coolant change interval

[ovrszd]

I had a friend that did that to his Ford truck,,,, with the engine oil,,,
The truck was wore out at 220,000 miles,,, and burning a LOT of oil.
He figured he was money ahead not changing the oil,, he just added what it needed.

I'm too OCD for that. But not OCD enough to regularly change anti-freeze. I'm a mess.....

 

[big bubba]

well guess i can see your point of if it ain't broke.... but do like to inquire rather than repair. i keep my older vehicles/tractor rather than go for new.

this is just a maintenance question we all have to face at some point. yup, could go w/some high priced scheduled dealer maintenance or go for new vehicles, but would rather take care of what i have. & i find this forum very informative
best regards

 

[ovrszd]

well guess i can see your point of if it ain't broke.... but do like to inquire rather than repair. i keep my older vehicles/tractor rather than go for new.

this is just a maintenance question we all have to face at some point. yup, could go w/some high priced scheduled dealer maintenance or go for new vehicles, but would rather take care of what i have. & i find this forum very informative
best regards

I totally understand. Was now condemning at all. Just curious about documented proof of need from a source other than the manufacturer of the product.

 

[big bubba]

I totally understand. Was now condemning at all. Just curious about documented proof of need from a source other than the manufacturer of the product.

yup good point. in regards to preventative maintenance that question always arises. have a good grasp w/motor oil etc changes for my needs, but never really know on the coolant other than the ball test that (as i understand) may not completely cover the condition other than temp protection. thanks for your input!

 

[D7E]

I've never changed anti-freeze just for the sake of changing it............ :confused3:

Give me some proven failures because of lack of changing. For example, my 17 year old, 220K mile truck with original anti-freeze. What pending doom am I facing?

We have around 30 trucks/tractors/combines/Excavators some of which have had same antifreeze for almost 20 years . Only gets changed when hose or rad blows or is visibly dirty .

 

[ovrszd]

We have around 30 trucks/tractors/combines/Excavators some of which have had same antifreeze for almost 20 years . Only gets changed when hose or rad blows or is visibly dirty .

That's proof enough for me.

 

[big bubba]

We have around 30 trucks/tractors/combines/Excavators some of which have had same antifreeze for almost 20 years . Only gets changed when hose or rad blows or is visibly dirty .

well good info. this is the kind of empirical evidence i was interested in. we always have the suggested dealer/manu theoretical recommendations, but no substitute for actual field experience. guess i'll extend my coolant changes....having said that, i don't discount adventure bob's note re: ph check in addition to the floating balls. thx for all responses

 

[DK35vince]

We have around 30 trucks/tractors/combines/Excavators some of which have had same antifreeze for almost 20 years . Only gets changed when hose or rad blows or is visibly dirty .

And you can often get away with that.
Some times you can't. I've seen several wet sleeve engines where the anti freeze was neglected have cavitation, where they had pin holes from the outside of the cylinder walls in.
Needed a complete engine over haul because of it.

 

[ovrszd]

And you can often get away with that.
Some times you can't. I've seen several wet sleeve engines where the anti freeze was neglected have cavitation, where they had pin holes from the outside of the cylinder walls in.
Needed a complete engine over haul because of it.

Please take no offense. Can you valid that with some confirmed documentation?

 

[murph1]

Please take no offense. Can you valid that with some confirmed documentation?

How is he gonna do that?

 

[ovrszd]

How is he gonna do that?

Probly not....

 

[big bubba]

And you can often get away with that.
Some times you can't. I've seen several wet sleeve engines where the anti freeze was neglected have cavitation, where they had pin holes from the outside of the cylinder walls in.
Needed a complete engine over haul because of it.

i have read that cavation can occur with improper type of coolant. can't really say more than that...a search here might produce some hits on that subject.

 

[murph1]

Me I would sooner change coolant than change a waterpump or a radiator. Especially in my Merc as the engine would need a teardown

 

[CADplans]

Please take no offense. Can you valid that with some confirmed documentation?

