bindian
Super Member
Fieldserviceengineer,
Thanks for the updated information. How about a photo of your B model?
hugs, Brandi
Thanks for the updated information. How about a photo of your B model?
hugs, Brandi
How to calculate the amount of SCA/DCA needed.
- Thread starter DieselPower
- Start date
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fieldserviceengineer
Bronze Member
If you test your coolant with SCA test strips, you should look for an SCA level ranging from 1.5 to 3.0 units per gallon (Fleetguard method). You can find test strips by Donaldson, Baldwin or Fleetguard. I will caution against the Fleetguard foil-wrapped test strips at this time. We have had some issues with them failing before they go out of date. The nitrite pad (top) may turn to a light tan to brown. If so, the strips are bad. As far as I can recall neither Baldwin nor Donaldson offer their test strips in foil wrap singles or 4 packs, only Fleetguard. You could go to a Cummins distributor and get a coolant test from them if they use the bottled product. If you test with the Penray test strips or any strip that measures nitrite levels only, look for a range of 1200 PPM nitrite to 3200 PPM.
fieldserviceengineer
Bronze Member
Dodge with Cummins B5.9 or ISB 5.9 do not require nor need coolant with SCA.
PowerStroke will definitely need SCA dosing.
Ford originally filled those with Motorcraft Premium Gold long life antifreeze. That coolant has nitrite in it along with an organic acid cavitation inhibitor. No problems with boosting the SCA level in the FORD with either VC8 liquid from Ford or DCA4 or Baldwin BTA. You can also add the older DCA2 nitrite-only additive as well as Baldwin BTE and Donaldson liquid inhibitors. Really, any inhibitor that has nitrite or nitrite and molybdate will work fine. Test your coolant to see what level of SCA you have. If it has none, add one pint per 3 gallons capacity and then add an additional pint per year as a service replacement dose. SCA chemicals are sacrificial and must be replaced.
As for the Kioti or any other engine for somebody reading this, check your Operation and Maintenance Manual for recommendations on antifreeze type or if you should use an SCA on a maintenance interval.
fieldserviceengineer
Bronze Member
I have a 2002 5.9 with one long valve cover. I never have read anything about additives for mine. DO I need it?
hugs, Brandi
Cummins does not require the use of an SCA for the 5.9L or new ISB 6.7L engines in Dodge pickups.
for a picture of my decrepit model B which has been dismanteled for over 7 years and slowly put back together send me an email (look in my bio)
scsims
Silver Member
Where can you buy the test strips? I've looked at Tractor Supply and Oreily's and cant' find them.
Also I can't find any prediluted Heavy Duy coolants with SCA. Tractor Supply had Fleet Charge but it's full strenght. If I get that what kind of water can you use?
Also I can't find any prediluted Heavy Duy coolants with SCA. Tractor Supply had Fleet Charge but it's full strenght. If I get that what kind of water can you use?
boomer1025
Platinum Member
Use distilled or de-ionized water. Distilled is easy to find, most grocery stores have it.
fieldserviceengineer
Bronze Member
You will have to broaden your horizons on shopping!
Coolant test strips are available from Baldwin, Donaldson, Fleetguard distributors. Check their websites for locations of their distributors. Or you can usually call them toll-free and ask for a list of distributors in your area.As for pre-diluted coolants that have all necessary chemistry, you can check with Fleetguard distributors, Cummins engine distributors, Case dealers and John Deere. Call Fleetguard toll-free for a listing of their dealers in your area. John Deere dealers only sell their own product, Cool Gard II. It is a nitrite-free coolant. Test strips are useless with that product although it is a very good coolant for diesel engines. It is NOT light duty coolant nore does it have an inexpensive price. If you go with TSC for Fleet Charge, mix it 50/50 with distilled water. Always refill low coolant levels with the same product premixed as you fill with when starting a program of fully formulated coolant. Check your O&M guide to see if your tractor engine even requires it. There are diesel engines that can operate without it. If you use these high end coolants you will get excellent corrosion protection not found in standard LD coolant products.
scsims
Silver Member
You will have to broaden your horizons on shopping!
