Oil filter adapter gasket change nightmare

[Davco]

I had the usual leak but I don't have time to crawl under the car, in the dark, on freezing concrete to change it. I took it to the dealer. They overcharged for the work. It's fine...I guess. At least I have piece of mind that it's done right. Well, maybe not, 4 miles away from the dealer my temp gauge shoots up 3/4 of the way. Now I am on the side of the road freezing in 33 degree weather trying to make it back to the dealer.

I'm sure it's air in the system. Here is my question though: is it air on the temp sensor? I don't even think I could get to operating temp in 4 miles. The thermostat hasn't even opened up yet.

[fastblackmerc]

I had the usual leak but I don't have time to crawl under the car, in the dark, on freezing concrete to change it. I took it to the dealer. They overcharged for the work. It's fine...I guess. At least I have piece of mind that it's done right. Well, maybe not, 4 miles away from the dealer my temp gauge shoots up 3/4 of the way. Now I am on the side of the road freezing in 33 degree weather trying to make it back to the dealer.

I'm sure it's air in the system. Here is my question though: is it air on the temp sensor? I don't even think I could get to operating temp in 4 miles. The thermostat hasn't even opened up yet.

The dealership didn't bleed the cooling system.

[Davco]

The dealership didn't bleed the cooling system.

Exactly. The tech said he filled the system and let it run until the t-star opened. I guess he thought he was done. I'm limping back to the dealer. I don't even think I've hit operating temp but I panic when the gauge shoots up. I'm driving back a half mile at a time.

[Turbov6Bryan]

The stat won't open when zero coolant is around it, just like temp sensors don't work without coolant. The need to coolant to operate correctly

If you just fill by the crossover tube, it'll overfill the reservoir before you get air out of the top of the motor

Fill the reservoir to the fill mark, clamp it's large hose shut

Fill the crossover full, put your hand over the crossover hole and start squeezing heater hoses and upper rad hoses to agitate and get the air to the top

Refill cot and agitate again, probably 4-5 times

Put cot plug back in, remove clamp

Start car and turn heater on full blast, get car hot enough to have heat come out the vents and you will know the stat is fully opened when you get heat coming off the radiator with the fan blowing

Shut it off and check the level once it's cold

The procedure really isn't that bad, your tech just didn't take his time doing it right

How much did they charge you for the gasket swap and coolant flush?

Hope it's aok after the mishap

[fastblackmerc]

Proper refill/burp procedure.


http://reischeperformance.com/refill.html

[Turbov6Bryan]

That's a great write up Jimbo!

Too bad it wasn't passed onto the tech :)

[Davco]

How much did they charge you for the gasket swap and coolant flush?


The work done was oil change, oil filter adapter gasket, oil pressure sensor replacement (leaking). No coolant flush. The total cost was $600. I could have done it all myself with an actual real oil pressure gauge and sensor for under $250. I just don't have time right now.

But, considering I wasted 2 hours tonight waiting for the car to cool and take it back to the shop, evidently I have more time than I thought.

[alec2538]

You had it done at a FORD dealer and the tech didn't have a vacuum bleeder?

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=99642

It's the way the OEM does it on the assembly line for God's sake. I sure hope you're raising hell. Any shop tech that doesn't know how to bleed a cooling system regardless of how "complicated" the procedure is shouldn't be touching a customer's car. That's basic knowledge.

Right under the Ford factory instructions for bleeding the cooling system:

"INSTALL THE RADKITPLUS (vacuum bleeder) AND FOLLOW THE RADKITPLUS MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS TO FILL AND BLEED THE COOLING SYSTEM."

[Zack]

I would demand a considerable refund. Mention frostbite.

[8UWITH6]

That is hysterical. Zack's comment, not the OP's situation. Yeah, frostbite.

[Davco]

I would demand a considerable refund. Mention frostbite.

They fixed it today....air in the system (thanks captain obvious). I mentioned compensation for my time wasted sitting in the 33 degree darkness of night. They offered 2 free oil changes. Wow. Thanks.
Ultimately I got in touch with the service manager and he offered a 15% refund. We settled on a 25% refund.

[Turbov6Bryan]

They fixed it today....air in the system (thanks captain obvious). I mentioned compensation for my time wasted sitting in the 33 degree darkness of night. They offered 2 free oil changes. Wow. Thanks.
Ultimately I got in touch with the service manager and he offered a 15% refund. We settled on a 25% refund.

Glad they fixed it for ya, if you start loosing heat sitting at a stop light, fill it again at the cot... I've had 2 with that scenario

[alec2538]

Glad they fixed it for ya, if you start loosing heat sitting at a stop light, fill it again at the cot... I've had 2 with that scenario

I've been fighting this with mine. I've got the tiniest leak around the COT (doesn't even drip, literally steams it's way out, haven't replaced the o-ring yet cause I'm lazy).

[massacre]

I have a radkit plus, i just fill everything with it.