Something,,, like this??

https://www.cumminsfiltration.com/s...oduct_lit/asia_pacific_brochures/3300963A.pdf

We need someone patient enough to read and comprehend the article,,,
it is the wrong time of the day for me to read it,,,, :confused2:

I am just kidding,, :laughing: it a short read,, and has pics of the damage!!

I switched to Rotella antifreeze in all of my diesels after I first heard of this.

 

[TractorGuy]

Haven't seen it in a long time but used to see a lot of radiators get clogged with buildup. Antifreeze solution would be clean and green but the coolant couldn't flow. More than likely people were filling with 50% hard water but who knows.

That lifetime Rotella reads ""fill-for-life" in conjunction with a monitoring program and the use of Rotella ELC Extender" so not exactly a forever solution with no maintenance. I used in in my diesel generator though.

 

[DK35vince]

Please take no offense. Can you valid that with some confirmed documentation?

No.
Don't care if you believe it or not, but I do. I've seen it happen on a wet sleeved engines.

 

[adventure bob]

PH indicates that the glycol in your coolant is breaking down. As Glycol breaks down (age and heat) it breaks into Glycolic and Formic acid. As it does it lowers the PH of the mixture gets around 7 it starts to contribute to corrosion. The floaty ball tester only tell you how much stuff other than water is in your coolant mixture, and giving you an indication of its heat properties. PH tells you the condition of it.

 

[big bubba]

PH indicates that the glycol in your coolant is breaking down. As Glycol breaks down (age and heat) it breaks into Glycolic and Formic acid. As it does it lowers the PH of the mixture gets around 7 it starts to contribute to corrosion. The floaty ball tester only tell you how much stuff other than water is in your coolant mixture, and giving you an indication of its heat properties. PH tells you the condition of it.

thanks, this is the info that i was looking for in my original question. was not aware of the PH issue. will continue to change coolant within 5 yr intervals, fairly inexpensive as i do that kind of maintenance on my own. best regards

 

[ovrszd]

Something,,, like this??

https://www.cumminsfiltration.com/s...oduct_lit/asia_pacific_brochures/3300963A.pdf

We need someone patient enough to read and comprehend the article,,,
it is the wrong time of the day for me to read it,,,, :confused2:

I am just kidding,, :laughing: it a short read,, and has pics of the damage!!

I switched to Rotella antifreeze in all of my diesels after I first heard of this.

Thanks for the link. Very informative.

Clearly and repeatedly states SCA in the system can be properly balanced by using a proper coolant filter which contains DCA4. This filter should be changed on the same frequency cycle as the oil filter.

Just curious, how many readers have such a filter in their engine coolant systems?

Makes absolutely no mention of changing coolant to maintain this ideal condition.

 

[Copperhead]

Something,,, like this??

https://www.cumminsfiltration.com/s...oduct_lit/asia_pacific_brochures/3300963A.pdf

We need someone patient enough to read and comprehend the article,,,
it is the wrong time of the day for me to read it,,,, :confused2:

I am just kidding,, :laughing: it a short read,, and has pics of the damage!!

I switched to Rotella antifreeze in all of my diesels after I first heard of this.

Only problem with that link is it is outdated to some degree, as well as being out of country. Tradtional coolants for wet sleeve engines did require addition of SCA's periodically and testing to see if the proper level was adequate to prevent liner cavitation. The newer ELC coolants don't require the use of SCA's and periodic testing of additive concentration. One of the reasons that Cummins, and all the other heavy engine manufacturers, now factory fill with ELC coolants. And the primary reason I have been using ELC coolants for over a decade now. Takes out all the guesswork and provide superior liner protection, as well as added water pump lubrication. ELC coolants are definitely where it is at if one wants the best protection. I use the same ELC coolant for everything I own that as a liquid cooled engine. From my Cadillac on up thru my heavy commercial truck. Even the JD Gator.