Nitrate test on 6.7 Ford diesel

[lakeside013104]

Anyone have experience testing for nitrates in the coolant system of the new 6.7 Ford diesels? Also I heard there are two separate coolant systems to test. How does one test both systems?

Lakeside

[wandering1]

What about the additive you put in the cooling system (not the coolant) to stop the cavatating of the water up the engine block walls that eats small pin holes through the engine block walls? This has always been a problem with diesel engines. Ford will not replace the engine when this happens if you havent been maintaining the additive in the cooling system.

[dbbls]

My dealer checks mine for free. If you get service at the dealer they will probably check your coolant for no charge.

[agesilaus]

Petcock? I'll be surprised if there is one, the manufacturers have eliminated those so far as I know. At least the F150 that we had didn't have one I haven't looked at my F350 for one.

I don't understand why they were eliminated, maybe they were prone to leaking? But if makes it a lot harder to drain the coolant, you have to take a hose off now.

[lakeside013104]

agesilaus wrote:
Ah I found it:

The tank is outboard of the air intake near the front driver side.

Thank you agesilaus and all the folks who replied to my questions.

I see there are two systems. Does each system have their own overflow tank or do they share the same tank? I have only located one o/tank under the hood.

Someone on a diesel forum said not to take the strip test out of the overflow tank, but to use the petcock at the bottom of each radiator. I am not sure where petcocks are or if it is o.k. to test from o/flow tank.

Lakeside

[agesilaus]

Ah I found it:

"Engine and secondary cooling system
The cooling system contains an engine cooling loop to cool the engine
and a secondary cooling loop to cool the transmission, exhaust gas
recirculation (EGR), charge air and fuel. The coolant serves three
primary purposes: to provide heat transfer, freeze point protection, and
corrosion protection using additives.
Vehicles with diesel engines typically are used to carry heavy loads and
accumulate mileage rapidly. These two factors may cause the additives in
the coolant to “wear out” in a shorter time. Refer to the Special
operating conditions section for more information about coolant
additives and coolant change intervals. Operating the engine with
insufficient coolant and/or coolant additive can cause severe engine
damage." from Diesel supplement

The tank is outboard of the air intake near the front driver side.

[jerem0621]

azchuckmo wrote:
Yes there is two cooling systems for the 6.7 engine Primary and Secondary and both need to be checked about every 15k miles.

I didn't think it was Primary and secondary

I thought one was for the engine cooling and the other was for the emissions system (egr and oil coolers)

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[azchuckmo]

Yes there is two cooling systems for the 6.7 engine Primary and Secondary and both need to be checked about every 15k miles.

[FishOnOne]

lakeside013104 wrote:
Anyone have experience testing for nitrates in the coolant system of the new 6.7 Ford diesels? Also I heard there are two separate coolant systems to test. How does one test both systems?

Lakeside

You can buy a kit from Acustrip under the Rotunda part number 328-071ELC which is formerly (328-00008).

[pa_traveler]

I had check coolant level appear on dash. Makes you want to address it. But I heard its just a reminder at around 15,000 miles. So I call dealer they took it in charged $60 and tested it with strips. I had it in there 2 weeks before and told them to check fluid levels change oil and both fuel filters,so I figured coolant level was okay,but how can you chance a problem with an expensive investment. Im no mechanic so I rely on them,this seemed like a waste of 3 hrs and $60 dollars making a second trip. I don't feel comfortable ignoring a message on dash. Oh Well.

[agesilaus]

I don't know about any second cooling system. The test is a dip strip test, they dip a chemically modified strip into some coolant and compare the resulting color to a color table. Like a pool pH test strip. You can buy the test kits:

Amazon

The price seems like a good deal compared to getting charged something, bound to be more than $14, at the dealer.