Diesel Engine Cooling Liquids ?

[FXR1969]

everybody just run 50/50 (green) anti freeze?
and for heater hose replacement ?
plain ol heater hose??

 

[JohnnyBM931A2]

You have to run diesel-specific antifreeze with the proper additives. Otherwise you risk premature engine failure, etc. Please do a search using the search function here to find more info on coolant. If you want, you can also send me a personal message.. I think I still have a partial bottle of coolant somewhere, and I can tell you exactly what coolant I used when I did mine (bought it from NAPA.) As far as hoses are concerned, if you need to replace some I would go with silicone hoses. They will last longer.

Also.. When you replace the coolant, be prepared to do a lot of flushing. The coolant in my overflow tank looked flawless, but when I actually started to drain it the coolant looked like rusty chocolate milk. My A2 takes 11 gallons of coolant, but in the end I had 54 gallons of coolant/water mix left over because I had to flush it so many times. I now have to find a place to dispose of it properly.

 

[74M35A2]

Yes, conventional heater hose is fine. Look up SCA's regarding diesel coolant. It is pertinent to wet liner engines, and degrades over time. NAPA and all heavy truck dealers will carry SCA enriched coolant. You can also get SCA enriched coolant filters if you are adding a filter. Done properly, SCA is checked and adjusted, like the pH or chlorine level in a swimming pool, for example. The NAPA and Cummins stuff is red in color. Traditional green would be OK for short time if it was at risk of freezing and you just needed to get by, but I don't think that is your case if the truck is in GA with you. It is obviously less cost to buy full concentrate and then add your own water. Cascade mixed with hot water is a fabulous flush for nearly zero cost if you are flushing. Watch where you drain it, it can stain the concrete with what it pulls out of the system.

 

[Shirehorse]

I switch all the military vehicles I work on over to Rotella ELC coolant. It has excellent corrosion inhibiton properties. Also, add a coolant filter.

 

[FXR1969]

Thanks everyone!!!!

 

[frank8003]

It is cold. Stay inside and read something.
View attachment cavitation in diesel engines.pdf

 

[frank8003]

or
View attachment cavition cylinder liners 12101998.pdf

 

[WillWagner]

Stay away from the red/orange elc stuff, it will, in time eat, make soft, attack rubber parts in the system, on the 855, mostly the water rail components and the radiator tank gaskets, depending on how old they are. You need a low silicate coolant, SCA is an option, if it is not in the coolant, it can be added for conventional green/yellow coolant. ELC coolants don't like to mix with other types, it will turn the coolant thick and black. Fleetguard or Fleetrite, Cummins and Navistar brands are ELC types but they WILL mix with all antifreeze. Don't know about the CAT stuff, but I hear it is the same as red/orange and will not mix, but that is hearsay.

 

[74M35A2]

Stay away from the red/orange elc stuff, it will, in time eat, make soft, attack rubber parts in the system, on the 855, mostly the water rail components and the radiator tank gaskets, depending on how old they are. You need a low silicate coolant, SCA is an option, if it is not in the coolant, it can be added for conventional green/yellow coolant. ELC coolants don't like to mix with other types, it will turn the coolant thick and black. Fleetguard or Fleetrite, Cummins and Navistar brands are ELC types but they WILL mix with all antifreeze. Don't know about the CAT stuff, but I hear it is the same as red/orange and will not mix, but that is hearsay.

Will, I think the Cummins Fleetguard coolant is red. Are you saying not to buy this? I'm slightly confused. Is this similar to the GM Dex-Cool sludge up situation?

 

[Tow4]

I switch all the military vehicles I work on over to Rotella ELC coolant. It has excellent corrosion inhibiton properties. Also, add a coolant filter.

I do this also.

 

[FXR1969]

It is cold. Stay inside and read something.
View attachment 603223
Whoa not that cold yet!!!!! Lol !
thats a lotta reading!
and thanks again for the info!

 

[leo4x4]

I run soluble oil.
Its used to cool down cutting machines reduced my hmmwv by 5 degrees
Mix it with water.

 

[Postman515]

I use Cummins Fleetguard Es compleat with a 4sca coolant filter per cummins recommendations. Coolant filter kits coming soon for the Cummins nhc250 and 8.3L.

 

[WillWagner]

Will, I think the Cummins Fleetguard coolant is red. Are you saying not to buy this? I'm slightly confused. Is this similar to the GM Dex-Cool sludge up situation?

Nope, it is blue and mixes with everything. DexCool is bad stuff. The stat seals on my duramax were like goo when I changed them. FG went back in. If you can find it, use Fleetguard. I am still using it daily for repairs to top off systems filled with all other ELC stuff.