As for pre-diluted coolants that have all necessary chemistry, you can check with Fleetguard distributors, Cummins engine distributors, Case dealers and John Deere. Call Fleetguard toll-free for a listing of their dealers in your area. John Deere dealers only sell their own product, Cool Gard II. It is a nitrite-free coolant. Test strips are useless with that product although it is a very good coolant for diesel engines. It is NOT light duty coolant nore does it have an inexpensive price. If you go with TSC for Fleet Charge, mix it 50/50 with distilled water. Always refill low coolant levels with the same product premixed as you fill with when starting a program of fully formulated coolant. Check your O&M guide to see if your tractor engine even requires it. There are diesel engines that can operate without it. If you use these high end coolants you will get excellent corrosion protection not found in standard LD coolant products.
This is copied from my manual. Doesn't mention anything with SCA's in it, just low silicate. Does this mean I'm good with just a standard Diesil engine coolant?
Cooling System Protection
A common cause of the engine overheating is a rust clogged
cooling system. Rust causes overheating by interfering with
circulation and cooling. The tractors are filled with a mixture
of new low silicate antifreeze (50% - antifreeze - 50% water)
with a rust inhibitor in it.
Use of approved supplemental corrosion inhibitor along
with ethylene glycol will add increased rust prevention,
reduce scale formation, minimize cylinder wall erosion and
reduce foaming or tendency to foam.
Antifreeze : There are numerous antifreeze products
marketed today. Diesel engines are adversely affected by the
additives added to protect the aluminum surfaces.
Antifreeze suitable for diesel engines conforms to an
industry recognised standards which limits silicates to 0.1%.
Once silica-gel has formed it is very difficult and costly to
remove.
Low silicate antifreeze is available through out the United
States. We are listing below some low silicate antifreezes
that meet GM 6038 M formulation specification. There may
be other suppliers who can make available low silicate
antifreezes.
Recommended change period : 1 year or when ever the
radiator coolant is drained
fieldserviceengineer
Bronze Member
It looks to me that while the manual specifies low silicate antifreeze they do not fully understand why it should be so. Engines that need SCA must utilize low silicate as the SCA chemicals dissolve readily in coolant while silicate is difficult to keep in solution. It is much more difficult when SCA is added. Thus the recommendation against high silicate and the possibility of gel forming.
They further confuse by stating that SCA will enhance anti-corrosion properties but no mention of prevention of cavitation pitting.
Bottom line: use a fully formulated coolant even in engines that do not require cavitation pitting protection.
Nitrite in coolant while normally for pitting protection is a very potent anti-rust additive.
Molybdate found in some SCA formulaitons and antifreezes is a very robust aluminum anti-corrosion agent. While it is expensive compared to silicate it is much more effective at protection of aluminum than is silicate additives.
Fully formulated coolants with SCA also have some form of scale inhibitor which LD automotive coolants do not have. Antifeeze products that conform to ASTM D4985 are not automatically treated with scale inhibitors only.
The mention of GM6038M tells me that your tractor O&M manual is way behind the times. That was a spec used twenty years ago. A more up to date spec is the ASTM D4985 low silicate specification. The 4985 spec calls for low silicate but still needing the SCA to be added. It was not part of that spec.
Use any coolant meeting ASTM D6210 for the latest in spec coolants. To get the more robust formulations, use a coolant like Fleetguard ES Compleat premix. Just fill the system after you have drained and flushed to remove any impurities. There is also a Shell coolant with nitrite and molybdate, Shell Diesel Ready.
They further confuse by stating that SCA will enhance anti-corrosion properties but no mention of prevention of cavitation pitting.
Bottom line: use a fully formulated coolant even in engines that do not require cavitation pitting protection.
Nitrite in coolant while normally for pitting protection is a very potent anti-rust additive.
Molybdate found in some SCA formulaitons and antifreezes is a very robust aluminum anti-corrosion agent. While it is expensive compared to silicate it is much more effective at protection of aluminum than is silicate additives.
Fully formulated coolants with SCA also have some form of scale inhibitor which LD automotive coolants do not have. Antifeeze products that conform to ASTM D4985 are not automatically treated with scale inhibitors only.
The mention of GM6038M tells me that your tractor O&M manual is way behind the times. That was a spec used twenty years ago. A more up to date spec is the ASTM D4985 low silicate specification. The 4985 spec calls for low silicate but still needing the SCA to be added. It was not part of that spec.
Use any coolant meeting ASTM D6210 for the latest in spec coolants. To get the more robust formulations, use a coolant like Fleetguard ES Compleat premix. Just fill the system after you have drained and flushed to remove any impurities. There is also a Shell coolant with nitrite and molybdate, Shell Diesel Ready.