Antifreeze green or pink

Topic: Antifreeze green or pink (Read 1176 times) previous topic - next topic

Antifreeze green or pink

April 21, 2016, 06:37:02 pm

OK I need antifreeze. Can anyone tell me if there is any difference between Pink SCA and Green SCA based antifreeze. Mine is green SCA and all I can find is Pink SCA based

Roland

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #1 – April 21, 2016, 07:40:51 pm

Roland......this information I got directly from Cummins.........use ANY coolant (color does not matter) that MEETS CUMMINS 14603 specifications. Mine happens to be purple.

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #2 – April 21, 2016, 08:18:32 pm

I bought some pink stuff by mistake but it does meet the Cummins spec. Can't find the green anywhere. Thanks for the info Twig.

Roland

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #3 – April 22, 2016, 09:09:38 am

Please don't make the mistake of identifying coolant type by color as 90% of mechanics do. There is no uniform color code. SCA containing antifreeze can be several different types, any color. Propylene glycol, ethylene glycol..... The rub is, while either of several formulations may be approved for your engine, they types don't necessarily mix or play well together.

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #4 – April 22, 2016, 09:20:39 am

Well, that makes it clear as mud

So, if you don't know what you have in there now, how do you find the best playmate fot it?

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #5 – April 22, 2016, 09:42:11 am

Larry,

If you don't know what is in there, and you are only down less than a gallon, best advice is to just add distilled water. Then test the coolant after a week or so. Better than contaminating the system.

Test strips: http://www.wixfilters.com/Lookup/PartDetails.aspx?Part=22873

Be aware that they do have a reasonably short shelf life. Do NOT use if expired, they are unreliable. Most all shops that work on HD diesels have these or other brand test strips in stock.

Note: these strips are ONLY for "low silicate for diesel with added SCA" coolant, NOT the OAT-based coolant.

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #6 – April 22, 2016, 09:59:13 am

Thanks Brett. I just thought that sometimes the answers raise more questions.

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #7 – April 22, 2016, 10:01:57 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – April 22, 2016, 09:42:11 am

If you don't know what is in there, and you are only down less than a gallon, best advice is to just add distilled water. Then test the coolant after a week or so. Better than contaminating the system.

Excellent advice (as Brett always provides).

I would also suggest that it might be a good time to thoroughly flush the system and change the coolant filter and install new OAT antifreeze. I did that last year and installed Peak Final Charge Global PEAK Commercial & Industrial | PEAKhd.com and a new "blank" coolant filter and now feel confident about what's in the cooling system.

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #8 – April 22, 2016, 10:14:22 am

David,

I totally agree. If you do not know the age or kind of coolant and will be keeping the coach, a complete flush and fill is an excellent idea.

Here are some step by step instructions for doing it correctly: ***Changing Coolant-- A Step By Step Description***

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #9 – April 22, 2016, 01:46:48 pm

OK after reading all the responses I searched my records to determine what I had for antifreeze not based on color. I have ethelyne glycol antifreeze and it is green. The " pink " stuff I bought is also ethelyne glycol based with SCA and meets the Cummins' specification. So guess I can mix pink and green, wonder what color I will end up with.

What started all this was coolant loss due to a bad gasket on the radiator cap. Getting a new radiator cap is a whole other story and I am still in the process. Thanks to all for your responses, the forum comes through once again.

Roland

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #10 – April 22, 2016, 02:22:03 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – April 22, 2016, 09:42:11 am

If you don't know what is in there, and you are only down less than a gallon, best advice is to just add distilled water. Then test the coolant after a week or so.

Yup, our CAT advice is the same, and yes, our coolant needs refreshing after six years, which is what CAT (& Brett) suggest.

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #11 – April 22, 2016, 05:29:01 pm

Mike,

Actually with the Caterpillar ELC (properly flushed and changed!), its published life is 6 years/600,000 miles. With a "booster" if driving over 300,000 miles during that time.

I would not be afraid to have it tested and extend to 7-8 years if OK in low mile applications.

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #12 – April 22, 2016, 06:21:13 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – April 22, 2016, 05:29:01 pm

I would not be afraid to have it tested and extend to 7-8 years if OK in low mile applications.

Thanks Brett, we are "low mile" folks, these days. As you know, we are neither "pink or blue" with our CAT.

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #13 – April 22, 2016, 06:35:57 pm

Mike,

Better be "strawberry"! If not, someone has contaminated it.

Also, should have a coolant filter BLANK (no SCA).

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Antifreeze green or pink

April 21, 2016, 06:37:02 pm

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #1 – April 21, 2016, 07:40:51 pm

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #2 – April 21, 2016, 08:18:32 pm

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #3 – April 22, 2016, 09:09:38 am

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #4 – April 22, 2016, 09:20:39 am

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #5 – April 22, 2016, 09:42:11 am

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #6 – April 22, 2016, 09:59:13 am

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #7 – April 22, 2016, 10:01:57 am

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #8 – April 22, 2016, 10:14:22 am

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #9 – April 22, 2016, 01:46:48 pm

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #10 – April 22, 2016, 02:22:03 pm

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #11 – April 22, 2016, 05:29:01 pm

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #12 – April 22, 2016, 06:21:13 pm

Re: Antifreeze green or pink

Reply #13 – April 22, 2016, 06:35:57 pm

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