Thread: Diesel computer module ???

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I have a 2002 F-350 with a power stroke deisel engine. At about 30k miles oil began spewing from the radiator over flow. This is not good news , like time for a new engine i think. I think the engine is still under warrenty,but, I was wondering if the addition of a computer module could cause a major problem like this. I added a tremendous amount of HP and torque by reprogramming the computer but the company says its all safe . Now I wonder. Anyone have any experience with this? Mike

Radiator could be cracked internally.

Naw it's just the heat exchanger for the oil. They fail rather too often, and since the oil runs at a higher pressure than the radiator the oil wins.. And ends up heading into the radiator. Do fix it YESTERDAY!! or you will rack up some serious engine damage.

That's it? Man I hope you're right. The Ford dealership thought maybe new engine. That was from a phone call only.As soon as I caught it I parked it. I thought oil in the radiator overflow was REALLY bad news tho. Thanks for the help. Mike

racerguy; I hope I am too...

I had a similiar thing happen on my Diesel Sub, cept it was the tranny cooler. It was a hollow cylinder inside the radiator that leaked. So my overflow filled up with pink foam. I was lucky it never went the other way!

On my F-350 6.9L the engine oil heat exchanger is a mysterious cylinder on the drivers side, mounted just about at the level the oil pan hits the block. This is where the engine oil gets real close to the radiator fluid separated by thin sheet metal.

Of course you could have some horrible block or head defect where the two could meet but the huge number of very detailed tests executed at the factory are supposed to prevent this.

I thought the Superduty Diesels used the radiator for engine oil cooling, not much seperation from the water. The tranny uses external cooling. I'll go look at my truck and see.

jramshu: Are you saying the heat exchanger (location where water and oil are separated by sheetmetal) is just a tube in the radiator?

It most definitely is not, on my fruck, but then mine is older.

I said I will go look at my 2000 F-250 SD with a Powerstroke in it. Meaning I am not sure, but I think it is part of the radiator.
Not to mention I said I thought.

I'll let you guys know when they get this problem diagnosed but it seems to me that it should be more bullet proof then it is if you are correct. I mean to have such a part as that to fail and potentially ruin an engine of that calliber. I know it's NEVER good when oil and water mix. This thing that happened pushed out about 4 quarts of engine oil out the radiator overflow and onto my driveway.When I take off the cap , it's just grey with oil. Accually it looks more like oil than radiator fluid. I really hope its simple as a busted pipe.I must emphasize, I can't believe the two systems are that closely related.

Just a thought about defective Ford engines.... Back in 88 I bought a new 88 Stang GT and was lurking around the garage at the dealer while the papers and such were being drawn up. There was a row of 10 5.0 V8 engines. Not the HO version just the std V8. I asked the service manager and he said there was a lot of bad engines that had been installed and they were there to replace the defective units. He didn't care to comment on what the issue was either. I'm thinking that must have been one heck of a defective lot being there were 10 just in this dealership.
Hope your problem is something much less and good luck. G.

This is a known problem with one of the programmers (Predator I believe), but I haven't heard of it taking place with any of the modules yet.

Go to http://thedieselstop.com and do a search on the problem, I think you'll find 20 or more threads on it. You'll find this site to be a good source of PowerStroke information, go to the Aftermarket forums.

Regards, Mark

Nice site MAW... but, but, where's the 6.2L stuff?? I can't believe that's just a Ford site...

For the Cheby's try http://www.62-65-dieselpage.com . I currently own an F350 Powerstroke, but the last two were 6.5L's.

One warning about taking your Ford into the dealer with the reprogrammed ECU - DONT! The new 6.0L Powerstroke has had a dubious debut and Ford is using any excuse to void the warranties. My dealer even went as far as to tell me that just the Banks exhaust would be enough for the warranty to be denied by the factory. It's a no-brainer with a module or re-programmed ECU. Restore the code and drive for a while before taking it in. The ECU maintains an internal audit trail which takes something like 50 Start/Stop cycles to flush out.

Regards, Mark

we got big ranchers up her running the dodge deisils with all the hp goodies and pulling really big loads. they are finding that the blocks are cracking across the length of the motor on the sides above the motor mounts on a casting bump were the block is a little thin. try to get warranty on that. is usally happens after the trucks build up a few kms . you throw the block away and start over

Well I found out what the problem was. There is an internal oil cooler in the radiator i guess and it blew out. the whole thing is under warrenty, thank goodness. I did take out all the computer goodies before I took it in tho. The guy at the dealership did ask if I had any HP enhancing stuff in it , i just said no. I figured they would try anything to avoid warranty if they could ya know, even if it had nothing to do with the problem. I haven't gotten it back yet but it should be today or Mon. Thanks for the site too. Mike...// PS... I wonder why the blocks would crack unless they are getting them really hot?