Hi y'all. I know you miss me but nothing ever goes wrong with this truck so I've been laying low.

I'm at 42,000 and just did a coolant test. Nitrate and protection levels were perfect, 0 PPM and 50%.

However when I got my other kit out I seem to have hit a snag. First strip worked as it should and directed me to the orange capped vial. The contamination test strip turned the exact color of the brown RA (go to orange) strip. I did it again and again it turned to the color of the brown RA chart. Nowhere near either the pass or fail color.

Strips are to expire in August 2017. I don't remember when I got the kit but it's probably been a couple years. I did note it says to store under 80 degrees. my shop is not air conditioned and I am in georgia. So did I maybe cook them.

I've researched a bit and don't find anyone on here having the same experience so I thought i'd ask. Also, I cant seem to find those strips anywhere, am I gonna have to buy a whole new kit or go to the dealer?

As always, thanks for your input.

 

I have used similar test strips for quite a few years.
My experience has been similar, when the strips get old the color doesn't match.
I don't know if they can get contaminated, or just out of date.
Good luck !

 

Well, I'm ashamed to say that I have completely ignored coolant testing over the last 4 years. I've never had a cooling system hold together long enough to wear out the coolant.

I'd say just keep rolling.

 

Joel, I started testing when I worked at a Ag dealership.
I have seen too many sleeves with cavitation holes in them.
But I agree if you are going to dump the truck in a few years, who cares ???

 

Other than finding some other problem, I didn't think the 6.7 was plagued by coolant issues like the previous generations were? At least no one is posting about coolant problems other than radiators, water pumps, and connectors losing it and when under warranty the dealer recycles the old coolant...

Having said that, with as many miles as I don't drive, I can see myself in a couple of years just changing it out. That would be 5 years of driving and maybe 40k miles. (I'm at 2.5 years and 14k miles now - but planning a long drive this summer) I did a basic test for nitrates at 13k miles and showed none, but I don't have the chemistry set to do the next test. Next time I see the dealer I am going to ask what they want to test it as I am sure in Alaska my chances for a free test are not good.

 

I think I performed the coolant test twice in 4.5 years at 105k miles. I just stopped doing it since I don't take my truck to a oil change shop which are know to top off the coolant bottle with the wrong antifreeze.

 

Had the check coolant warning on for about 2 weeks and finally got my truck by the dealer to check it out. They took it in and in about 30 min. they were done. The service manager showed me the test strips and all was good. No charge. I have 44000 miles.

 

[QUOTE=4df150;16715893]Had the check coolant warning on for about 2 weeks and finally got my truck by the dealer to check it out. They took it in and in about 30 min. they were done. The service manager showed me the test strips and all was good. No charge. I have 44000 miles.[

 

Just to kind of close this out. I called the Rotunda test strip place and told them my strips had timed out. he suggested I buy the small kit next time. I agreed. However I still had a lot of the kit left and would like to buy some contamination test strips. I don't think they will sell just the strips but they did solve my immediate problem by sending me some free strips.

I then did the complete test on both systems and both passed. As luck would have it my COOLANT TEST light has now come on and I can't find any way to turn it off. I'll start another thread on that subject if I don't find the answer somewhere in here.

 

I think in the information screen you can reset it there.

 

Hi Senix. As usual u r correct. Settings/vehicle/maintenance/coolant. Never did find it in the OM. You gotta love google