[iman1120]

Hello all. I bought a nice 2003 Excursion 4x4 6.0L about a month ago. Have been loving it so far. Great fuel economy, fun to drive, so much room, etc. Well, I pulled my boat to the coast and and back this weekend. Everything was going great, even getting pretty good fuel economy towing Approx. 7K lb boat & trailer. On the return trip, I was driving along and the motor suddenly just stopped running. I was at highway speed, so I just coasted and pulled over to the side of the road. Engine started right back up, there were no indications of anything abnormal on engine gauges, so I completed my trip. When I got home, I opened the hood and saw this what is in the pictures below.


What does this mean and what should I do from here?

 

[azkcr]

Have you checked the CEL???

It looks like it probably has a clogged oil cooler. That could be why it boiled over.
As for it turning off, I dunno. Possibly got too hot or maybe it has a ruptured EGR cooler and sucking coolant.

First thing would be to check that CEL and have it hooked to a computer that will read everything.
Like coolant and oil temps. If you are cruising the highway and the oil is 15-20*F hotter than the coolant, it is most likely a clogged oil cooler

Pull the EGR valve and check for moisture if you're concerned about possible blown HGs.
If it's dry, you're most likely safe. If it's wet, it's possible they're blown.


But DO NOT drive it until you check for moisture at least. If it has a ruptured EGR cooler and is sucking coolant, you will blow your HGs eventually.

 

[korterman1]

how did you take a picture of my engine:hehe: mine was verified to be the EGR not head gaskets. evidently when you have a head gasket issue the degas bottle (coolant over flow bottle) blows out. did the EGR cooler delete, replaced the oil cooler upgraded coolant elc cat1, EGR valve rebuild, fpr spring. what a difference in performance of truck. :icon_ford:

 

[NYC F-350]

To give a better check for the egr cooler failure, park the truck on an incline, nose down, remove egr valve and leave it like that for a few hours. If you see moisture in the bottom of the hole, your egr cooler has failed.
This does not mean that your head gaskets are gone....yet.
It is possible, but if this just happened, you are probably safe.
Park the truck. Your chances of popping a head gasket go up every time you drive it.
There are a few links in my signature that I would like to point out that will give you plenty of information about your truck, what you need to do before you tear into it and even a step-by-step "how to" for the repair.
The first link, "basic info" will give you some important info you need to know as a 6.0 owner.
The second is about flushing your cooling system. This should be done prior to repairing your truck. Even if you are not going to repair the truck yourself, you should do the flush yourself. Remember that nobody cares about your truck more than you do. You will not get any garage to do the type of flush that is outlined in the link. The flush in the link will give you the best chance of cleaning out the junk that can plug up your new oil cooler. (you can disregard the "reverse flushing" part of the document, as this will not help your situation)
The third link is the "how to" replace your oil cooler and egr cooler (or delete the egr cooler). There are part numbers, where to get those parts cheaper than your local Ford dealer, a few parts to consider upgrading, a few tips and 3 pdf files needed for the repair. (intake manifold remove/replace, turbo remove/replace and oil cooler remove/replace)

 

[Fishermedic]

Have you checked the CEL???

It looks like it probably has a clogged oil cooler. That could be why it boiled over.
As for it turning off, I dunno. Possibly got too hot or maybe it has a ruptured EGR cooler and sucking coolant.

First thing would be to check that CEL and have it hooked to a computer that will read everything.
Like coolant and oil temps. If you are cruising the highway and the oil is 15-20*F hotter than the coolant, it is most likely a clogged oil cooler

Pull the EGR valve and check for moisture if you're concerned about possible blown HGs.
If it's dry, you're most likely safe. If it's wet, it's possible they're blown.


But DO NOT drive it until you check for moisture at least. If it has a ruptured EGR cooler and is sucking coolant, you will blow your HGs eventually.

:ORG welcome: iman1120

azkcr is saying get yourself a scangauge or edge insight. These will allow you to see the actual temperatures, boost numbers, voltages etc. as well as reading the code(s) for your CEL (check engine light). This little monitor will save you a ton of money as well as your truck. Here's an example... or three!

