Powerboost CEL P237C/Exhaust Heat Exchanger Leak Megathread

[TN Rotty]

So yesterday was the 4 month anniversary of my heat exchanger being ordered. Part backlog looks like the following:

6.5 foot bed is ML3Z-5A212-V: labor issues, 356 to ship the week of 7/11, 326 on back order​

5.5 foot bed is ML3Z-5A212-W: labor issues, 600 to ship this week, 200 to ship next week, 830 on back order​

​

Truck is now leaking more coolant. Reservoir needs to be filled between 2 and 4 days now rather than 1-2 weeks (same driving pattern). Will be heading to the dealer to pick up another gallon of coolant soon.

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[Nasto]

So yesterday was the 4 month anniversary of my heat exchanger being ordered. Part backlog looks like the following:

6.5 foot bed is ML3Z-5A212-V: labor issues, 356 to ship the week of 7/11, 326 on back order​

5.5 foot bed is ML3Z-5A212-W: labor issues, 600 to ship this week, 200 to ship next week, 830 on back order​

​

Truck is now leaking more coolant. Reservoir needs to be filled between 2 and 4 days now rather than 1-2 weeks (same driving pattern). Will be heading to the dealer to pick up another gallon of coolant soon.

I still don't get why yours is taking this long.

 

[Snakebitten]

I still don't get why yours is taking this long.

There's an explanation. We (he) might never learn what was different with his than the many hundreds of others.

One parts employee not putting the right check mark, or 1 shipping clerk with a list inadvertently skipped one row in a spreadsheet, or a typo in the address......

But dang, enough is enough

 

[Nasto]

There's an explanation. We (he) might never learn what was different with his than the many hundreds of others.

One parts employee not putting the right check mark, or 1 shipping clerk with a list inadvertently skipped one row in a spreadsheet, or a typo in the address......

But dang, enough is enough

I'm tempted to start a betting pool to see what happens first: @TN Rotty getting his exchanger or @thudnblunder getting is truck! ?

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/01-03-22-build-week.7026/page-46

 

[ryanc111]

So yesterday was the 4 month anniversary of my heat exchanger being ordered. Part backlog looks like the following:

6.5 foot bed is ML3Z-5A212-V: labor issues, 356 to ship the week of 7/11, 326 on back order​

5.5 foot bed is ML3Z-5A212-W: labor issues, 600 to ship this week, 200 to ship next week, 830 on back order​

​

Truck is now leaking more coolant. Reservoir needs to be filled between 2 and 4 days now rather than 1-2 weeks (same driving pattern). Will be heading to the dealer to pick up another gallon of coolant soon.

So I was told two weeks ago that my dealer had the part so left the truck with them while I was away on vacation. Came back to find out that they ordered the wrong part and it hasn't been fixed.

But wait, it gets better. Just got an email from my corporate account rep saying that there is a Stop Sale on the part with no ETA. Not sure how that balances with the info you have above though.

At least my truck is drivable . . . for now.

 

[thudnblunder]

I'm tempted to start a betting pool to see what happens first: @TN Rotty getting his exchanger or @thudnblunder getting is truck! ?

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/01-03-22-build-week.7026/page-46

For all I know the truck won’t ship because they canabalized it to ship parts to dealers lol

 

[Nasto]

For all I know the truck won’t ship because they canabalized it to ship parts to dealers lol

Someone in that company has to know what the heck is going on.

 

[TN Rotty]

Warning - Humor inserted randomly below...

I still don't get why yours is taking this long.

Good question, - possible scenarios that have rattled around my little grey cells:

​

Non-drivable replacements get preference over drivable ones;​

Number of parts needed at a dealer determines priority (my dealer only needs one part - mine);​

Geographic location of dealer (zip code lottery);​

@Ford Motor Company is a cruel mistress, and she has been offended. ?​

​

A Service Rep told me that parts are taking months to come in. So it may just be "normal".

There's an explanation. We (he) might never learn what was different with his than the many hundreds of others.

One parts employee not putting the right check mark, or 1 shipping clerk with a list inadvertently skipped one row in a spreadsheet, or a typo in the address......

But dang, enough is enough

Per the one contact from Ford, the dealer ordered the part but that was from the Ford Care rep calling the dealer, asking "Did you order the part", so who knows. I do know she won't call me back and I found out she's friends with that mistress lady above, so I'm hoping they don't talk to each other. ?

