I changed my oil today at 5k and did a SCA test with a FleetGuard test strip. It says to check at every oil change. It showed nothing, zip, 0. I then looked at the bottle of Motorcraft FW 16 and it said to test the coolant with the FleetGuard strip, which I obviously did. I then looked at my owners manual and it said adding FW16 is not required until 15K. Since the nitrate and Molybdate level is reading zero, it would seem the additive is in order now. Any ideas? Why would the nitrate and molybdate level be zero in new factory anti-freeze? It is the green struff by the way.

 

Add it now. If you are showing ZERO, you will need to add 4 pints to treat the complete system.

Les

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 22-Mar-02 AT 07:25 PM (EST)]If your truck is a 2002 model year and you have the orange coolant (yellow -- whatever the hell color it is) you don't need the FW 16 coolant additive. If your truck has the green coolant you do need the additive. It should all be explained in the owners manual.

 

I guess iam about to ask a real dumb question what is sca and do i need it for my truck.I have a 1999 psd and i have to admit that only things i have done for my truck is to change the oil about every 5000 miles and have changed the fuel filter once dang that reminds me i have 38000 on their now maybe its time to change the fuel filter again.lol

 

>I changed my oil today at 5k and did a SCA test with a
>FleetGuard test strip. It says to check at every oil change.
>It showed nothing, zip, 0.

Your profile says that you have an 02 model. It shouldn't need it, but it also shouldn't have green coolant. I have heard that a few of the first 02 trucks got out with green coolant. Maybe the assembly plant thought yours wasn't supposed to have it. I would take it to the dealership. Let them verify. If it needs it let them add the 4 pints under the 26K warranty. At 5K miles you prob haven't hurt it, even if it needs it.

Later

David Cole

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 22-Mar-02 AT 11:58 PM (EST)]>I guess iam about to ask a real dumb question what is sca
>and do i need it for my truck.I have a 1999 psd and i have
>to admit that only things i have done for my truck is to
>change the oil about every 5000 miles and have changed the
>fuel filter once dang that reminds me i have 38000 on their
>now maybe its time to change the fuel filter again.lol

Diesels, particularly the Powerstroke, can have a problem called cavitation. This is where the vibration in the engine causes the cylinder walls in the block to corrode and cause pinholes in the liners. To stop this from happening a chemical called SCA (supplemental coolant additive) needs to be added to the system. You can either check the level every so often with a test strip (a little cardboard strip with other chemicals laminated on it) or you can do as Ford says and simply add a pint every 15K miles.

When you flush and replace the coolant completely you must add 4 pints to get the system up to specs. SCA and the strips can be purchased at most diesel supply places such as your local International dealer, Ford dealer (Additive known as FW-16), or through Diesel Injection Service on the Internet. Costs $4.25/pint from DIS. Test strips are 4pk for $5.75 It's cheap and good insurance. Ford had some warranty problems with the early PSD's. They would hit 100-150K miles and then the block would need to be replaced due to pinholes. If you have this problem Ford will check to see it you have had the SCA in there to prevent it.

2002 model trucks use a different type of coolant that does not need the SCA added. Unfortunately, Ford says that you can't use the new, better coolant in 01 and older trucks. They claim the water pump seals and gaskets on the older trucks are different and will leak after a short time.

Later,

David Cole

 

The 2002 trucks come with either the yellow and the green coolant. The yellow is installed only at Louisville, all other plants have been using the green stuff. It is in the owners manual. Since my truck was built in Mexico City, it is the green stuff. I have been gradually adding SCA and retesting and after only 1 pint it says it is up to 1.7 on the chart. It seems funny that it would show nothing, then after adding it, (I drove it to mix it good) it comes right up with only a pint.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 23-Mar-02 AT 07:50 PM (EST)]Where are you testing it at? If you are adding it to the degas bottle AND testing it from the degas bottle you need to drive AT LEAST 100 miles to get it mixed into the system. What is the temperature of the coolant? My instructions say to test between 50-130*F and room temperature is desired. You may try testing from the petcock if you aren't already doing so.

Les

 

Yes I am doing it from the Degas bottle and I am doing it at ambient temp of about 65. I have been driving it after I add some to mix it up before testing it again.

As an additional wonder, where are the coolant drain plugs on the block? What do they look like? I looked at the factory manual and saw nothing on them?

 

I have been told that too much SCA is harmfull as well. My Fleetguard kit does not say this but does mention that if the system is over 3.0 on the scale that I should not add any until the level drops to below 3.0. It came with a little chart that shows from 1.2 to 3.0 as good.

 

You need to drive it much more to retest from the degas bottle as I stated above. You can test from the petcock on the bottom of the radiator, no need to remove the block plugs. They are however located at the back of the block on both sides, one above the oil filter, the other above the starter.

Yes, too much SCA is harmful as well. Too much and it starts to eat the seals in the waterpump as well as other seals and gaskets. Too little will lead to cavitation. The readings should be between 1.5-3.0.

Les