Coolant Air Lift Tool

A coolant airlift tool is a pneumatic cooling system refill and testing tool that has become a necessity for Ford diesel engine servicing and diagnostics. Using the Venturi effect, it employs compressed air to create a vacuum that is applied directly to a vehicle cooling system. This tool is available from a few different manufacturers and the basic design and use is virtually identical between brands. An internet search for "coolant air lift" will provide many sources from which you can purchase one from. The image on the right is an example of the tool. Make sure that the tool you chose comes with several rubber adapters as the universal cone is not always the best choice on some applications.

Broken 6.0L Power Stroke Secondary Fuel Filter Caps

Using the square drive option to remove 6.0L secondary fuel filter caps is risky and we recommend that do-it-yourselfers and technicians stop using the 1/2" portion to take the secondary filter lid off. Instead use a 24mm socket on the hex to remove and install the cap and always replace the o-ring seal on the cap with the new one that comes with the filter and apply clean engine oil to the seal and threads.

The issue is that over tightened and stuck lids will cause the square drive to split the cap making it extremely difficult to remove. Using a Ford 4x4 front hub socket or a similar spanner socket is a safe method of removing the cap once it is damaged and will also prevent damage to the filter housing that is possible when using other methods to remove it such as using pliers or a hammer and chisel. Let's take this step-by-step.

EGR Cooler Failures Killing Injectors It seems extremely unlikely that a set of 8 fuel injectors could fail at the same time. Following normal diagnostics for this situation can lead to the replacement of good parts and leave you with an engine that still won't start. Technicians who think outside the box might take a step back and look at this as something caused the injectors to fail as they all didn't fail on their own. As the family 6.0L PSD engines on the road age we are experiencing a high percentage of EGR cooler failures. If a truck owner is unaware of the failure or continues to drive his truck adding coolant because the engine is using it there is an increased risk for coolant to enter the crankcase and contaminate the engine oil. The very same oil that is used by the fuel injectors. The coolant and water content in the oil damages the spool valves in the fuel injectors rendering them inoperative. Regardless of whether an EGR cooler failure is a long-term coolant loss condition or an all out failure with a hydro lock condition the engine oil and filter must always be changed during the cooler repair and before restarting the engine.

So why do "they" call it an upgrade? Performance air filter and intake assemblies are a hot aftermarket item. In most cases using one simply means more noise, and more dirt going into your engine. At the dealer we have seen many filter systems changed and for the most part it is obvious that these performance filters offer less filtration evidenced by dirt found in the intake system and worn turbocharger compressor fins. Many of these filters require a coating of oil to aid in filtration. This oil gets sucked in with air flowing through the filter and contaminates Mass Airflow Sensors providing an excellent surface for dirt to stick to. In addition, some intake systems cause erratic airflow through the MAF sensor. Either condition can result in performance concerns or a Check Engine light. For most Power Stroke Engines the stock Donaldson filters are the best choice. In cases where the housings have become distorted or have been broken, the best advice is to replace with the original. We do recognize that the 7.3l PSD F-Series trucks had several filter assembly designs all of which had problems with housings breaking or poor sealing. For that we recommend installing a Motorcraft severe duty upgrade that uses the Donaldson filters.

Diesel Repair For Dummies - Commentary Looking Within Our Industry

Whoever it was that wrote the book on being a modern diesel technician needs to go back to school and learn some of life's hard lessons. It takes a little more than knowing which end of a wrench to use and how hard to pull on it. Understanding your career choice and the industry you have joined will be the deciding factor in your success and to some degree the success of others around you. In general, the public has a dim view of those that practice this trade. They do not understand these machines well and because they don't, they mistrust us from the start.

To make matters worse, there are many in the trade that will take advantage of customers, continuously mis-diagnose concerns or perform sub-standard repairs. There are even more technicians that would be better suited to a different trade, technicians that have a hard time fixing a sandwich, let alone a complex mode of transportation. This is where the individual has the greatest affect not only on their own reputation but the reputation of our vocation as a whole. Who is to blame? It is not unreasonable to state that all of us have a role to play because we all are the custodians of our vocation. It is not enough to become the best technician you are capable of becoming. Your career should also encompass being responsible to your employer, respectful of your customers and their vehicles as well as helping others around you. This could mean assisting a less skilled technician by showing him proper techniques and practices. Explaining the operation and functions of systems or components in your customers vehicles to a service advisor so that he or she can better communicate with the customers. Present yourself to customers in a positive and professional manner.

If you are reading this and are thinking that this doesn't apply to you, you are sadly mistaken. You would be right in thinking that the negatives mentioned here do not represent you or even the majority of the technicians in our field but you must understand that it takes very few people to tarnish the reputation of any service department and the industry as a whole. Think about that. None of us are perfect. Start with an honest look at yourself. Take a moment to look at your co-workers around you and the technician in the service bay next to you. What are the first things that come to mind? Make a short list of positive things you observe and then list the negative things that you observe and think to yourself "if I were a customer what would my impression of this service facility be?" How would this affect you personally? How would this affect our industry's reputation? What role could you play in making positive changes?