@Fredm2002 reported his repair took 5 months (on this post). I didn't get his date info (other than completed date) so hadn't added him to the list. (Unless I missed his reply, which is possible trying to keep up the list.) I'm hoping I don't beat his time.

@DB63 is only 2 weeks behind me (Told Dealer date).

Interesting times.

So I was told two weeks ago that my dealer had the part so left the truck with them while I was away on vacation. Came back to find out that they ordered the wrong part and it hasn't been fixed.

But wait, it gets better. Just got an email from my corporate account rep saying that there is a Stop Sale on the part with no ETA. Not sure how that balances with the info you have above though.

At least my truck is drivable . . . for now.

Did they shout "Just kidding!" and then run out the back of the service department when you went to pick up your truck? Dang...

Does your email explain what Stop Sale means? (Hands up for everyone who just read that question and immediately realized it was a completely stupid question for me to ask. ?)

I wonder if it's related to the 3rd part going into some trucks (original and two replacements) so now they are waiting for a redesign. That seems to contradict the info I got from parts, but my production numbers could be an old note and the Stop Sale is newer info.... Well that just put a ? in my punch bowl! ?

@MrFarly - have you heard anything back from your adventure with the 2nd replacement by the Ford team?

And the rest of y'uns - I appreciate you! You make this crazy journey fun. Have a great weekend!

 

[ThyDayWalker]

Hey y'all! Googling the current issue I have with my 2021 Powerboost led me to this forum, so I figured I'd jump in and ask away! Firstly, I'm so happy I found this forum since it seems like there is an insane amount of knowledge to gain, and I've already spent a few hours on this and other forum topics today!

On to the topic at hand... Long story short...
1. Received my truck Feb of this year (2021 PB 502A)
2. Popped the hood sometime in March and noticed the main coolant reservoir was at the LOW line, but figured it was still OK (and maybe was delivered that way, not sure if it's supposed to be full). Truck was bought in December, but stuck at dealer for ~3 months due to the dreaded driveshaft shielding recall (really, only a few damn rivets!!).
3. Unfortunately broke my damn leg falling down in the stairs at the house in April (ouch! Still recovering!), so the truck has been sitting for days at a time... the wife will take it out here and there on errands.
4. Out of curiosity, I popped the hood last month and saw the coolant reservoir was basically empty! No codes or issues with overheating (has barely been used anyway), and I haven't found coolant on the ground / undercarriage... Also, the electrical/battery coolant reservoir has not lost level... not sure how much is unique vs. shared with the main reservoir... (in case that helps narrow down leaks)
5. Took it to the dealer for two weeks for them to say... they can't find a leak. Initially only did a pressure test, then held it for 1 day, then held it for 2 days, and even contacted other dealers and heard about the heat exchanger issue, but it wasn't leaking. Gave it back to me and shrugged their shoulders that it just needs to leak until it's noticeable to do anything. Since then, I've logged a weekly consumption and is by no means concerning/undrivable, but it goes from the MAX to MIN line in <1 month. Adding that much coolant is not a huge deal but... part of me thinks that's not normal for a new truck with a few thousand miles!

All in all - I think I agree with the dealership... Best course of action is to keep topping it off as needed (since it's not much), and I guess hope one day it gets bad enough the leak location can be found. With that in mind...
* Did anyone have a slow / almost imperceptible leak that eventually got bad?
* Any ideas of what else I could do / ask the dealer to look into? It may NOT be the heat exchanger, and rather some random other connection... but since I'm not recovered from my leg yet I can't really crawl under the truck to trace every line to check for seeping/wet spots.

Again - awesome thread (albeit about an issue) which has already been immensely helpful!

 

[EricR]

You might want to send a sample of your engine oil to a lab such as Blackstone Labs. They should be able to tell you if there is coolant in the oil. You might have a head gasket, or similar, issue.

 

[ThyDayWalker]

You might want to send a sample of your engine oil to a lab such as Blackstone Labs. They should be able to tell you if there is coolant in the oil. You might have a head gasket, or similar, issue.

That's an excellent recommendation! I'll give that a shot... can't hurt!

 

[emiantan]

So yesterday was the 4 month anniversary of my heat exchanger being ordered. Part backlog looks like the following:

6.5 foot bed is ML3Z-5A212-V: labor issues, 356 to ship the week of 7/11, 326 on back order​

5.5 foot bed is ML3Z-5A212-W: labor issues, 600 to ship this week, 200 to ship next week, 830 on back order​

​

Truck is now leaking more coolant. Reservoir needs to be filled between 2 and 4 days now rather than 1-2 weeks (same driving pattern). Will be heading to the dealer to pick up another gallon of coolant soon.

