I have a couple of questions about the cooling system.

What type of coolant to use? Should you use an additive(SCA) with a coolant such as zerex G05, a coolant that already has the additive in it or a filter system that provides an additive as it filters? I was also wondering if any one out there has ever installed a coolant filter? The local napa store sells a kit fairly cheap but the instructions are kind of vague. Where is the best mounting location and where did you hook it in at. Any pictures and/or advice would be helpful. Thanks.

 

I would run amsoil antifreeze. i always have in everthing i own and i love it. i run it in my 79 ford/my JD 4020/{and a few other tractors} lawn mower/ chain saw and my quad ext. but it is up to you what you would want to run. Amsoil antifreeze is expensive. i think i paid 26 bux for 1 gallon. but it last for over 7 years or 300,000 miles in a deisle truck and 700,000 for an over the road tractor trailer. its good stuff.
but as far as additives i have never bothered cuz i dont know what they do and never second looked them.
i have never ran a coolant filter, but it may not be a bad idea. but then agin... how often do you get dirt or anything in there. i dont open my radatior that offten to get anthing in there so i wouldnt worry about it.
Mitch.

 

i run coolant filters in all my trucks. the install is fairly simple. supply comes off the 3/8 plug on the pump and return tee's in the 3/8 line that is on the degauze bottle.

dont run the amsoil coolant in your truck it is a propolene glygol coolant which ford says do not run. gotta run ethylene glycol coolant in the truck. just seeing the 2 coolants the propolene is a much thicker coolant, i would imagine some flow issues with it since its thicker. other than that i dont know why ford says no i just know they do. i run CAT ELC in my trucks which is ethylene glycol extended life coolant. no coolant additives are needed for 300k and a bottle of the coolant additive makes it good for another 300k. the elc type coolants are not exactly reccommended for the OBS trucks due to an alleged non compatibility issue with the copper injector cups. one of my OBS trucks has the superduty stainless cups in it and one still has copper cups in it and i havent had any problems and have been running it for about 3 years now. i wouldnt reccomend any ELC coolant and run there flush interavals without a coolant filter. scale, rust, casting sand, metal shavings......will come up in the coolant and with the filter there to catch it the annual cooling system flush isnt needed. ive got a dieselsite coolant filter kit on my rigs and they work great. and come with complete install kit with everything you need.

 

WOW. i did not know ford said that. i just called up my mechanic and he said it was true! but.... i have ran amsoil in my dads f-250 for a few years now and never had any troubles. Same with our tractors. but i dont know, you have me worried now. i may get somthing else to run in my truck. my dads truck will be fine tho{haha}.
Also, do you find that the filters help that much? i called my grandpa and he ran them in all of his cars. he said he never seen much crud in them so finnaly stopped useing them. i may give them a go on my dads truck.
Sorry for the false info{i wouldnt worry about it} on the amsoil.
Mitch

 

The first couple of filter changes on the PSD it will load up fast....after the first two or three it just becomes part of the annual maintenance....for me anyways.

 

anyone have a pic of there setup? are the filters reusable? or do you need a to carry a couple with you from the get go? thanks ryan

 

What kind of chainsaw do you have? It's gotta be Tim Allen size at least. Got any pictures?

 

i used the napa kit on my 95 but it is not all inclusive for all you need! check my gallery for pics. the filters aren't reuseable but they are cheap. i run the ford coolant and a filter with no additve in it. i did my filter the same time as my water pump and did a really good flush. it has been atleast 9 months and 12,000 miles and put 2 filters on it but neither had a spec of dirt in them that i could see. maybe my flush was really good but i still have the peace of mind that rust and other sediment is being filtered out.

in my gallery i think i have my filter plumbed in different than i do now so the return now goes into the 3/8 line between the bottle and the rad. it flows good and seems to work just not much to filter out.

 

I run Coolant filters on both my trucks. I call them waterpump savers!

Ditto above - 1st few filters will load up quick (3-4mths btw changes 1st) then, you can probably drop to annual changes. I usually change mine when I change the fuel filter - just makes it easier to remember when it was done last. Lots of folks make coolant filters just make sure you get one that is not pre-loaded w/ SCA's or if you do go that route make sure the preloaded SCA is compatible with the one you are already using. I buy the non-precharged filters just because they are cheaper. You will have to continue monitoring the SCA levels either way. I may try the pre-charged filters on my next coolant change and see what happens to the levels as I go along.

Several on-line retailers sell kits - do a search & I'm sure you'll find one you like. I mounted my filter base on the frame just under the driver's side of the cab.

DG

 

HAHA. im not talking about antifreeze in my chain saw. i was talking about 2 stroke oil. but its a stihl farmboss. and she really gets the job done!

Mitch

 

A little off topic, but the stihls are nice, a little noisy though.

Sorry for hijacking.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled coolant filter thread........

 

ive got the dieselsite one, ill put some pics on my webshots tonight

filters arnt reusable but they are only like $!0 a piece.

stihl blaaaaaa........husqavarna!! 346xpg the oak eater...

 

Check my gallery. My pics won't help much since your alternator is not in the same place as mine, but it gives a general overview of how it's plumbed. You can mount the filter head anywhere you find room.