What with the Dex-Cool problems and what I believe to be a lot of confusing information on coolants, and my desire to change out my coolant, I started in pursuit of the "truth". After looking at a lot of websites, reading a lot of information and finding an appropriate Cummins Service Bulletin I believe I have enough information to shed some additional light. Not all of us are close enough to places that have Cummins Fleet Guard products, hence my quest. I would appreciate any feedback/updates from the forum members.
COOLANT/ANTIFREEZE BRIEF
Up front I will tell you my primary interest is in Cummins M-11 engines which is what I have in my 2000 40' U-320. I extracted the below section that is in italics from the Cummins service bulletin. The list of coolants/antifreeze that follows the italicized block I have assembled from various sources and to my knowledge it is accurate. I suggest personally verifying any coolant you intend to use meets the appropriate Cummins/Cat/Detroit standards.
Extracted from CUMMINS Service Bulleting 3666132-04 Dated 07 Dec 2005
"This Service Bulletin supersedes prior Service Bulletins concerning Cummins Inc. coolant requirements and maintenance; replace those Service Bulletins with this one.
This Service Bulletin outlines the proper application and maintenance of coolant for all Cummins® engines, including gaseous fueled engines. It also updates and simplifies Cummins Inc. recommendations and guidelines for the end user.
Summary of Recommendations Cummins Inc. cooling system general recommendations are listed below. These recommendations apply to both Standard Service Intervals and Extended Service Intervals. See Section 2 or 3 for complete instructions.
• Fill up and top off cooling systems with a fully formulated antifreeze/coolant meeting Cummins Engineering Standard 14603.
• Replace the coolant filter(s) at every recommended coolant filter change interval.
• Add liquid SCA at each filter change as necessary or add liquid Extender per the coolant supplier's recommendations.
• Test coolant at least twice per year for liner-pitting protection (nitrite and molybdate levels).
• Test coolant for replacement limits every 240,000 km [150,000 mi ], 4000 hours, or once per year, whichever occurs first.
• Replace coolant only if replacement limits have been exceeded."
THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF COOLANTS THAT ACCORDING TO EITHER THEIR MANUFACTURERES OR OTHER TRUCKING/ENGINE WEB SITES DO MEET CUMMINS ENGINEERING STANDARD 14603. IT IS NOT ALL INCLUSIVE AND AS I FIND OTHERS I WILL ADD THEM TO THE LIST. If I do not show the Detroit or CAT standards for that coolant, it does not necessarily mean it doesn't meet that standard, it simply means I was unable to locate a reference that said it did meet those standards. Again, most of my researching has been directed towards Cummins engines. The order shown below is random, however I have placed Zerex at the bottom of the list for personal reasons related to parent company reported support of issues that I oppose.
FINAL CHARGE GLOBAL EXTENDED LIFE (PEAK)
Meets: Cummins 14603 CAT EC-1 Detroit 93K217
FLEETGUARD ES COMPLEAT OAT
Meets: Cummins 14603
MOBIL DELVAC ELC EXTENDED LIFE ENGINE COOLANT
Meets: Cummins 14603 CAT EC-1 Detroit MTU 5048
ROTELLA ULTRA ELC
Meets: Cummins 14603 CAT EC-1
DELO ELC-NF (Nitrate Free)
Meets: Cummins 14603 Detroit DDC 93K217
DefendAL® Heavy Duty Nitrite FREE ELC
Meets: Cummins 14603 CAT EC-1 Detroit 93K217, 7SE298
ZEREX EXTENDED LIFE ANTIFREEZE/COOLANT
Meets: Cummins 14603 CAT EC-1
Good subject.
I would add that while there are two coolant "chemistries" that meet Cummins (as well as Caterpillar, DD, etc) requirements, they are not the same. Kind of like saying a wet cell battery and an AGM battery are the same.
