Magic Carpet Pilot
Delta, B.C. Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 08/22/2006
View Profile
|
We have a 2005 Ford F350 with 6.0 liter diesel that for the second time in 18 months has a substantial amount of oil in the coolant. This happened two years ago in Arizona and took 10 days to get fixed. Ford said at that time not likely to happen again. Last time the EGR cooler and oil cooler had failed. It may be the same thing again or it may be blown head gaskets which were replaced just last year.
Please no Ford vs. Dodge vs Chev bashing as we really do need some constructive help.
The Mazatlan Ford dealership has been contacted and say they can handle it and will set up an appontment when they figure out if they have the parts. How they know what is needed without the truck in their shop to assess is hard to figure out.
The Ford dealership in Vancouver says it may be residual oil from the last failure that overheating may have caused. We never had any overheating warnings and the truck ran just fine all the way down.
We removed and cleaned the Degas bottle and got about a quart of light grey oil sludge out so we obviously do have a major problem. We ran the truck again for a short drive and are still getting a little oil in the Degas bottle. The oil level is down about 3/4 of a liter but happily the oil on the dip stick is still nice and black.
Would like to hear from you if you have any good information about the following:
1. are Mexican auto dealerships now qualified to service these diesel engines? If so this is something new.
2. Our repairs would be fully covered by our extended warranty if we were in the USA or Canada. Has anyone ever successfully had a North American car company (Ford, GM etc) actually reimburse for repair costs incurred in Mexico.
3. is there a Good Sam Emergency Road Service e-mail address where you can actually email them direct? We have used two different forms on their web site and they have not responded to either message. We do not have a functional phone and VOIP with Skype is not an option here.
Magic Carpet Pilot, Delta, B.C. www.ladner.ca/travel
2005 F350 Ford King Ranch CC SRW, Superglide hitch
2006 Newmar Cypress 32RLKS solar powered 5th wheel
Favorite destination: anywhere in Mainland Mexico 
|
BobsYourUncle
Surrey, BC Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 12/12/2003
View Profile
 Offline
|
Don't know if it would help, but I live almost in your back yard and could do some legwork here if needed.
I'm in N Surrey - 96 & 161, just a few miles from your home.
I had a similar issue with my first Dmax. Mine had a severe coolant leak straight out the tailpipe.
What I found with GM, and Ford is likely the same, is that the mechanics appear to no longer be allowed to do their own brainstorming and troubleshooting.
With any major issues, GM has to contact GM Tech Support to find out how to approach a problem. They have a flowchart they HAVE to follow, even if the proposed resolution does not apply to the problem. With mine, they did a few simple things, then put new head gaskets on it. I told them it was not the head gasket when I examined them in the shop after they removed them. Being mechanical myself, I can "read" a head gasket.
But the shop insisted that because GM Tech Support said it was a head gasket, that's what it must be.
Because the truck was only 3 years old and under warranty, I insisted it was a factory flaw within the engine and they need to replace the engine.
I outline this because I am suggesting that perhaps Ford operates in the same manner and perhaps your issue, because this is the second time, may be related to something deeper than what they are looking at. An internal engine problem may be very difficult to find without doing a total teardown.
On mine, after the head gasket routine, I drove from Surrey to Calgary, consuming 38 liters of antifreeze on the way. The engine was hydraulicing most times on a restart and it was blowing lots of blue smoke and steam out the back.
I limped the severely wounded engine into a dealer in Calgary and traded it in on a new truck, the one I am driving now. I took a beating on that deal. Full disclosure, still on the factory warranty but I got a low trade in.
I found out later that they sold the truck and it came back to them for a complete engine replacement. Why didn't they do that for me when I was hollering about it.
Have you tried searching the problem on thedieselplace.com? Perhaps others have had the same issue and could shed some light on the right solution.
2007 GMC 3500 dually ext. cab 4X4 LBZ
Duramax / Allison
Fire Red
95 Sportsmen 25.5' TT
81 Citation 25' "Tail dragger" "Under construction"
"Workin' man's rig"
Bob's Trucks
Check Out My Rebuild Project *** Website Finally Back Up Nov. 6/09 ***
Project Feedback
|
Linda from Canada
Grand Marais,Manitoba,Canada & Zihuatanejo,Mexico
Senior Member
Joined: 09/04/2004
View Profile
|
Regarding your question: "Our repairs would be fully covered by our extended warranty if we were in the USA or Canada. Has anyone ever successfully had a North American car company (Ford, GM etc) actually reimburse for repair costs incurred in Mexico."