My awesome connection in the Parts Department at my local dealership shared similar information with me confirming what @TN Rotty has posted here. He did clarify that the parts being shipped are from the supplier to the packager and from there it may take anywhere from 2-3 weeks to make it to the dealership providing my repair work. He confirmed I am not yet assigned a part so no known expected arrival date.

It's been less than a month for me and I hope I get my truck back in time to take it to Lake Tahoe next month. I am anxious to get back in my truck, but I do appreciate the steps @Ford Motor Company has taken to provide an F-150 lease while I wait for the part. In my profession, many don't understand all of the processes that go into making a decision so I do not make assumptions regarding Ford's decision making process. I'm sure they are balancing multiple conflicting objectives while navigating this new economic landscape.

 

[Gros Ventre]

N

Hey y'all! Googling the current issue I have with my 2021 Powerboost led me to this forum, so I figured I'd jump in and ask away! Firstly, I'm so happy I found this forum since it seems like there is an insane amount of knowledge to gain, and I've already spent a few hours on this and other forum topics today!

On to the topic at hand... Long story short...
1. Received my truck Feb of this year (2021 PB 502A)
2. Popped the hood sometime in March and noticed the main coolant reservoir was at the LOW line, but figured it was still OK (and maybe was delivered that way, not sure if it's supposed to be full). Truck was bought in December, but stuck at dealer for ~3 months due to the dreaded driveshaft shielding recall (really, only a few damn rivets!!).
3. Unfortunately broke my damn leg falling down in the stairs at the house in April (ouch! Still recovering!), so the truck has been sitting for days at a time... the wife will take it out here and there on errands.
4. Out of curiosity, I popped the hood last month and saw the coolant reservoir was basically empty! No codes or issues with overheating (has barely been used anyway), and I haven't found coolant on the ground / undercarriage... Also, the electrical/battery coolant reservoir has not lost level... not sure how much is unique vs. shared with the main reservoir... (in case that helps narrow down leaks)
5. Took it to the dealer for two weeks for them to say... they can't find a leak. Initially only did a pressure test, then held it for 1 day, then held it for 2 days, and even contacted other dealers and heard about the heat exchanger issue, but it wasn't leaking. Gave it back to me and shrugged their shoulders that it just needs to leak until it's noticeable to do anything. Since then, I've logged a weekly consumption and is by no means concerning/undrivable, but it goes from the MAX to MIN line in <1 month. Adding that much coolant is not a huge deal but... part of me thinks that's not normal for a new truck with a few thousand miles!

All in all - I think I agree with the dealership... Best course of action is to keep topping it off as needed (since it's not much), and I guess hope one day it gets bad enough the leak location can be found. With that in mind...
* Did anyone have a slow / almost imperceptible leak that eventually got bad?
* Any ideas of what else I could do / ask the dealer to look into? It may NOT be the heat exchanger, and rather some random other connection... but since I'm not recovered from my leg yet I can't really crawl under the truck to trace every line to check for seeping/wet spots.

Again - awesome thread (albeit about an issue) which has already been immensely helpful!

Note that you can have a small leak that only opens up when the engine is hot. So if the dealer is doing the leak test with the engine cold, it is a real possibility that they would not find it. Next time you go in and want it tested, require the dealer to take the truck out and warm it up completely right before they do the leak test.

 

[ThyDayWalker]

N

Note that you can have a small leak that only opens up when the engine is hot. So if the dealer is doing the leak test with the engine cold, it is a real possibility that they would not find it. Next time you go in and want it tested, require the dealer to take the truck out and warm it up completely right before they do the leak test.

Aha! I can guarantee you it was cold both times. I plan to use my Ford Pass points to get my regular services (unless someone has a better recommendation of how to use them!), So I'll likely end up there later this year. I'll ask for this specific way to perform the leak test then!

 

[Gros Ventre]

Another way to come close to this is Park the truck for a week (or more if you can stand it!) and see if any level change occurs with it having been thoroughly cold the whole week. Then take a week and either drive it every day to full warmup, or if you don't drive every day warm it up completely and then idle for maybe 15 minutes after fully warmed up. Then at the end of the week see if level changes. Maybe not as good as the UV light test they can do but is an indicator.

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