Did I do right??? Coolant change
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,372
Likes: 108
From: Northern Indiana
Did I do right??? Coolant change
I admit that I have been very lax about proper coolant maint. I have owed this truck for three years and haven't done anything to the coolant system. Well I plow in the winter and have been extra concerned about getting the proper stuff done. I was going to do the flush myself but since I found a place that charged me 85 bucks to do it including coolant not to mention it has been in the teens lately. So it has new coolant. So I went and bought the test strips and they said to charge the system. So I then went back to NAPA and got some NAPA Kool and added 32 ounces according to the bottle. Tested the coolant again after a 20 mile drive and cool down, my SCA level is good and so is my freeze point but it said my ph level is 7.0. Is this okay or how do you adjust the ph in the coolant. I used the normal green coolant, but as long as I keep up with the SCA's I should be okay right? Is there anything I did wrong or did I do okay? I was nervous as it was the first time dealing with the strips and additive.
Thanks seth
Thanks seth
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,191
Likes: 4
From: Blairsville,Ga
I would be a lttle concerned about paying a place $85 to service an 8 gallon system
Another worry would be haveing to put additive in after the system was serviced
think Ph should be 8.5-10.5
Another worry would be haveing to put additive in after the system was serviced
think Ph should be 8.5-10.5
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,372
Likes: 108
From: Northern Indiana
The shop used there flushing machine. I didn't think about what kind of water they used?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,372
Likes: 108
From: Northern Indiana
Are you saying 85 was too cheap or too much? The test strips showed a 50/50 mix. I was under the impression that the green coolant didn't come with any sca's in it and you always had to charge it when you put it in. Am I wrong about that?
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,191
Likes: 4
From: Blairsville,Ga
I would have thought the labor of flushing plus 4 gal of coolant and distilled water would be more than $85
I don't remember what brand I used on my first change but I didn't need to add anything but coolant and water
I now use ELC
I don't remember what brand I used on my first change but I didn't need to add anything but coolant and water
I now use ELC
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,372
Likes: 108
From: Northern Indiana
I know the place had there flushes 15 percent off and I called to make sure it was for the diesel too and the guy looked it up and said that it was the same price. That is why I jumped on it and had them do it. Normally I see diesel flushes around the 150 range. I wanted to go withthe elc but I couldnt beat this price and money is tight right now. But as long as the strips say I am good it should be okay to run as long as I keep up on checking it right?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Delta, CO
You'll be fine, just dip the strips a couple times a year & roll with it. I'd say you got a pretty good price. JMHO
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,372
Likes: 108
From: Northern Indiana
I thought I got a good deal too. The only thing I think I am really worried about is that I called the place and asked if they just used tap water or they put in premixed, they said they used tap water. So I am a little worried about that, it is city water so I would think that it is better then well water, but I guess I will just have to plan on flushing it a little sooner. Thoughts??
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,298
Likes: 94
From: Delta, CO
You could drive yourself crazy with all that, that's why you put the SCA in it. It's supposed to balance that out, yes it would have been better to use distilled or de-ionized water but when I replaced my waterpump years ago I used well water & green anti-freeze. I didn't know then what I know now. I'd run what you got until I had to drain (repairs or whatever) then put the ELC. NO FORGET THAT!! I just noticed you have a E-99, just keep up with the maintenance.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,372
Likes: 108
From: Northern Indiana
You could drive yourself crazy with all that, that's why you put the SCA in it. It's supposed to balance that out, yes it would have been better to use distilled or de-ionized water but when I replaced my waterpump years ago I used well water & green anti-freeze. I didn't know then what I know now. I'd run what you got until I had to drain (repairs or whatever) then put the ELC. NO FORGET THAT!! I just noticed you have a E-99, just keep up with the maintenance.
One other question i have is that it seems here lately that my truck will not get up to operating temp. It stays at the bottom line on the dummy guage, it seems that it used to go up about a 1/4 of an inch from the bottom line. It has been pretty cold here lately, should I try and cover up the radiator a little bit and see if that helps or do I have a thermostat sticking? It was doing this before the coolant flush. Whatca think?
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,298
Likes: 94
From: Delta, CO
IDK it's probably pretty doggone cold where your at & there is a lot of coolant to get warm. You might want to put a new thermostat in, just make sure you get the right one. It ain't been above freezing for a week here & mine won't get up to temp until I drive quite a little ways. I put a small piece in front of my trans cooler but I don't know if it's doing much. I did get the trans temp to move to almost 125 the other day.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,372
Likes: 108
From: Northern Indiana
My tranny temp guage is moving like normal. But it seems that the coolant is lagging. I might go ahead and get a new thermostat just to be safe. Is the early 99 a short stem or a long stem thermostat?
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