Yes that is what I recommend.

It is the best way to switch to an ELC coolant - UNLESS you have cooling issues or if you have known contamination from say an oil cooler.

Just be aware that if you ever do get an oil cooler leaking, you need to fix the oil cooler before you use chemicals to flush. The reason is as follows .... It is true that the oil pressure is higher than the coolant when the engine is running, so the oil will flow into the coolant. However - what happens when you shut off the engine? It is possible for the coolant to be a higher pressure and you do not want water or chemicals getting into the oil.

OP - I know Ford specifies G05 coolant for our engines. This has been a LONG discussed topic. Many people are hesitant to switch to a heavy duty (EC-1 rated) ELC coolant. The simple fact is that this is what Navistar put into the engine. They built the engine and equipped their versions (VT275 and VT365) with it. It works very well. The Ford Gold (and all G05 coolants) do not hold up to extreme temperatures (like from the EGR system), and do not hold up to exhaust gasses, or mixing of different coolant types.

 

My deltas were 10-12 degrees with Rotella ELC during summer and I flushed with 27 gallons of distilled then refilled with 50/50 Rotella ELC/distilled water and deltas have not gotten over 8 degrees since. Average driving 3-4 degrees.

 

SmackDaddy if you refilled with 50/50 mix after a distilled flush you do not have enough antifreeze in your cooling system. After a water flush you need to add about 3.5 gallons of 100% concentrate and then top off with distilled water to get to a final mix of 50/50 because even after draining the water you still have 2 to 3 gallons in the system. I would get the concentration checked and add enough 100% to get to 50/50.

 

I did it right, trust me.

 

The last time I was in the local HI parts house they had the Ultra and the red sitting next to each other.
I started to dump it and and took a look and PANICKED because I was not seeing red,

 

The Ultra is a gold color. I have been told a few times to ditch it because of that, lol.

 

After I got over the shock and had found out it was ok to mix I thought it reminded me of recycled beer.
At least Miller lite has a bit more color to it.

My exact thought was recycled Rainier Beer. But that is how they make Olympia beer. You
just buy the Artesians a few kegs of chilled Rainier Beer and when you do what you do drinking
that much beer they just pump it out of the now yellowed well and call it Olympia Beer.

 

I use Zerex G-05 HD HOAT gold that’s labled as meeting or exceeding Cat ec-1 elc standards and others even without the elc lable. To be clear, elc’s are labled as such for the life of the freeze and boil over properties only, but overall the additives used for this, greatly offset the lifespan of the anti-corrosive/cavitation inhibitors used and really actually make the elc’s like the CAT elc and have a shorter lifespan coolant than the Zerex G05 Hybrid AOT. There is a lot of misinfo out there because of ingredient label requirements, or the lack there of and simple marketing ploys. Infact, CAT ec-1 rated elc contains a chemical detrimental to hoses and seals in our powerstrokes and that’s why ford uses gold but Zerex is better.

👆👆👆

 

You can use the garden hose for the initial flushes. When the water looks good and clean then go to the distilled water. Will be just as good and save you a ton of distilled water. I am also against doing the VC-9 unless there's a high ect/eot differential. That could plug the oil cooler. I would use VC-9 if I was going to replace the oil cooler.

 

In the 60's and early 70's Olympia and Hamms were good beers and then they reformulated and totally screwed them up. OOPS, showing my age.

 

I have copies of both GO5 and EC-1 standards and there are potential conflicts in meeting both (Silicate and Nitrite content included). They "get away with labeling" by saying "meets or exceeds".

If you look at the Zerex GO5 Product Information sheet, it does not carry a Caterpillar approval, but it makes the "formulated to meet or exceed" statement.
https://sharena21.springcm.com/Publi...2-ac162d889bd1

The EC-1 rating states it is to be silicate free.

I would like to see the back-up you have on the ingredient that degrades the hoses/seals (not just a theoretical article, but one specific to the seals and hoses in a 6.0L), AND documentation showing that this is why Ford recommends it. IMO Ford recommended the Gold coolant because they sell it.

Fact is, International has specified the Caterpillar EC-1 coolant and they have almost NO issues with oil coolers plugging or coolant gelling up. I also frequent school bus sites and see their posts. I have never seen anything about early hose/seal failure. I definitely need a lot more documentation to be convinced! Now to look at GO5 coolant - do a search on 6.0L oil coolers plugging!

Zerex GO5 coolant life statement:

• Provides protection for 5 years / 150,000 miles in light duty applications and 3 years / 300,000 miles in heavy duty applications

Cat EC-1 coolant life statement:

• 1,000,000 km (600,000 miles) or 6 Years

Note that the CAT extender package should be added at 300k miles to maintain the corrosion (including cavitation) protection.

 

Do what you want but I’ll stick with Rotella ELC

 

Mark I also recall something about they already were using the gold coolant on the line and they did not want to


have a second coolant and they "felt" it would be okay. More likely the bankers are just cheap @.

The question is am I recalling the correctly.

 

yeah they had come out w/ the Gold in 2002

https://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubrican...coolantsEN.pdf