Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Topic: Prestone Extended Life Coolant (Read 1685 times) previous topic - next topic

Prestone Extended Life Coolant

June 12, 2011, 10:23:27 am

Can I use the Prestone Extended Life Coolant made for auto & light trucks (on label) to fill the overflow tank at a 50-50 mix ratio? I do not use any extended life coolant. The coolant in there now is the Prestone regular stuff (I think, can't be sure as the local Cummins dealer has been replacing every two years for the past 6 years).

The label indicates it is silicate, phosphate, borate and nitrate free.

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #1 – June 12, 2011, 10:41:48 am

Peter,
I go by what is presently in the cooling system, if green use green, if red use red, if orange, use orange. I am not sure if there is cure all, or fit all for cooling systems, but I stay with what ever is presently used. Some concoctions can cause a sludge mix that will not cool nor flow through the system.
I am too dumb to try to out whit the possibilities and wannabees.
Good luck

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #2 – June 12, 2011, 10:52:35 am

Another related question. I understand that when switching to extended life coolant, the system is not considered extended life until a second replacement of the coolant. If this is true, then what is the typical procedure?

a. Perform the first change to extended life coolant, run system for a short while, say a month, then flush the second time, or,

b. Perform the first change to extended life coolant, run system for 2 years, then flush the second time.

I say in b. above as regular coolant is good for 2 years anyway, so why waste 2 years' use of coolant?

Anyone have input, or is there some secret coolant manufacturer marketing code I don't understand?

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #3 – June 12, 2011, 11:18:22 am

Peter,

Right after I bought the coach, it had the green looking antifreeze, so idea what brand, so decided to change it. Bought Prestone for auto and trucks and put it in only to find out a short time later, that I should have bought an antifreeze that is approved for use in Cummins engines and it should say so on the container. So I changed it again. Unapproved coolant might lead to cavitation on the cylinder liners which erodes the metal, a hole in the liner and an engine failure/overhaul $$$. Some of the approved antifreezes require the coolant filter with pellets and some require a coolant filter without the pellets.

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #4 – June 12, 2011, 11:26:09 am

Peter,

Forgot to add. Just my personal opinion that if the system is flushed with water a couple of times between changes, that would be sufficient. Run the engine or drive a few miles to heat up the water and have the dash heater valve open.

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #5 – June 12, 2011, 11:44:24 am

"Regular" Prestone is not approved by any diesel engine manufacturer.

Prestone does, however make a "Low silicate for diesels coolant with added SCA's" and MAY (I don't know, as have not checked on this) make an ELC (Extended Life Coolant) as well.

Use regular automotive coolant and you will be buying a new engine. Without the SCA's or the additives in a long life coolant, the cylinder liners will erode! Your engine owners manual will give you the mil-specs of approved coolants.

And if done properly, changing to an ELC gives you the full 6 year protection without the need to test and add SCA's. But with regular "for diesel" coolant, you MUST check and add SCA's. They are used up as a sacrificial element to protect the cylinder liners.

Brett

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #6 – June 12, 2011, 12:05:08 pm

After reading about all the hot weather, plus having owned our U300 for almost two years, I thought I would do a coolant change. Here is the official Detroit Diesel coolant website: http://www.detroitdiesel.com/pdf/vocations/Coolant-Selections.pdf Reading the PDF, I can see there are differing requirements dependent on the engine model. This PDF covers the do and do nots and "what will happen" for coolants and addresses the use of tap water to mix with the anti-freeze. A good read for those of us with two or four cycle Detroits. Have not found an volume discounter for the proper coolant but will post if I do.

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #7 – June 12, 2011, 05:03:04 pm

Yes, ELC coolants give you "protection for 6 years", but most, maybe all, specify (in small print) that "6 years" is predicated on the "addition of an additive package at 3 years..". Many folks don't read that part and then, by default, you have a 3-year coolant. Don't ask me how I know that!

And don't forget the Generator has coolant, too!

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #8 – June 12, 2011, 07:02:02 pm

Hi all,
Does anyone know the cooling system capacity for the M-11/450 Cummins engine in a 1197 U 320?
Thanks,

Raymond

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #9 – June 12, 2011, 08:30:16 pm

Quote from: Raymond Jordan – June 12, 2011, 07:02:02 pm

Hi all,
Does anyone know the cooling system capacity for the M-11/450 Cummins engine in a 1197 U 320?
Thanks,

Raymond

Appox 16 Gl.

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #10 – June 13, 2011, 01:58:39 am

Thanks Barry!
Raymond

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #11 – June 13, 2011, 05:57:21 am

Check out Cummins Optimax system. No need to change antifreeze ever unless contaminated. Just check chemistry every 6 months with test strips, adding extender as required, and change specified filter every 3 years.

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #12 – June 13, 2011, 11:21:20 am

Hi all,
Do any of the bigger stores carry an approved coolant? Like the Wal-Marts, Advanced Autos, etc. My last change was by the factory. I'm sure I can do it for less $$$.
Thanks,
Raymond

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #13 – June 13, 2011, 02:19:05 pm

I've looked at the big box stores to no avail. Today I went to the local Cummins dealer and bought a gallon of the concentrate and mixed it with distilled water 50-50. Now I'm good to go and have no worries. The Fleetguard stuff is about $27 per gallon with the Cummins Power Club dicount (10%).

I don't have a NAPA close by, you may want to check with them or at any truck stop like T/A or Pilot/FJ.

