Coolant Additive Question
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 751
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From: Greeneville,TN
Okay I am new to the diesel world. Tell me why you are testing the coolant and what are you looking for when you do? I have already added Redlines Wetter Water to the coolant. I did see a drop in overall temp. after I added the addive. Did i screw up adding this?
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 560
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From: San Diego, CA
Diesels have a problem that gasoline engines do not called cavitation. It occurs when the explosion occurs, cuases the cylinder wll to vibrate slightly and small air bubbles in the coolant can form on the cylinder walls. This in effect creats a hot spot and can cause pitting as the air bubble explodes and takes a piece of the cylider wall with it. Over time(a long time) these pits can go all the way through the cylinder wall and then obviuosly you have to replace the cylinder. The additive in the coolant does 2 things the way I understand it, 1) It keeps the air bubbles from "sticking" to the cylinder wall, and 2) It actually provides the chemicals to replace the pits in the cylinder walls. That is way you need to test the coolant for the SCA levels. Not enought and you get cavitation of the cylinder walls. Too much and the coolant is corrosive on the seals of the water pump etc. If there is something I forgot, somebody please let me know.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 560
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From: San Diego, CA
I do not know what Redlines Wetter Watter is? Does it say it is for Diesel engines? I personally would not add anything to my coolant (or oil) that is not made for a diesel engine as we are tyring to get these enigines to last 400,000 miles without any issues!
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 560
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From: San Diego, CA
Here is another quick link I found that explains more about cavitation: http://www.arrowheadradiator.com/cav...ng_systems.htm
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,111
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Originally Posted by jrciii56
Okay I am new to the diesel world. Tell me why you are testing the coolant and what are you looking for when you do? I have already added Redlines Wetter Water to the coolant. I did see a drop in overall temp. after I added the addive. Did i screw up adding this?
The diesel engine makes so much noise just going about it's daily operation that it will make cavitation marks on the cylinder walls in the water jacket area. If you don't protect against cavitation the noise of that same operation will eat a hole right through the cylinder wall without adding the SCA previously mentioned. The SCA is a self sacrificing chemical that allows itself to be chipped away and not the cylinder walls. The water wetter serves to break the surface tension of the water so it clings to the metal inside the engine and transferres the heat away much better. The question arises in my mind on whether it is defeating the purpose of the SCA.
I used that product to keep the engine temperatures in check on my 460 while towing and it worked great, but that was a gas engine.
Personally I would do a complete flush ASAP
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,605
Likes: 1
From: Elkhorn, WI
Originally Posted by jrciii56
Thanks for the advice. I will do the flush as soon as posible. Where can I get the correct diesel additive.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 751
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From: Greeneville,TN
I looked on Redline's website to get more info on Water Wetter. They said the product prevents cavitation. It also says that it contains rust corrison inhibitors. You have to go to the tech info after you click onto the Water Wetter link. As of right now I dont think I will do a flush. check the sight out www.redlineoil.com
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,884
Likes: 180
From: Morgan Hill, CA
If you don't have test strips just pour a bottle in and when you get test strips test it. I've got 185k+ on mine and I seriously haven't tested the coolant in at least 4 years. I know, I know but I do pour a bottle of additive in every 4 months or so. The additive is not bad for the pump as far as I have learned (both experience and untold hours of forums...). The only downside that I have ever heard discussed is the extra cost of the additive itself that is being wasted getting you above and beyond the min requirements.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,340
Likes: 2
I just did a coolant flush and went with the motorcraft premium green coolant. Looking in the diesel supplement manual it says to add 4 pints of the supplemental additive. On the back of the motorcraft additive bottle it says 4 oz treats one gallon. So mine holds 8 gallons which would be 32 oz or 2 pints. Did something change?
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,340
Likes: 2
Well I'm going to use 3 pints. From what I have read that will give me an SCA level around 2.0. Also, diesel manor has fleeguard test strips in 4 packs for like 7-8 bucks. Now I find out I could of switched over to gold coolant....dope......little late now. I guess next time.