It there any way to tell if an engine cavatates or not. and if the right amount of additve has been used?? say I'm looking at a uses diesel, The dealer will probable change the coolant, {If they are smart.} So If I test the coolant I will get a good reading, even if it is the first time in it's life that it has ever had the right amount of additive in it!!!. is there any way I can check for previous damage?? will compression test tell me?? or will the compression test only tell me about blow by?

 

Its a gamble and there is no real way to tell what the maintence was done to it unless its a highmilage truck if they didn't add the coolant additive at all it would have died around a 100,000 miles.

 

buy some test strips and test it

 

You could tell if it was cavitated. Holes rusted through the cylinder walls is cavitation.
The SCA is a rust inhibater for the cooling system.
If they were all the way through the compression would blow the antifreeze out of the radiator.

A reputable dealer should be able to give you the name and number of the last owner so you could ask them. Another option would be tell the dealer you would like to talk to the last owner about maintence schedules, kind of oil he used and all that. If they will not give you his name and number, ask them to give him yours. Also tell them he may call you collect if he is not local to you, Give them a good time that he could catch you at the number you give.

From several people I have talked to there is a good chance that if the lot changed the coolant, it will not be the correct antifreeze and there will be no SCA in it either.
Even though the truck may have had the right stuff in it when it came in. Lots of people do not know about SCA's and heavy duty antifreeze for diesel trucks.

The only way to be sure is talk to the previous owner.

 

Cavitation is damage in cylinder walls caused by air bubbles generated from the vibration in heavy duty diesel engines. SCA reduces the cavitation and it's effects, but you CAN'T tell until it's too late. If it has been neglected, and the cylinder walls have very thin spots, you will find out when they break through.

 

SO I would take it you would recomend stearing clear of this truck?? Being that I will have now way of knowing if the additve was used. This truck was picked up by the dealer at auction. I think I can get it for $3000 to $4000. how much $ is a reman, IDI or PSD?? if i take a chance on this one..
Thanks al and dave

 

Most of us who bought our trucks used took a gamble. I have a 1984 6.9L diesel, and am very happy with it. You are always taking a risk on a used vehicle, there might be no cavitation, but some other problem. You will have to weigh the risks, but I would definately go Diesel!

 

Take down the Vin # and do a search at the DMV/Carfax. The PO will come up, then call them. Ask if they maintained it.

 

i worked at international for years ( still in the heavy truck industry) and you would not believe how many Ford dealers did not even use the right antifreeze, much less use the DCA additive. You can find the test strips at an international dealer, and you can buy them individually. Ford and IH diesels use DCA, Nalcool is usually used on Cummins and Detroit, and the two are not compatible. They will build up a gell in the system if mixed. And I have to agree with AL V. Cavitation is caused by air bubbles hitting the cylinder walls at high speed. The additives coat these bubbles and cause them to bounce off harmlessly instead of boring into the liners. If the dealer changed the antifreeze, they probably didn't add the DCA back in, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't in there before.

 

Oh there is no doubt that I will go diesel. I like them to much, and moev too much stuff. I told the dealer I wanted to see a print out of all the work done on the tuck so I will know if they changed the coolant, or not if you say that not amn peopll know about SCA, I would make a bet that the prior owner did not use any . but that is purly a guess. I have no idea who he/ she is and hwat they did to the truck. J.

 

There are ways of tracking the PO. Usually they are happy to provide info on maintainance.

 

car fax be able to that?? are there any other ways that you know of??? J.

 

Usually carfax will just tell you which state the vehicle was registered in. Then you go to that states DMV and do a search. It's public information. Or you could do it like they do on TV, call your buddy on the police force and ask um to "run a plate"

I've gotten lucky in the past and found things with the PO's address under the seat, in the glovebox, ect. Usually a registration card comes with the vehicle. Also, if your persistant with a dealer, sometimes they'll give out the PO's name.

 

One other common test is, to run the truck up to operating temp (make SURE the thermostat is open) and then open the coolant resevoir. Rev the engine to 1000-1500 RPM's, and watch the tube going into the resevior. If there are air bubbles coming out of the tube, you've got some concerns to deal with.

 

I'll have to give that a try. so fonefiddy, Do have an opinoin on the 89 f-250? . I m realy think in it, but I'm wondering if I would be better off with a 94-97 PSD in sted more money now but it might last me longer. But I'm not sure. 4K for a truck dose not seem like a bad deal, as long a s it runs for a while. J.