We once had our Dodge Ram serviced in Puerto Vallarta at the Dodge dealership- it was a warranty repair- they looked after the problem in record time (an afternoon) and simply did not charge us a single peso, so there was no reimbursement involved. We had a similar warranty repair done at the Dodge dealership here in Zihua- same thing- no cost to us at all.
|
rocmoc
Tucson, AZ/Mexico
Senior Member
Joined: 09/30/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I also have the Good Sam Roadside service. I called the 800 number on the card and spoke to them. They said they will only respond to the 800 number, you have to call them. I asked what number for someone in Mexico and they said the same number that is on the card. 1-800-847-0770
Sorry I tried.
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
|
Magic Carpet Pilot
Delta, B.C. Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 08/22/2006
View Profile
|
Thanks Rocmoc,
You can't call a 1-800 number from Mexico so what the heck?
|
|
|
mexbungalows
las peñas, michoacan, mexico
Full Member
Joined: 06/01/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
First, find someone, anyone, a mechanic that has a radiator pressure pump tester like a STANT model. The test has to be performed with the engine dead cold. Pump to 17 PSI, wait a minute and then reaffirm that the pressure has equalized in the radiator and then note the time. The 17 PSI must not drop more than one-quarter pound in four hours wait. ENGINE DEAD COLD!
Loss of pressure is NOT proof that oil is getting into the antifreeze - merely that there is a leak somewhere. Check all hoses using a flashlight to concentrate the light and your attention onto the inspection point. Use your finger and carefully run it around all hose junctions. Check atop the engine for any sensor leakage.
If there is no pressure drop it doesnt mean that you are out of the woods, follow through...
Change oil and filter.
Add a tiny can of leak detector dye to the engine oil. Operate the engine for a coulple days time. Check that oil and coolant levels are not gained or lost.
Dyed engine lube oil is easily discernable in engine coolant and vice versa.
If teardown and repair is indicated get a list of needed parts on the dealership letterhead, take the letter and your car permit to the Mazatlan office of ADUANA the Mexican customs folks. Have them call the dealership. You are looking to obtain an official letter from ADUANA that will make any importation of parts TAX FREE at the border.
Jump on a luxury bus and head for the border. Go to Tucson to the local Ford dealer and explain you need the parts yesterday. Make sure you have all your paperwork and tourist card. The bus will be examined by ADUANA at the border. Your baggage will be flagged. Your detailed Ford sales invoice will be matched against what the bus has on board for your luggage.
This is all hard earned knowledge, from the been-there-done-that-department.
It is the ONLY WAY you'll get back on the road correctly. And yes, I was a certified factory diesel mechanic (many moons ago).
|
qtla9111
Monterrey, Mexico
Senior Member
Joined: 09/17/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
Magic Carpet Pilot wrote:Thanks Rocmoc,
You can't call a 1-800 number from Mexico so what the heck?
you can call 800 numbers in the states from mexico. there is a number exchange that is used:
1-800 (7 dígitos) becomes 001 880 (7 dígitos)
1-888 (7 dígitos) becomes 001 881 (7 dígitos)
1-877 (7 dígitos) becomes 001 882 (7 dígitos)
1-866 (7 dígitos) becomes 001 883 (7 dígitos)
1998 Nissan Pathfinder
2004 Shadow Cruiser 18ft.
Living and Boondocking Mexico
|
qtla9111
Monterrey, Mexico
Senior Member
Joined: 09/17/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
Mex is right. When I needed a part for my imported Pathfinder, I called dealers in Laredo, got the best price, ordered the part and I got it in two days. I drove up to get it.
|
rocmoc
Tucson, AZ/Mexico
Senior Member
Joined: 09/30/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I called them again and they said this is the Mexico #
1-866-456-0969
We will keep trying!
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
|
just-us2
Texas
New Member
Joined: 10/02/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Hate to see this happening I would do a compression check on each cylinder. You will most likely find one with lower compression. That is where you most likely have a micro head gasket leak. Don't listen to me but if it is that I buy a new head. The compression is high enough that a lot of times the head is warped just a touch. The ford house will tell you they can fix the head. Don't know about that. Most of my experience is with cat, but can tell you that most diesel engines are about the same.
|
|
|
