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A few days ago my check coolant additive message start popping up, 14k miles. After doing some reading it sounds like all I need to do is either have my coolant tested or get the test kit and do it myself. My confusion is which test kit to purchase. Since my truck is a 2015 PSD some people are saying that I need to buy a test kit that comes with test vials instead of using the test strips. Anyone have any experience doing this, which test kit should I buy?
The correct kit is the one with the test vials. Rotunda Part #: 328-R071-ELC
If the test comes back that it requires additive, the correct one to use is VC-12 Orange Specialty Revitalizer.
Highly doubt at your mileage that you'll need the VC-12. If you did that would be abnormal and probably need to have it checked out by the dealer. However, the message will pop up within every 15,000 miles or 600 hours, whichever comes first. Ford learned their lesson about coolant maintenance with emissions-controlled diesel engines.
You can definitely do-it-yourself. I bought the exact 2 kits needed per the specs to check the coolant. It's not tough. I actually have too many test kits (they expire soon but I think they are fine for quite some time). I'll be glad to share and send you what you need ... Let me know if interested. No charge - maybe just shipping.
Thanks for all the help. I got my kit Friday and did my test and everything passed. It was very easy. Took me about 10 minutes, should go quicker next time I do it. The kit itself was $65 plus shipping and the dealership wanted to charge me $25 for the test.
Coolant tests go back many years. The early 6.9's and 7.3's were having erosion problems which caused perforations in the cylinder liners. A simply additive solved the problem, but I have never seen a test kit for that issue. I am sure there is one somewhere.
I'm not sure the dealer even charges to do the test. My dealer doesn't even bother doing the test at all until it's got at least 75k miles (or there are other anomalies). They just reset the notice and move on.
Because it costs about the same as to do it anywhere else, and it's still under their extended warranty, I've always just taken my truck to the dealer for oil changes. I've never been charged for coolant checks while it's in.
Thanks for all the help. I got my kit Friday and did my test and everything passed. It was very easy. Took me about 10 minutes, should go quicker next time I do it. The kit itself was $65 plus shipping and the dealership wanted to charge me $25 for the test.
I see the test strips but is the rest of the stuff in the box?
MammaJammaTX, I would be interested in buying a few of those strips and paying the shipping? Accustrip pricing is ridiculous!
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Originally Posted by MammaJammaTX
You can definitely do-it-yourself. I bought the exact 2 kits needed per the specs to check the coolant. It's not tough. I actually have too many test kits (they expire soon but I think they are fine for quite some time). I'll be glad to share and send you what you need ... Let me know if interested. No charge - maybe just shipping.
