I just wanted to take a second and thank you for taking the time to offer your words of wisdom and tips. Maybe the moderator will offer you a titled thread (sticky?) so that all your comments and responses will remain at the top of the threads.
In my youth (early 70's) I was an ASE Certified Ford Line Mechanic. Today you guys are called technicians and associates. It is appropriate titles considering the complexity of today's modern V8 powerplants, both gasoline and diesel.
I wonder how many old-timers out there still remember getting "tune-ups" every 10,000 miles....that went away with the rotary telephones. (LOL)
Thanks again StagNW, I will be monitoring your responses.
you guys are welcome, the industry has changed so much and everything is so technical. Since the economy issues of 08, ford has trimmed the fat. All labor times were cut. A third of our time is spent receiving prior approval, cost-cap, hotline requests and writing stories TRYING to get paid by the manufacturer, just to get you're truck fixed. We get paid for none of that, it hurts our "efficiency", which is 100% of our pay. It hurts us, but in a round about way the customer suffers.
StagNW, thanks so much for all this info! So if the tune is not legal, is the race pipe or exhaust?
youre welcome, the race pipe is just what it's caled, straight pipe as well. No it is not legal as you have to remove emissions equipment to install it. Disabling emissions equiptment is against federal law. However people still do it.
Andy, same thing happened to me. They told me that the message is automatic when the vehicle goes over 12K miles and that is all it is, a reminder to check the coolant for whatever. Apparently checking the coolant is on the checklist for 15K service, but a lot of times it doesn't get done if folks are using one of the speedy lube places or doing the oil changes themselves.
StagNW. You have already provided a lot of good and informative information. Thank you very much for taking the initiative to do this.
I do not know the exact interval, your information very well may be correct. Yes I agree you, I do not agree with taking these trucks to speedy lube places. I regularly get trucks in from quick lube places that have used wrong parts or improper install. Customer pays double and they are putting their 20k power plant in danger. If your living out of it, why not give it the maint that it was engineered for? Cheap insurance!
6.7 Coolant Question: I'm not real clear on primary and secondary coolant system. I checked my coolant at about 18,000 miles and again at 33,000 from the coolant bottle and both times, according to the test strip, I need the vitalizer which I added. But, where is the secondary system checked and since I've added the Orange vitalizer twice, do I need to flush and refill both systems next time? Is that a difficult job? Can I do it myself? Should I have Dealer do it? Is it expensive?
which test strips are you using? The factory kit?
We have a 2014 6.7 F350. It has about 18k miles on it. Our cleaning filter light comes on at least every 200 miles, usually more often. This is true whether or not we are towing. Is this too frequent? We have only had one oil change so far when the truck told us it wanted one. Otherwise it is completely trouble free. I wonder if you work at our dealer.
Are you referring to the cleaning exhaust filter message? 200 miles seems awefully low, let me look into it. Grab your diesel supplement that's with your owners manual, I would read the "severe duty" maint schedule and see if the driving sounds like how your truck is used. Read back a page to my previous post on 6.7 maint, See if the severe duty maint schedule would be for your truck.
Im at Mullinax Ford in Olympia.
