Its crazy how confusing this can be.
Antifreeze, Which do you perfer?
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 0
From: Dongola, IL
Read this, it sums it up about as well as anything else I have read.
Universal Coolant: The Ultimate Antifreeze?
Somewhere I have a link to a few sites that go into a bit more depth, but I don't know where the links are right now.
Can't remember which computer they were on.
Universal Coolant: The Ultimate Antifreeze?
Somewhere I have a link to a few sites that go into a bit more depth, but I don't know where the links are right now.
Can't remember which computer they were on.
The only difference that would be significant is that the injector cups on an OBS are bronze and the SD use Stainless steel cups. The rest of the cooling system is the same. But I have also been run Zerex G-05 (ford gold equiv, I think!) for a few years without issue yet! Maybe one day I will though. And if I do I will just replaced my 280K injector cups.
I guess it isn't all that big a deal to me to be able to use ELC, I just thought it might be nice to have a longer lasting coolant.
I wonder if the VC-9 flush like you do on the 6.0L is any good for the 7.3L? Ok, I'll get out of here and quit hijacking the thread
Thanks!
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
Likes: 3
From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
Yes you can use the SS cups in the OBS head. As far as I know they both use the same sealant (sleeve retainer loctite).
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Last night I did a bunch of reading.
The best answer I came up with, under certain operating conditions there have been some problems with seal failure using OAT coolants on older diesel engines.
90% of the owners will not have any problems.
But even after reading almost everything I could find, I never saw what operating conditions put you into the 10% that will have problems.
The only thing I did find "SEEMED" to indicate high coolant temperature operation "MIGHT" be the operating condition that lead to seal/sealant failure.
I know I have an article somewhere on one of my computers or one of the external hard drives I store stuff on that goes into it a little deeper.
I will be looking for it, just have to get the CRS to slack off a bit.
Just hope it was not on one of the hard drives that crashed that taught me to save copies on external hard drives.
The best answer I came up with, under certain operating conditions there have been some problems with seal failure using OAT coolants on older diesel engines.
90% of the owners will not have any problems.
But even after reading almost everything I could find, I never saw what operating conditions put you into the 10% that will have problems.
The only thing I did find "SEEMED" to indicate high coolant temperature operation "MIGHT" be the operating condition that lead to seal/sealant failure.
I know I have an article somewhere on one of my computers or one of the external hard drives I store stuff on that goes into it a little deeper.
I will be looking for it, just have to get the CRS to slack off a bit.
Just hope it was not on one of the hard drives that crashed that taught me to save copies on external hard drives.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,168
Likes: 10
From: San Ramon Ca.
The only difference that would be significant is that the injector cups on an OBS are bronze and the SD use Stainless steel cups. The rest of the cooling system is the same. But I have also been run Zerex G-05 (ford gold equiv, I think!) for a few years without issue yet! Maybe one day I will though. And if I do I will just replaced my 280K injector cups.
I remember being told on here that the Superdutys don't have the stainless cups. Only the IH specific 7.3. Some clarification would be nice.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
I'm a powerstroke newbie driving a 96 F350 4X4. All this is pretty daunting and i didnt get a manual with mine so what should i be running for coolant and additive? I better get it changed who knows what might be in there or how long its been in there for. Should I flush it also?
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 0
The carboxylate inhibitors in ELC deplete very slowly. Furthermore, the carboxylates
provide protection of wet sleeve cylinder liners, which eliminates the need for routine
testing of coolant for nitrite and/or molybdate levels.
provide protection of wet sleeve cylinder liners, which eliminates the need for routine
testing of coolant for nitrite and/or molybdate levels.
When the cooling system is
maintained properly and ELC (or equivalent) is used for top up, there is no need to
conduct routine testing for inhibitor levels. Therefore, when it comes to cooling system
maintenance and testing, we suggest a focus on three areas for best maintenance practices:
maintained properly and ELC (or equivalent) is used for top up, there is no need to
conduct routine testing for inhibitor levels. Therefore, when it comes to cooling system
maintenance and testing, we suggest a focus on three areas for best maintenance practices:
��
Freeze Point Testing
��
Proper Top Up
�� Cat S•O•S program
The organic acids used in ELC’s additive package have been neutralized to form
highly effective corrosion inhibitors often referred to as carboxylates. The difference is
they are “organic” acids versus the “inorganic” acids found in standard heavy-duty
coolants. The use of acids as corrosion inhibitors is not new. Conventional coolants
contain inorganic inhibitors such as phosphate and/or borate, which are derived from
phosphoric acid and boric acid respectively.highly effective corrosion inhibitors often referred to as carboxylates. The difference is
they are “organic” acids versus the “inorganic” acids found in standard heavy-duty
coolants. The use of acids as corrosion inhibitors is not new. Conventional coolants
contain inorganic inhibitors such as phosphate and/or borate, which are derived from
According to them it is an organic acid. From this website..........
http://www.cat.com/cda/files/87058/7/elcfaq.pdf
I'm not impressed as I just put CAT ELC in my truck when I changed my water pump and thermostate thinking that I would be fine running it............
I hope someone will tell me otherwise but looks like I'm dumping my coolant again.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
I think I'm gonna look into the Cat Diesel Engine Antifreeze Coolant (DEAC) as is seems like it has low silicates and has the SCA already mixed in and then just needs to be tested occasionally. Because it appears that the Cat ELC is an OAT formula?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
Likes: 3
From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
The only answer that we can say for sure. Standard Green coolant with additive is a sure thing!
As for SS versus Bronze cups I will have to do some research I guess cause I can say for sure. I did just check a 99 engine sitting here at the shop and it does have bronze cups. Perhaps the cups never did change to SS or they changed later in production.
As for SS versus Bronze cups I will have to do some research I guess cause I can say for sure. I did just check a 99 engine sitting here at the shop and it does have bronze cups. Perhaps the cups never did change to SS or they changed later in production.
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