6.2 Ford F-250 engine coolant,

09 arctic cat m8

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Hey guys is it normal to see engine coolant reservoir almost empty!? I’ve never filled or topped it off and it’s always been within range, I do pull with it and haul but tonight I noticed it was near empty, has anyone else had this!? Without there being a issue with the motor or leaking!?
 

Cdnfireman

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Hey guys is it normal to see engine coolant reservoir almost empty!? I’ve never filled or topped it off and it’s always been within range, I do pull with it and haul but tonight I noticed it was near empty, has anyone else had this!? Without there being a issue with the motor or leaking!?

Not unusual to see it fluctuate a bit but shouldn’t be empty. Check underneath for a puddle. How long has it been since you checked it?
 

09 arctic cat m8

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Maybe a month or two I notice it, but tonight it was emptier still some fluid in bottom but couldn't see it through plastic it wasn't bone dry I guess
 

Cdnfireman

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If there’s no noticeable leak just fill it to the line and keep an eye on it. What year truck and how many km’s?
 

LUCKY 7

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my Tundra had reservior going down a bit too. Turned out my rad and water pump had issues. Replaced both items. All good now. I was more than glad it wasn't a engine issue
 

tex78

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Some of these, when cold or hot under psi the fluid drops way lower in the tank, but crack the cap and release the psi and it comes back up to the top

If it drops farther down, you got a leak
 

09 arctic cat m8

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If there’s no noticeable leak just fill it to the line and keep an eye on it. What year truck and how many km’s?

Its a 2011 with 130,000 on it and I’ll definitley Keep an eye on it I’ve never noticed it running hot or leaking on my driveway,so maybe it’s just simply low
 

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Here is the deal, antifreeze is a mixture of water and glycol. In time the water will evaporate but not the glycol thus why in time the cooling system in your truck appears low. Always top up with water only, most people make the mistake of topping up with more coolant(glycol). The problem with that is glycol is extremely corrosive and with out water mixture can severely damage an engine through electrolysis, especially aluminum. Adding more antifreeze(glycol) amplifies the strength and corrosionist of the cooling system.

What to do is top up your cooling system and make note on how much it takes to top up. Note the date you top up, in most driving condition the system will loose water in about 3-4months of average driving. If you find your self topping up a week later, it has a leak. You can run a system pressure test to find the leak.
 

tex78

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Here is the deal, antifreeze is a mixture of water and glycol. In time the water will evaporate but not the glycol thus why in time the cooling system in your truck appears low. Always top up with water only, most people make the mistake of topping up with more coolant(glycol). The problem with that is glycol is extremely corrosive and with out water mixture can severely damage an engine through electrolysis, especially aluminum. Adding more antifreeze(glycol) amplifies the strength and corrosionist of the cooling system.

What to do is top up your cooling system and make note on how much it takes to top up. Note the date you top up, in most driving condition the system will loose water in about 3-4months of average driving. If you find your self topping up a week later, it has a leak. You can run a system pressure test to find the leak.
The new stuff isn't like the old green crap tho, it's not even close to as corrosive

That's why it's lasts so long
 

Cdnfireman

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I’d take the cap from your degas bottle into partsource or Napa or somewhere they can test its function. Replace it if it’s not working properly. Ford sells a 50-50 prediluted antifreeze mix that you can fill up your degas bottle with. I’d fill it halfway from where it is now to the cold fill line and watch the level for a week or so. If it stays at that level ok I’d fill it the rest of the way to the cold fill line. Assuming you’ve never messed with the coolant it came from the factory with a 50-50 mix. Topping it off with the ford premix is the way to go to maintain the 50-50 ratio.
 

09 arctic cat m8

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Thanks so much everyone got some at ford today, and gonna pour some in gonna check for leaks but I’ve never noticed any, I’ve never filled it since factory, but gonna see what happens
 

Lund

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Either way, antifreeze does not evaporate but it is the water content that evaporates out of a cooling system. So if you have a 50/50 mix and evaporate 30% of the water content your now left with a 80/20 mix. Adding more antifreeze mix will offset the 50/50 mixture, generally just adding water will retain the 50/50 mixture.
The exception to this is if there is an actual leak where coolant is physically lost. People have been so accustom/brain washed by industry to add antifreeze that they don't understand the physic's behind it. Even shops do this customary thing of topping with anti freeze...great way to make sales.
In addition the cooling system should be checked yearly for proper operation and coolant strength. A recommended cooling system flush and antifreeze replacement is also good practice to prevent internal corrosion as per manufactures recommendation's and driving habits.
 

09 arctic cat m8

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Well I topped it off, I don’t see any signs of leaks, there’s none in my oil, I’ve had the truck since 42,000km and now have 132,000 on it in them amount of kms I’ve never once added engine coolant once, maybe it’s just low, I haven’t checked it since February I guess when I did my last oil change, so I’ll keep an eye on it thanks fellas
 
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