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #14 – June 13, 2011, 05:01:24 pm

If you can use regular vehicle antifreeze in your particular engine like my Detroit, Orielly has Peak 50/50 on sale for $6.

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #15 – June 13, 2011, 05:26:22 pm

Kent, My Cummins needs the DCA additive for the engine coolant. So I'd better use the DCA or suffer the consequences, which I most definitely do not!

The Cummins No. is CC2830 which is an extended life coolant and this includes the DCA required. My filter spec is also the WF2071 which has a DCA charge as well. I would have bought the test strips but the only package they had was a 50 pack for $70 with an expiration date of August 2011...sooooo... no go there.

I left kinda confused as I had thought that if the filter had the DCA the coolant did not have to have any DCA. I think I'll call Cummins and ask them directly.

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #16 – June 13, 2011, 05:35:24 pm

Quote from: Peter & Beth – June 13, 2011, 05:26:22 pm

Kent, My Cummins needs the DCA additive for the engine coolant. So I'd better use the DCA or suffer the consequences, which I most definitely do not!

The Cummins No. is CC2830 which is an extended life coolant and this includes the DCA required. My filter spec is also the WF2071 which has a DCA charge as well. I would have bought the test strips but the only package they had was a 50 pack for $70 with an expiration date of August 2011...sooooo... no go there.

I left kinda confused as I had thought that if the filter had the DCA the coolant did not have to have any DCA. I think I'll call Cummins and ask them directly.

Peter, I think you are right. All of the Cummins engines except the B5.9 require the special Diesel antifreeze with the anti bubbling additive. As I understand it some of the Cat engines, the 6V92 and maybe other Detroits and the Cummins 5.9 can run regular automotive antifreeze since they are dry sleeve engines.

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #17 – June 13, 2011, 05:38:25 pm

Kent,

Caterpillar even recommends SCA (unless using an OAT-based ELC) for their patent bore (non-linered engines).

I would be surprised if Detroit Diesel did not require it in all their engines as well.

Brett

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #18 – June 13, 2011, 06:04:57 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – June 13, 2011, 05:38:25 pm

Kent,

Caterpillar even recommends SCA (unless using an OAT-based ELC) for their patent bore (non-linered engines).

I would be surprised if Detroit Diesel did not require it in all their engines as well.

Brett

My coach has the green antifreeze in it now and to my knowledge, the PO was a stickler for proper maintenance. I hope Pierce or Bill Chaplin will chime before the Peek sale goes off. I think I read a tech bulletin in this regard. I will try to find it.

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #19 – June 14, 2011, 01:22:47 pm

Hi all,
Will this coolant work in the M-11 Cummins? It's called Final Charge, 50/50 mix. I hope the attachment shows. It's stocked in my local Pep Boys. It's is Cat EC-1 compliant.

Thanks again,
Raymond

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #20 – June 14, 2011, 02:21:12 pm

If it meets the Cummins spec., it will say so on the back.

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #21 – June 14, 2011, 02:27:59 pm

Quote from: amos.harrison – June 14, 2011, 02:21:12 pm

If it meets the Cummins spec., it will say so on the back.

Here's the website Final Charge 50/50 Pre-Diluted Antifreeze .

Says it meets "Cummins 14603". Is that the desired spec?

Descriptor states "FINAL CHARGE 50/50 Pre-Diluted Global Extended Life Coolant features a patented Organic Acid Technology (OAT) formula that delivers total cooling system protection for 600,000 miles of on-road use (6 years of 12,000 hours or off-highway use) without the use of Supplemental Coolant Additives (SCAs). The only maintenance required is the addition of FINAL CHARGE Extender at 300,000 to 400,000 miles of on-road use (3 years or 6,000 hours of off-highway use). When required, you should also top-off the cooling system with FINAL CHARGE or FINAL CHARGE 50/50 Pre-diluted Global Extended Life Coolant/Antifreeze.

FINAL CHARGE 50/50 Pre-Diluted Global Extended Life Coolant is a phosphate-free, silicate-free, nitrite- free and borate-free globally formulated coolant which uses proprietary organic corrosion inhibitors to provide superior wet sleeve liner cavitation and corrosion protection of all cooling system metals. "

Michelle

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #22 – June 14, 2011, 03:25:47 pm

Here is a link to ELC suppliers: Diesel Forum - TheDieselStop.com - View Single Post - Locating ELC (Extended . Looks as if the keyword is TMC RP 329 and RP 338 It should have this on the site/back of container. Here is the Shell site for an example: SHELL ROTELLA ELC EXTENDED LIFE - Buy Online Now! SHELL ROTELLA ELC EXTENDED In reading this, it appears it will do the job for Extended Life Coolant on all engines a Foretravel might have. Shell's price for a case of 6 (12 gallons of coolant) is about $92. Must be a sale to bring this down $20 or so.

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #23 – June 14, 2011, 03:53:28 pm

Ray Jordan Asked: "Will this coolant work in the M-11 Cummins? It's called Final Charge, 50/50 mix."
Ray,
Final Charge, 50:50 is what Keith Risch, chief mechanic at Motorhomes of Texas (MOT) uses. I just switched over to it 6 months ago from a regular coolant.

Re: Prestone Extended Life Coolant

Reply #24 – June 14, 2011, 03:57:49 pm

I changed mine about 4 months ago, I followed Brett's instruction and put
in the Final Charge and a blank water filter.

Affiliate Notice