2016 coolant check
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,748
Likes: 119
From: Tallassee, ALabama
If you choked at $147 oil change, ask them what the cost would be using 5w40 full synthetic oil.
You can find the nitrite test strips at NAPA or Navistar but the ELC contamination will have to be purchase from the the sources listed.
You can find the nitrite test strips at NAPA or Navistar but the ELC contamination will have to be purchase from the the sources listed.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,247
Likes: 4,267
From: Kaysville Utah
At 13,000 miles, I'd check the coolant level and make sure it was full. If I knew that nobody had added anything my coolant, I probably wouldn't worry about testing the coolant. Nitrites only happen if somebody put the wrong coolant in your cooling system. Freeze protection should still be excellent on a truck with that low of miles. From what I've seen testing a number of these systems. I'm just not seeing the Corrosion inhibitors failing for the first few test.
Air in your cooling system is a bad thing. So make sure your cooling system is topped off.
Air in your cooling system is a bad thing. So make sure your cooling system is topped off.
New User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Acustrip sells a cheaper kit that includes both tests (ELC and Glyco/Nitrites) and has enough supplies to test BOTH systems ONE time for $30.
ACU-4048 Series
ACU-4048 Series
New User
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Thanks Daystorm - I just ordered that kit today.
I called my dealer and they didn't impress me with their knowledge on the coolant testing. The guy actually told me that the would just put the additive in and not do the test.... Not Good
I called my dealer and they didn't impress me with their knowledge on the coolant testing. The guy actually told me that the would just put the additive in and not do the test.... Not Good
New User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
It probably wouldn't hurt anything. The OEM coolant is good for 105,000 miles and you area allowed to add the additive twice during it's lifetime.
So you 'could' add it at 35k, 70k, and then replace the coolant at 105k.
So you 'could' add it at 35k, 70k, and then replace the coolant at 105k.
New User
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
10-4 Daystrom - the previous owner has the coolant flushed at 60K - so since I only have about 12K on it I don't think it should need the additive just yet. But the guy in service wasn't aware that the additive can only added 2x.... That's why I went with DIY.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
If the Ford advisor is performing the test just from the resevour, I bet they are only sampling the primary coolant system.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 366
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From: Aloha (Portland), OR USA
I called the dealer when I got the coolant check message at around 13K miles. They said they never bother doing the tests and I could bring it in and have them reset the message or do it myself. I wasn't too happy with that response, but I just reset it. I'll find a dealer to test it the next time the message pops up or buy the stuff to do it myself.
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