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Coolant/antifreeze Information

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
Dan
2000 U320 40'

Re: Coolant/antifreeze Information

Reply #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.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Coolant/antifreeze Information

Reply #2 –
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
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Coolant/antifreeze Information

Reply #3 –
Can the OAT based coolants and the SCA coolants be mixed ?
'02 U295 36'
Build #5937

 SKP#104358
Motorcade#17428

Re: Coolant/antifreeze Information

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Tom Endres –
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.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020
 

Re: Coolant/antifreeze Information

Reply #5 –
Dave,

My FT manual says the U320 coolant capacity is 16 gallons.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R