Approved OAT-based coolants are superior to "low silicate coolant for diesel with added SCA". There is no SCA to check and add (it is used up in the normal process of protecting cylinder liners). It has double the service life. In an RV, NOTHING to do for the first three years, then annually use a test strip (specific to the coolant you choose) to test to see if you need to add extender. The strong likelihood is that unless you put over a quarter of a million miles on the coolant, no extender will be needed.
And for Detroit 2 cycle operators (6V-92TA), here is a list of coolants that meet DDC Power Cool 93K217 Approved Coolants List:
DDC Power Cool 93K217 Approved Coolants List
DISCLAIMER: Product registration means the manufacturer or marketer has faithfully collected information pertinent to the requirements of the specification and with the full intention to conform to the specification. However, it is still the responsibility of the manufacturer or marketer to ensure satisfactory performance of its products in all aspects at all times. Registration for DDC Power Cool Engine Coolant Specification 93K217 does not waive the liability of the manufacturer or the marketer. DDC does not warrant the performance of non-DDC products, registered or not.
Company Name Product Name Inhibitor Technology
Detroit Diesel Corporation Power Cool Conventional
Detroit Diesel Corporation Power Cool Plus Organic Acid
BARDAHL DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. BARDAHL ANTICONGELANTE HEAVY DUTY Hybrid (HOAT)
BP Lubricants Castrol Heavy Duty Extended Life Coolant / Antifreeze OAT
BP Lubricants Castrol Heavy Duty Coolant Conventional
Chevron Products Company Texaco Extended Life Coolant / Antifreeze - Nitrite Free OAT
Chevron Products Company DELO Extended Life Coolant / Antifreeze - Nitrite Free OAT
Coquilub Coquilub 575 Heavy Duty ELC Antifreeze/ Coolant Hybrid (HOAT)
Dober TR 80009 EG Concentrate Conventional
ExxonMobil Mobil Delvac Extended Life Coolant OAT
ExxonMobil Mobil Heavy Duty Coolant Conventional
ExxonMobil Mobil Mining Coolant Conventional
Mexicana de Lubricantes S.A de C.V. Akron Anticongelante Long Life Max Hybrid (HOAT)
Old World Industries, Inc. FINAL CHARGE Global Extended Life Coolant OAT
Old World Industries, Inc. FLEET CHARGE Fully Formulated Coolant Conventional
Old World Industries, Inc. Power Cool Conventional
Old World Industries, Inc. Power Cool Plus OAT
Raloy Lubricantes S.A de C.V. Raloy Power HD-21 Hybrid (HOAT)
Recochem OATS-NF Hybrid (HOAT)
Recochem TURBOPOWER Heavy Duty Diesel Antifreeze Coolant Conventional
Recochem TURBOPOWER Diesel Extended Life Antifreeze Coolant Hybrid (HOAT)
Recochem STP Heavy Duty Diesel Antifreeze Coolant Conventional
Recochem 542 Hybrid (HOAT)
Recochem STP Diesel Extended Life Antifreeze Coolant Hybrid (HOAT)
Shell Global Solutions Shell ROTELLA Fully with SCAs Conventional
Shell Global Solutions Shell Fully Formulated Phosphate Free Antifreeze / Coolant Conventional
Shell Global Solutions Shell HD Ultra ELC OAT
Shell Global Solutions Shell ROTELLA Ultra ELC OAT
The Valvoline Company Zerex G 30 OAT
The Valvoline Company Zerex G 05 Hybrid (HOAT)
The Valvoline Company Zerex Extended Life Hybrid (HOAT)
Pierce
Can the OAT based coolants and the SCA coolants be mixed ?
Not a good idea. The two protect is very different ways. Said another way, if you add a low silicate coolant for diesel with SCA to an OAT coolant, it is considered contaminated.
I am not a chemist, so won't speculate on what concentration of "contaminant" would constitute a significant issue, but surely there are no positives to come out of mixing them.
Dave,
My FT manual says the U320 coolant capacity is 16 gallons.