'08 turbo cooler hose blew

A little background to start with: Several weeks ago on the highway a good size chunk of ice came off an oncoming vehicle and hit my truck in the grill; couldn't avoid it there was not enough time to react. Pieces of the ice broke apart and did some minor damage to the turbo cooler and AC condensor, also cracked the grill. The coolers were not puctured or anything but dented enough that I filed an insurance claim and had them replaced by the Ford dealer where I bought the truck. I have been driving it for a few weeks with no problems, not any towing though.

I went to pick up my new fifth wheel yesterday and on the way home the lower hose from the turbo cooler blew off and it was loud, BOOM. I thought I blew a tire. After getting off the side of the interstate my brother found that the hose came off at the clamp where it is attached to the metal riser part that comes up to the turbo. We reattached it and thought we were good. It blew off two more times so I called the roadside service and had it taken to the nearest Ford dealer for closer inspection.

My truck is an 08 F350 DRW with the tow boss option. I was driving about 60mph. This was the first time towing with the truck and I was being very conservative with my driving. We had been on the road with the RV about 45 minutes when it happened. The fifth wheel is 36' and the shiping weight is 11,000 lbs. Since it is was just being picked up it was empty and is well within the limits of the truck.

Needless to say my first experience towing was dissapointing. I just hope that nothing is seriously wrong with my truck. I still have a real empty feeling in my gut though.

Any thoughts about what could be wrong?

wrench those clamps down AFTER you clean the oil/film off the hose
and fittings.

it wouldnt hurt you to also add a THIN film of high-tac form a
gasket to the inside of the rubber hose when you put it back on.

let it set up good (before driving it).

mechanic may not have tightened the hose down well when he
replaced your intercooler.

once they blow off they tend to repeat the act, until you clean
'em up real good (break kleen will remove the oil/film)

Thanks bushpilot, any particular brand of high-tac form a gasket you would recommend?

Not to Hi-jack BP but I've had real good luck by cleaning the boots and connections with Break Kleen then useing WINDEX to slip them all back together. The Windex leaves NO residue, at All. Good, Clean, Dry connection joints.

Installing the boots on the I/C inlet & outlet, turbo inlet & outlet and clamping them down real good... Then the tubes... being sure there is No binding of the boots... Helps also.

When Installing the tubes, brace them in-place, then let them "Rest" a minute or two before tightening the clamps. (Allows for any minor shifting/seating of the Tubes.. in the boots)

I've never tried the High Tac form-a-gasket.. but it sounds like a good idea.

ive never had mine blow off...but i KNOW ive got mine
tightened beyond the factory spec.

im just relaying what ive seen others CLAIM works.

one thing is certain...if you DONT clean the oil/film
NOT MUCH will prevent 'em from blowing off once
theyve come off.

maybe strokinharley will have some EXPERIANCE to add here....

mechanic may not have tightened the hose down well when he replaced your intercooler.

Click to expand...

THATS MY BET!

i have heard of others using hair spray also.

Bushpilot is right on about cleaning the hoses thoroughly before trying to reconnect them. If you just try to put 'em back together dirty, you're setting yourself up for failure. Zookie mentioned hearing something about hairspray...I've heard that as well. Seems the hairspray starts off wet, and provides lubrication to get the hoses on fully. Later on, it will set and dry leaving a slightly tacky residue behind for better holding power. I've also heard of using hand sanitizer. It work the same way as hairspray, but because it is alcohol based, it leaves no residue once it dries. Good luck!

Zookie400 said:

i have heard of others using hair spray also.

Click to expand...

works well on MOTORCYCLE GRIPS too

Hopefully I won't have to do that again, especially on the side of the interstate. I guess I'll have to grab a can of the wife's hair spray and keep it behind the seat just in case, along with some brake clean.

I had the truck taken to the nearest dealer because I didn't know what the ramifications were if I kept on driving. How serious is that if it does happen again?

They replaced the CAC tube boot and the clamps and it seems fine now; put my foot in it a couple of times coming home and got the boost up. I am going to hook up the fiver this weekend and we'll see how it holds under a load.

Thanks all for your advice.

I bet it will work fine now after being cleaned up and put back together.
Have fun with the new fifth wheel.
What kind did you get.