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Topic: need knowledge about coolant (Read 923 times) previous topic - next topic

need knowledge about coolant

I have read the old threads here, and lots of other website information, and I am so lost.  What do I do regarding coolant?  I know there are test strips - I bought a small package of the Fleetguard 3-way.  I have the yellow-green coolant that came to me with the coach.  Is the extended life stuff always red?  The Cummins sites talk about DCA2 and DCA4, as does the back of the test strip package.  Is this the stuff I use, or is it just for Cummins?  (I have a Cat).  Is SCA different from the DCA2 and DCA4?  Is any of this used with extended service coolant?  When the test strip package talks about standard service intervals and extended service intervals, are they talking about standard service coolant and extended service coolant, or intervals based on severity of usage?

Help...

oldMattB
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: need knowledge about coolant

Reply #1 –
Matt,

Let's start with the basics-- what coolant do you have in there now? 

How old is it? 

What readings do you have on the 3-way test strips: pH, freeze point and SCA?

Brett
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: need knowledge about coolant

Reply #2 –
I have green stuff that came in the recently-purchased motorhome.  No partial container and no recent records.

I don't know when it was installed.

The test strips I have show freezepoint at -60 degrees C
Molybdate at 300 PPM
Nitrite at 300 PPM
That gives 1.0 SCA units per gallon

oldMattB
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: need knowledge about coolant

Reply #3 –
Matt,

What was the pH? 

And, those SCA readings are LOW.

And, coolant color doesn't really tell you much. Green could be a proper "low silicate for diesel coolant" or even totally improper Prestone from Walmart for gas engines.

Were it mine, and I did not know the kind of the coolant, age of the coolant or how it had been maintained, I would change it ASAP.

The cost of coolant is very low compared with a radiator, water pump failure or engine.

Brett

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: need knowledge about coolant

Reply #4 –
Good advice, I am sure.

The Fleetguard 3-Way test strip does not check pH, unless it is called one of those other things.

Am I using the right thing?  The chart shows a SCA per gallon of 1.2 as acceptable.

So what do I change it to?

oldMattB
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: need knowledge about coolant

Reply #5 –
Matt,

Most of us have changed to one of the newer, better OAT-based coolants such as Caterpillar ELC,  Fleetguard and others also have them.

No SCA testing/adding and longer life.

In fact I just posted the proper change procedure over on the Caterpillar RV Engine Owners Club Yahoo technical website: Yahoo! Groups

Brett
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: need knowledge about coolant

Reply #6 –
Will do.  So the OAT is ELC, but ELC is not necessary OAT.  SCA does not come in OAT, will not harm the CAT, but makes the ELC into EG.  DCA2 and DCA4 are for EG but not OAT or most ELC, unless the OAT has been diluted with EG so it is no longer ELC and might need SCA, just as would EG.

Right?

oldMattB
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: need knowledge about coolant

Reply #7 –
And a serious question.  I read somewhere about removing the filter base when converting to OAT.  I gathered elsewhere that we can retain the filter base, and replace the filter with a non-SCA filter.

Is that so?

oldMattB
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: need knowledge about coolant

Reply #8 –
Quote from: oldmattb –
And a serious question.  I read somewhere about removing the filter base when converting to OAT.  I gathered elsewhere that we can retain the filter base, and replace the filter with a non-SCA filter.

Is that so?

oldMattB

Yes, you will but on what is known as a filter blank-- a filter with zero SCA.
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: need knowledge about coolant

Reply #9 –
Quote from: oldmattb –
Will do.  So the OAT is ELC, but ELC is not necessary OAT.  SCA does not come in OAT, will not harm the CAT, but makes the ELC into EG.  DCA2 and DCA4 are for EG but not OAT or most ELC, unless the OAT has been diluted with EG so it is no longer ELC and might need SCA, just as would EG.

Right?


oldMattB

Matt,

I am not sure if you were trying to be funny, but if so you made me laugh.  Thanks.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: need knowledge about coolant

Reply #10 –
Quote from: George Stoltz –
Quote from: oldmattb –
Will do.  So the OAT is ELC, but ELC is not necessary OAT.  SCA does not come in OAT, will not harm the CAT, but makes the ELC into EG.  DCA2 and DCA4 are for EG but not OAT or most ELC, unless the OAT has been diluted with EG so it is no longer ELC and might need SCA, just as would EG.

Right?


oldMattB

Matt,

I am not sure if you were trying to be funny, but if so you made me laugh.  Thanks.

Today it is funny (and actually pretty accurate).  A few days ago it was pretty serious.

oldMattB
Matt B
1998 u-320