Antifreeze- is any type OK?

[frankc]

SO,
DieselPower, are you implying that the FLEET CHARGE purple is not appropriate anti-freeze for our tractors or even my 7.3 powerstroke? I have read many of your posts and feel your insight is very valuable. I thought based on the qualifications on the FLEET CHARGE stuff that it meet fords spec for the 7.3 powerstroke and since it met that it would be ok for us in a Kubota/Yanmar engine. I don't recall where they refer to it as an extended life anti-freeze, simply as a pre-charged SCA low-silicate anti-freeze. Is there something else I should know????

thanks again

Frank

 

[dmccarty]

Be careful with assuming that just because one coolent is green that another green coolent is the same. One really needs to read the manual and the labels on the container.

My Ford came with a gold colored coolent. If I could have found it I would have replaced it with an Extended Life Coolent for diesels. I ended up using JD coolent since it was the same type as the Ford antifreeze. The JD is green.

What really ticked me off is that I took the truck to a shop to get it flushed before the antifreeze change. Figured they could do it easier than I and get the old stuff disposed of properly. Well I was wrong. They did not flush not could they find a new lower radiator hose. This place usually does very good work but they messed up that day.

Later,
Dan

 

[sunspot]

This post has reminded me that I need to do a flush and re-fill. Would this Napa product work? Other than Auto-Zone, I am limited in my choice of stores. Would Wal-Mart carry the correct coolant?


NAPAONLINE®

 

[3RRL]

This post has reminded me that I need to do a flush and re-fill. Would this Napa product work? Other than Auto-Zone, I am limited in my choice of stores. Would Wal-Mart carry the correct coolant?


NAPAONLINE®

Sunspot,
If you're getting it from Napa, they carry everything I bought in that link above. I got all of it there, so your Napa store can get it too. You might need to call them and have them bring it in for you, but they can get it for sure.

 

[plowking]

I use the Shell Rotello ELC premixed 50/50 coolant in my Freightliner, it is suppose to be good for up to 200-300 thousand miles if not contaminated with different coolant. Sticker on firewall specifies what to use. It is more available now,five years ago it was hard to find. plowking

 

[DieselPower]

SO,
DieselPower, are you implying that the FLEET CHARGE purple is not appropriate anti-freeze for our tractors or even my 7.3 powerstroke? I have read many of your posts and feel your insight is very valuable. I thought based on the qualifications on the FLEET CHARGE stuff that it meet fords spec for the 7.3 powerstroke and since it met that it would be ok for us in a Kubota/Yanmar engine. I don't recall where they refer to it as an extended life anti-freeze, simply as a pre-charged SCA low-silicate anti-freeze. Is there something else I should know????

thanks again

Frank

Sorry for the delay in answering Frank. Must have missed this post somehow. The "FLEET CHARGE" you mention, who makes it? It sounds like it's a heavy duty coolant that is suitable for diesel engines. The only thing that makes me scratch my head is your second to last sentence. Pre-charged SCA low-silicate?? SCA stands for supplemental coolant additive which is basically just a carrier fluid with nitrates and silicates and usually a anti-corrosion additive package. How can it be a low-silicate with SCA added? Got me. Wasn't it so much easier when the only color you had to pick from was green. Kind of like old Henry Ford use to say. You can have it in any color as long as it's black.

 

[AlanB]

Conventional Antifreeze in Heavy

We use Fleetcharge as well as what we recycle.

DP, there are several add pack's out there now that are not using as much (or some I believe any) silicates. This is one of the reasons you have to be careful as to what test strips you are using, will show good or bad on others AF because they are using different addpacks.

I believe Fleet Charge is an Old World product (would have to dig for a second to verify that if needed)

Actually, I hope and assume he is referring to the same "fleet charge" I am familiar with.

 

[frankc]

Thanks for the reply guys! The FLEET CHARGE I'm speaking of is a heavy duty diesel anti-freeze that is sold at TSC stores and other Auto parts stores, has a picture of a big rig right on the bottle. Say's it's PRE-Charged for diesel applications. THE LINK ALAN POSTED IS THE STUFF I'M SPEAKING ABOUT!

I definitely agree on THIS IS WAY TO COMPLICATED! How in the world did we get to where there are 20 different ways to make anti-freeze???? I could deal with 3, Regular, Extended life, diesel w/SCA. Why in the world does it have to be more complicated than that??

My worry is that although it says it's pre-charged for diesel's is it the right type of pre-charge for MY diesels???????

Frank

 

[AlanB]

Frank, in the FWIW category, you are using the product I would reccomend.

 

[frankc]

THANKS ALAN, that sure is re-assuring, I'd hate to be so diligent as to doing all this preventative maintenance and then find out I screwed myself by using the wrong product.

By the way, what brand/type of test strips are you using and where do you get them from. When I ask my boys at the Napa store for these they look at me like I have two heads?

Frank