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Replaced oil cooler still difference in temps

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382K views 645 replies 109 participants last post by  6riders  
#1 ·
This past weekend I replaced my oil cooler with a new oil cooler kit. Prior to the replacement my Edge Insight read 180-183 degrees ECT and 220-245 degrees EOT cruising at 65 on the highway. EOT would go up and not down.

Yesterday I went on a 1 hour trip and my ECT was 180 and my EOT was running 195-201. I am happy with the EOT temperatures, I think that they are well within normal, and the EOT's would go up and down as I would think they should. This leads me to my question.

I don't think that 180-183 is good for my ECT, I would expect to see 190-195 right? If that's the case, and assuming that my brand new oil cooler isn't defective, why the low coolant temperatures.

I did not replace the thermostat during my repairs, I did flush the entire system with VC-9 and added the appropriate amount of G-05 and distilled water. During my trip I kept an eye on the Edge and the ECT never got above 183 even when pushing it going up a hill. I'm thinking the following an need others experience:

1. Bad ECT sensor
2. Bad thermostat
3. Maybe the ECU flash level I am on (the one that buzzes the injectors after shutdown) misrepresents ECT.
 
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#2 ·
Your ECT's are normal. I would be concerned about you EOT's. They are high, even though you just did your oil cooler. Something isn't right there. Just cruising with those ECT's your EOT's shouldn't be over 190.
 
#3 ·
possible but if it is running 183 and not a sensor issues why would you want it to run hotter?colder is happier right?
 
#4 · (Edited)
It's not that I want my ECT to be higher, I just want them to be more in sync with each other, and searching I see that a lot of guys are running about 190 on the coolant temperatures.

So if the coolant temperatures sound normal, what would make the EOT higher? I don't suspect the oil cooler, it has about 200 miles or so on it.

Oh and the reason I thought 180 was low is posts like this one. also in TSB 09-08-03, it states that in order to get an accurate differential between ECT and EOT, the coolant temperature should be 190 or greater. It makes me wonder if my coolant temperature was 190, would my oil temps be even higher, or does my truck just like the oil temperature to be in the 190's?
 
#5 ·
I just had my oil cooler replaced 2 weeks ago also. my EOT was almost 233 and my ECT was 208. called my friend at ford and was told my oil cooler was bad. took it in and they checked my coolant, replaced the oil cooler and give my truck 4 new flashes. was told that the EOT and the ECT should be no more than 15 degrees between them. anything more and you have problems.
 
#6 ·
What is your ECT and EOT's now after the replacement?
 
#7 ·
Do you still have the EGR cooler in place?
Maybe the coolant passages in the EGR cooler are plugged and not letting enough water flow through the oil cooler?
Would this cause the oil outlet temp to be high?
 
#12 ·
This is a good question, yes I left my EGR cooler alone. When it was out, I flushed it with tap water from the hose then with compressed air to remove anything that was in there. It seemed to flow fine, but I have no reference point.

I'm going to go to the dealer today to get a new thermostat. This is my first Powerstroke so what is normal or not is difficult for me since I don't have any reference points. I do think that it takes a long time to warm up, but I just attributed that to being a Diesel. In any event, the TSB says to get an accurate measurement of the difference for the ECT to be 190, then that's what I'll do and report back.

I appreciate the help and suggestions.
 
#8 ·
It may be time to look at external issues. Bent over fins on the radiator and the other coolers (restricted air flow) causeing water temps to be above normal. If the differential between the cooling media and the agent needing cooling is not enough you will increase temps in all the associated fluids. Also viseversa if one or more of the other fluids being cooled is above norm it can gradually decrease efficency. Clutch fan not working properly etc.
 
#10 ·
But the coolant temperatures are 180, what could I check for oil temperatures?

I think that the heat in the winter stinks. Maybe I'll replace the thermostat and see what happens, what do I have to lose right?
 
#13 ·
Yep, sounds like your thermostat to me.
 
#14 ·
Well, new thermostat is in, and the truck is getting to 190 easily now. Here's my new numbers:

58°F Amb / 55 mph / 190°F ECT / 209.8°F EOT / 150.2°F Trans
58°F Amb / 30 mph / 190°F ECT / 207.0°F EOT / 150.2°F Trans

I'm wondering if I got a bad oil cooler somehow? I would hate like heck to experiment by buying another oil cooler, I really don't want to go through that again! Maybe a bad oil temp sending unit? I'm at a loss here.
 
#15 ·
Hmmm. Perfect on the ECT side and hot on the EOT side with a new oil cooler. I'm now wondering about LPOP volume since the oil cooler is presumed to be good. I have never heard of a bad oil temp sending unit, although I am sure they fail but I would expect to not read anything as opposed to being higher than normal.
 
#16 · (Edited)
oops I miss-typed. The tsb says above 190, but your results are accurate enough. 3 degrees on ect ain't gonna change it significantly. You should let your truck sit overnight and then with a cold motor see if your oil temp matches your coolant temp before you start it. That would be the only way to tell if the sensor was actually bad without just replacing it.
 
#17 ·
I'll check the numbers in the morning. I'm at a complete loss what could be going on. I did get the oil cooler core off of ebay, but it came in a ford box with the sealed gasket parts. The cooler looked brand new, there is no reason for me to think otherwise. I sure don't want to tear this apart again, I didn't enjoy it the first time at all!
 
#19 ·
Yes, the screen, turbo drain tube and fuel regulator were replaced. The old screen was torn but complete.
 
#20 ·
Without running the truck, Sun still down:

ECT bounced between 52 and 54 (on the edge)
EOT was 55
Trans 52
 
#22 ·
Checked again before taking off for the morning:
ECT was 50
EOT was 52.3
Trans 49.2
 
#24 ·
I would suspect a software glitch/error since all of those posting had the lights comeing on but were not actually showing symptoms of the problems the codes reported.
This will be something corrected in a later flash I will bet.
 
#25 ·
For me, I'm on an older flash, the one that buzzes the injectors after shutdown for 30 seconds.
 
#26 ·
Has anyone had their EOT sensor go bad? Although not the same, my wife has a Cherokee with overhead temperature display. The sensor is bad on that and it registers low, perhaps the oil temp sensor is bad? Anyone have one go bad yet?
 
#27 ·
Try changing your low pressure oil pump that feeds the high pressure oil pump. I had that happen on mine. Changed it and the chip works great now. I hope this will help you out.

2001 XLT 7.3 with 100HP chip
 
#31 ·
Not sure that there's an oil pressure problem, was your low pressure too high? Also, I don't have a chip or tuner, completely stock.

Today's numbers:

Ambient - 45
Coolant - 46
Oil temp - 47.9
Trans - 45

Here's my parts list for the oil cooler project:
3C3Z-6A642-CA Oil Cooler Kit
3C3Z-6C683-AB HPOP Screen
3C3Z-9433-BE Intake Gasket Kit (Includes Turbo hardware)
3C3Z-9T517-AG Fuel Pump Regulator Kit
6C3Z-9T515-A Turbo Drain Tube
3C3Z-8575-AA Thermostat

Oil & Filter Rotella T6 (4 gallons) & Filter
AntiFreeze Zerex G-05 (4 gallons)
FD-4604 Fuel Filters
Water Filter Diselsite Filter +3 filters
VC-9 Radiator Rust Flush (2-Quarts)