Is it normal for your coolant level to decrease over time? I'm starting to worry I'm consuming coolant. Its now about an inch below the cold fill line, (it was at the cold fill line from the dealer), but I'm also sure my brother added some to it. Truck is an '08 5.4L 4x4.

I started the truck once a week or two ago and a puff of smoke came out of the exhaust, haven't seen it do it ever again though. Couldn't tell you the color of smoke because it all looks white to me, never really seen blue smoke. Even my 2 stroke dirt bike looks like white smoke.

On a side note, its been around 30C temp wise around here and driving around the city my CHT was 218 and TFT 180+. I never remember them getting that high during the summer. Is that a typical operating range given the ambient temperature?

 

Your cooland will reach a 'normal level' over a short period of time, unless you have a problem. If you have to keep adding coolant every so often, you have a problem.