I got mine before I bought the Ex. I used it on the test drive and new that I would be doing the oil cooler and EGR when I got the truck home (my oil and coolant temps were 20-25* apart). Just a few weeks ago my battery voltage wasn't coming up as quickly as it should after starting, I had a loose battery connection. I would never have looked at the batteries if the insight didn't tell me to. It's also telling me my FICM is on it's way out. My FICMV drops to 42-45 volts on a cold start. Comes right back up to 48 after a minute or two and I have no other issues (no smoke, hard starts, misses, nothing). Without the insight I would have no idea and if it's left long enough the low voltage on the FICM will start toasting injectors. I'll save myself the headache and a lot of money by changing it now.

As for what to do now... check under the EGR valve for wettness like the others have said.

It's the small black top beside the oil filter housing with the pink dot on it. Take the bolts out and pull it straight up, you don't want to pinch the valve hanging off the bottom.

Get the insight (or scangauge) and check your EOT and ECT on a flat section of highway at 65 with the truck at operating temp (ECT 190*). If the temps are >15* apart you need to do the oil cooler and since you're there the EGR.

There is a whole list of other upgraded parts to replace if your going in that far (I think I did most of them when I did my oil/EGR coolers, they're in my sig) but I'd figure out what NEEDS to be done first.

Good luck! I absolutely love my Excursion and after wrenching on it I love it even more! :dunno:

 

[Cobalt Ford]

So there isn't a gasket associated with the EGR valve that one has to replace when taking it off to check for moisture?

:dunno:

 

[amdriven2liv]

Yes there is, you can get it at Ford or International:


EGR O-ring AND gasket kit number is Ford 3C3Z-9P455-AB or International # 1840778C92; EGR bolts are torqued to 13 Nm

 

[azkcr]

No. You don't always need to replace it.
Since yours is old, you might need to replace the o-rings.

azkcr is saying get yourself a scangauge or edge insight

Ya, I don't usually type all of what is going through my head like I should. NYC knows that first hand. :doh: My bad. :hehe:

 

[NYC F-350]

Ya, I don't usually type all of what is going through my head like I should. NYC knows that first hand. :doh: My bad. :hehe:

That made me :hehe: a little

 

[iman1120]

Ok guys. Thanks so much for the replies. I am doing some reading and will check the EGR valve for wetness and go from there. Any thoughts on whether it's generally preferable to replace EGR or install an EGR delete kit? Also, on a side note, the check engine light went off on its own. Maybe that's some good news? Thanks again.

 

[NYC F-350]

Check your local and state laws regarding emissions testing for diesels.
Then watch your state legislature for upcoming changes...
Then decide if you want to do it.

 

[iman1120]

OK, very well said NYC. Thanks.

 

[Fishermedic]

Ok guys. Thanks so much for the replies. I am doing some reading and will check the EGR valve for wetness and go from there. Any thoughts on whether it's generally preferable to replace EGR or install an EGR delete kit?

If you can/want to delete it that's probably the best option. If it's not there it can't cause you any more trouble. I replaced mine with one from Bullet Proof Diesel, the same price as deleting it. I know that reducing my emissions isn't going to have a big impact in the big picture but that's my choice. On top of that if I need to sell the truck down the road emissions won't matter.

Also, on a side note, the check engine light went off on its own. Maybe that's some good news? Thanks again.

Maybe... Maybe the truck is trying to tell you something. I think it was NYC that compared the 6.0 to a woman (his wording was better than mine and this is what I remember of it). Your truck is like a woman, she'll give you subtle hints that something is wrong. If you ignore them she'll give you bigger hints. If you continue to ignore them eventually she'll leave you standing on the side of the road broke. I think your good news is that the problem isn't as big as it will be, but I'm a rookie at this and still have a lot to learn.

I'm sure others will chime in as well.

 

[Ronisonce]

Best analogy for a 6.0 I've ever heard.

 

[Buzzyt517]

:agree: Couldn't word it better if ya tried. Maybe thats why my truck has a womans name.

 

[ckyguy68]

ding ding ding. we have a winner. Yea it looks like your HGs are blown. Time for ARP studs and all the otehr goodies. Look into replacing the STC fitting with the updated one and the turbo drain tube. Also get new stand pipes and dummy plugs for your oil rails.