the bottle and slushed it around a bit. After some work the seal moved it's way back over under the cap and I was able to remove it. What a relief! That ruined my day when it went in but made my week when I layed eyes on it. I'm assuming if it would have wadded up and left the degas bottle it would have passed through the water pump and into the coolant passages in the engine then if it made it through there it may end up in the oil cooler. Scary thought to me... My truck has a 100% original motor with original EGR and Oil coolers, head gaskets & bolts, etc... I think you guy's are right about the baffles saving the seal from entering the system. I doubt there is a strainer in there but the baffles make it a pretty hard road for anything you drop in there to make it to the bottom exit.

Next time I'll just litter and pick it up later if I see it. Anywho the filter is finished up and when I cut into the heater hose tons of grit, sand, rust, and whatever else that's brown came out. I did a complet contaminated system flush by the TSB with Simple Green and VC-9 iron block cleaner and throught I had most of the stuff out. WRONG!! It seems to have only broken more deposits loose. I'll be changing the first filter in 500 miles at my oil change and cutting it open. I thought that was only necessary for a system that's never been touched but that is totally false. No matter how you flush it you need the filter if you want it anything else than filthy. The first few ounces out of the bottom of the radiator looked like coffee with grinds still in it!

[amdriven2liv]

whew, glad that didn't go any further! Sounds like you found a lot of junk in the coolant system. How was the bottom of the degas bottle? Mine was totally black and thick with crud and grit. Washed it out as much as I could.

Again, Glad you found it!

[WLDHRSE]

Glad that worked out for you. What year is your truck and how many miles? Just curious.

[Banshee365]

2005 w/ 85k miles.

[skanj0]

Glad to hear all turned out ok

[brob1969]

What brand of coolant filter did you use? I'm about to order one in addition to an oil bypass filter; trying to keep any unnecessary contaminants out of the system.

[amdriven2liv]

Originally Posted by brob1969

What brand of coolant filter did you use? I'm about to order one in addition to an oil bypass filter; trying to keep any unnecessary contaminants out of the system.

I bought the Dieselsite Coolant filter system. Also ordered extra filters to save on future shipping. Takes very little time to instal. I didn't buy their ball check valves, I built my own from parts from local plumping store. Took the filter bracket in and told them what I wanted.

http://www.dieselsite.com/index.asp?...ROD&ProdID=324


I will not put on oil bypass due to getting oil changed every 3k. That would be over kill on 3k changes I believe. (dealer gave me free oil changes 3mo/3k)