antifreeze
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,602
Likes: 132
From: Centerville TN
antifreeze
Hey guys, I'm gonna flush my cooling system. My radiator has a little buildup inside, not much at all. Wandering what would be best to take care of the buildup, if it is an issue? I can find additives to put in antifreeze at my local parts store. Whats the name of the antifreeze that's already set up for diesels?
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 175
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From: West Virginia
Bashby is correct, Fleet Charge is the coolant thats GTG from the jug for these motors. Might want to call around before you go looking for it, took me 7 stores before I finally found a place that had it in stock.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,229
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You can buy it from Ryder Fleet online, too, if you want ... or do what I did, buy four gallons of Prestone extended life and four gallons of distilled water locally, then buy four pints of Fleetguard DCA-4 online at Ryder (and some test strips).
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Centerville TN
Thanks Bashby, the local Orielys doesn't have it on the shelf, but they can order it. He couldn't even tell me the name of it. My parts store I always delt with hasn't heard of that type of antifreeze, but has the additive. And he has been in business for years! I get that allot with my truck around here, either they don't know, or never heard of that.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,229
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I too have been amazed at how few brick-and-mortar stores have even heard of anything called "supplemental coolant additive" or the idea that diesels need any different kind of coolant.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Centerville TN
Thanks guys. Got a test kit the other day. Nitrite is real low, everything else is good. Can I do anything about the buildup? Shes not getting hot or even close. We have put drano in radiators on farm equipment and tractors to clean them up, but if there is a weak spot that is corroded too bad, well its not pretty. DO NOT want to do that to my truck!
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2011
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Here's how you do it on a diesel Benz ...
Mercedes recommends citric acid powder for flushing out coolant systems. It's a lot more gentle than using something like Drano, which is mostly sodium hydroxide (lye), and a lot less likely to put holes in your heater core or water pump.
You can get it from homebrewing supply places, like Williams Brewing.
I didn't do any sort of chemical flush, just poured water through. I got a lot of rust and out regardless.
Mercedes recommends citric acid powder for flushing out coolant systems. It's a lot more gentle than using something like Drano, which is mostly sodium hydroxide (lye), and a lot less likely to put holes in your heater core or water pump.
You can get it from homebrewing supply places, like Williams Brewing.
I didn't do any sort of chemical flush, just poured water through. I got a lot of rust and out regardless.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Centerville TN
Thanks Flainn. Just wasn't sure. I'm just gonna flush my block with water. The radiator I'm gonna flush separate with the citrus. Have no heating issues, just seen the buildup and wanted to do something before it got bad.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Poway, CA
Mike
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2011
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Cavitation doesn't seem to be such an issue on other diesel equipment. I'm not sure what it is about the Navistar 6.9/7.3 IDI designs that make them so susceptible. On Mercedes diesels it seems to be a non-issue, though people still recommend you use a coolant like Zerex G-05.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2011
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i walked into my local napa today and told the guy i drive an older diesel and wanted SCAs. he gave me this bottle http://dl.dropbox.com/u/39418460/Pic...025_232012.jpg
is this correct, or did i just waste $10 on this?
is this correct, or did i just waste $10 on this?
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
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i walked into my local napa today and told the guy i drive an older diesel and wanted SCAs. he gave me this bottle http://dl.dropbox.com/u/39418460/Pic...025_232012.jpg
is this correct, or did i just waste $10 on this?
is this correct, or did i just waste $10 on this?
I had known about SCA's my whole life, along with cavitation in high compression engines. Wasnt until i got here that I found out you have to replenish them lol.
Btw the 6.9 doesnt really have a cavitation problem, mostly the 7.3 IDI due to being bored so far. Thin cylinder walls and 21.5:1 compression ratio are not a good combination. But really, any high compression engine is susceptable to cavitation, CAT, Deere, IH, Ford, Cummins all recommend a coolant addative and i believe they all have their own brand to boot. Ive seen gas engines have problems with cavitation before too, not to uncommon in older race engines with alot of time on em.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,227
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From: Higginsville, MO
John Deere Cool Gard II antifreeze has the additives already in it and so does Fleetgard ES Compleat has everything in it good to go. the John Deere is available at any John Deere dealership and the Fleetgard is available at any CASE IH dealer or International