All,
I am experiencing a low coolant issue on my 18 F150 platinum with 63k miles. Here is the timeline of what happened.

Sunday, temps about 70 sunny. The Radiator fans are running on overdrive. The temp guage shows 230+. checked the coolant level in the reservoir, almost nothing. Waited to cool the truck down and filled it with approved coolant.
Monday, topped off the coolant
Tuesday, the coolant level is down about 1/4 inch.
Wednesday, the coolant level is down another 1/4 inch.
Thursday, the coolant level is down another 1/4 inch.

I suspected a leak, but I have not seen a leak under the truck for 4 days. Also, looked under the hood and no obvious signs of leak.

What should I do? Take it to a mechanic and have them check it out. Any recommendations for repair shop in Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Appreciate the help.

Sanjay

 

If you didn't put a vacuum on the coolant system after adding coolant, it's going to expel some air and suck in a bit of coolant each time you drive it. There are cavities for air in the engine that even just driving won't remove, so you should do it or get it done. If you go to get it done, they can perform a leak test.

I don't know what year they switched... if the coolant that was in your resevoir was pink, you should do a complete flush with the new yellow coolant. The pink stuff clogs up the radiator when exposed to air for a time.

 

The coolant is orange. What do you recommend I get done?
I will keep monitoring the level and see if it stabilizes, then take a call on whether to take it to a mechanic for a leak test.

 

Can you clarify some details:

- prior to running hot: any issues with coolant level dropping?

- prior to running hot, had you recently done any work or changes to cooling system (ie Thermostat or coolant change)??

- what does 230*+ mean? 230 or some unknown temp above 230?

- since running hot have you noticed any change in smoke or odors out of tailpipe?

- any idea why it ran hot that day?

 

That's a lot of detail for a very short "timeline". What happened in the 63K miles before this week?

What engine?

 

I would recommend you have them flush and swap in the replacement coolant. They will pull a vacuum when doing it to remove air from the system.

 

Prior to this happening, I never even paid attention to the coolant levels. No work was done on the cooling system. 230 degrees F. I wish I knew why it was running hot that day.

 

63k miles before this, there was really no issue. Always had regular maintenance done and never really looked under the hood. 3.5L ecoboost.

 

Do you know a website where I can search for quality shop? I have never kept my cars for long, so I don't know where to go.

Also, is removing the air a big deal. Even the ford owners manual states that you can just top up the coolant when needed with out mentioning pulling a vaccum.

 

If you've got the old orange coolant (mine looks pink), stuff precipitates out of it when exposed to air that forms a gel that will clog your radiator and heater core. If you're not going to pull a vacuum, flush and put the yellow coolant in.

There have been a number of posts about overheating that were resolved once the owner did the proper procedure for pulling air out of the system, I wouldn't leave it to engine cycling no matter what the manual says. Voids aren't good for modern engines that are striving to pull as much power as possible out of as small an engine size as possible. Voids cause temperature differentials in the metal, and that's never good when a lot of heat is being created.