coolant question
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,866
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From: Rainier OR
coolant question
Been finding conflicting info when I search this subject. When I got this 2003 6.0 I changed the coolant. I thought I got the right stuff but now I am not sure. I got Zerex extended life coolant, Cat and Cummins spec for heavy duty diesel trucks (Red/Purple). Now I am reading GO-5 spec only. The egr cooler has been removed, if that makes a difference.
THANKS
THANKS
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,368
Likes: 121
From: Stuttgart, Ar
Been finding conflicting info when I search this subject. When I got this 2003 6.0 I changed the coolant. I thought I got the right stuff but now I am not sure. I got Zerex extended life coolant, Cat and Cummins spec for heavy duty diesel trucks (Red/Purple). Now I am reading GO-5 spec only. The egr cooler has been removed, if that makes a difference.
THANKS
THANKS
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 84
From: Rainier OR
Yes, I used the non deluted and used distilled water
More Turbo
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 670
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From: Nampa, ID
what's wrong with the 50/50 mix? Wouldn't that eliminate the possibility of having an incorrect mixture ratio?
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2014
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From: Virginia Beach VA
if you used distilled water to flush the system, that would leave a certain amount behind that couldn't be drained. Adding 50/50 would then make the mixture about 75/25 water to coolant. Using pure coolant makes it closer to 50/50 and then just top up using water to finish.
You could flush with 50/50 and then it won't matter.
You could flush with 50/50 and then it won't matter.
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Senior User
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you're paying for them to water down to your coolant......
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Tampa, FL
This- concentrate is about the same money as the 50/50 so you're really getting 2 gallons worth of coolant for your system when you buy a gallon of concentrate.
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,335
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From: Breckenridge, TX
Zerex G-05 can go up to 70% coolant/30% water for maximum freeze protection of -90*f, using 50/50 only goes to -34*f.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,368
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From: Stuttgart, Ar
When you flush your system there's no way to get all the water out. If you just drain the radiator you leave 50% (3.5 gallons) of the system capacity in. As previously stated if you refill with 50/50 mix you actually get a 75/25 water to coolant ratio.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 8,241
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From: L.A. (Lower Alabama)
Go-5 coolant is a low silicate formula similar to the Ford "gold" that is factory fill in these trucks. Because of suspected issues with silicate fall out (precipitation) clogging the oil cooler and causing issues with EGR cooler, many prefer to use a completely silicate free coolant that meets the CAT EC-1 standard. Many trucks have logged many miles with the low silicate coolant without issues but the silicate free stuff eliminates any possibility of having those issues.
I agree you must have concentrated coolant not 50/50 premix to get the proper concentration when you service it.
Total cooling system capacity including the degas bottle is 27.5 qts. If you drain the radiator by the lower hose or the draincock you'll remove 1/2 the system capacity--about 14 qts. Therefore it takes 14 qts of 100% coolant added back to the system to get a 50/50 mix if you do a complete flush and fill.
I agree you must have concentrated coolant not 50/50 premix to get the proper concentration when you service it.
Total cooling system capacity including the degas bottle is 27.5 qts. If you drain the radiator by the lower hose or the draincock you'll remove 1/2 the system capacity--about 14 qts. Therefore it takes 14 qts of 100% coolant added back to the system to get a 50/50 mix if you do a complete flush and fill.
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