Testing coolant for nitrate levels
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Trailering
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Testing coolant for nitrate levels
I found this below in the 6.4 section of the forums here on this site posted by senix. He advised me to ask in this section to confirm. Does the information below apply to the 7.3 IDI as well?
Originally Posted by senix
Here is from Ford:
Engine coolant system nitrite strength should be checked and serviced at the mileage or equivalent hour intervals
specified by the maintenance schedule. Check coolant nitrite strength using the 3-Way Antifreeze Test Strip kit
Rotunda # 328-00001 to determine if additive is required. If the nitrite strength is between 800 ppm & 300 ppm add 32
fl. oz. (946 mL) of Supplemental Coolant Additive Motorcraft VC-8 or equivalent. If nitrite strength is below 300 ppm
flush & refill engine coolant (refer to Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant Change Record) – Do not add
Supplemental Coolant Additive if flush & refill is required.
Originally Posted by senix
Here is from Ford:
Engine coolant system nitrite strength should be checked and serviced at the mileage or equivalent hour intervals
specified by the maintenance schedule. Check coolant nitrite strength using the 3-Way Antifreeze Test Strip kit
Rotunda # 328-00001 to determine if additive is required. If the nitrite strength is between 800 ppm & 300 ppm add 32
fl. oz. (946 mL) of Supplemental Coolant Additive Motorcraft VC-8 or equivalent. If nitrite strength is below 300 ppm
flush & refill engine coolant (refer to Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant Change Record) – Do not add
Supplemental Coolant Additive if flush & refill is required.
Elder User
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From: North Bend
I've owned my IDI for 10+ years and have been on this forum for that whole time-- I cant say I've ever heard of nitrite testing for these engines. The only common coolant testing we do is SCA testing(and freeze level of course).
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Engine coolant system nitrite strength should be checked and serviced at the mileage or equivalent hour intervals
specified by the maintenance schedule.
specified by the maintenance schedule.
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Joined: Jul 2018
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Hello Raymond, Buickman, I would not leave testing of SCAs to every few years for a couple of reasons: coolant chemistry can change more rapidly than you think, heck more quickly than even I realized when I started working as a mechanic for a Detroit Diesel dealer. Here's a good detailed article that covers it fairly well:
https://www.constructionequipment.com/basics-diesel-engine-coolant
Bottom line: Nitrites are part of the SCA package. Nitrites are what prevent cylinder wall cavitation. Cavitation can erode through cylinder walls in one oil change interval if Nitrites are completely depleted. You MUST use test strips that are compatible with your coolant chemistry as they are NOT all the same. Hopefully this helps. This is very simple but critical maintenance and should not be ignored.
https://www.constructionequipment.com/basics-diesel-engine-coolant
Bottom line: Nitrites are part of the SCA package. Nitrites are what prevent cylinder wall cavitation. Cavitation can erode through cylinder walls in one oil change interval if Nitrites are completely depleted. You MUST use test strips that are compatible with your coolant chemistry as they are NOT all the same. Hopefully this helps. This is very simple but critical maintenance and should not be ignored.
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Yessir, I agree, the reason I only check my coolant every few years is because the Fleetguard is good for 150,000 miles in class 8 diesels, so common sense says it should last about forever in our little pickup diesels. I've been using it for over 20 years in my old IDI and only added a cupful of the replenisher in all that time. It's been through two water pump replacements, hoses and all over the years, but I strain it through a tee shirt to sift out any bits of crud it picks up during draining. And like you, I've also replaced plenty of eroded cylinder liners back in the day when many owner/operators neglected their cooling systems, mostly in the old but lovable Cummins 335's & 400 NTC series. 
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Haha yep. The only thing that came as a surprise to me is that something like an electrical short can consume your coolant's available nitrites in no time. Seriously, it's in that article too and I had no idea. I figure if you had a minor short that somehow didn't blow a fuse or burn itself down you might be in trouble before you know it. It also made me feel a bit uneasy because I never knew such a random thing could cause coolant to go bad and it makes me wonder what else I don't know. Plus, having started my apprenticeship in a shop that was pretty strict with coolant testing, I guess it's just bred into me now.
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Trailering
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I ordered those Fleetguard strips referenced in the cavitation article above in the sticky section of this forum for these 6.9-7.3s.
It's a bottle of 50 strips for $39.95 to my door via Amazon. Free shipping.
It's a bottle of 50 strips for $39.95 to my door via Amazon. Free shipping.
Elder User
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From: North Bend
Keep in mind that they are only good for a year. Unless something changed in the way they make them...
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99% of the time they're already expired or will expire way before you can use 50. Best plan is go to a truck or Cummins engine dealership, buy a packet of 5 but check the date first.
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Trailering
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Perhaps if I keep them in the house maybe they will last? Guess I should see if this seller on Amazon will give me my money back with a return.
I inherited this truck from my dad. He use to have a bottle like this with a bunch of strips. I have looked all over the shop and haven't been able to find it. Guess he threw it out.
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Trailering
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I did 3 strips photos attached and photos are little less than 45 seconds but the color never really changed.
Not worried about the gray it says to -60.
Help me understand the other 2 colors please.
Does service on this bottle mean if the colors are in this area to add that Motorcraft VC8 stuff?
Am I ok here?
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