Coolant Additive Question
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Elkhorn, WI
Coolant Additive Question
i just tested my coolant and it is in the green on the fleetguard test strips but on the low side. i picked up a bottle of sca from ford and it says 4 oz. per gallon of coolant but it doesnt say how much it raises your level of sca. i diddnt want to add too much of it because i heard it was bad for your water pump. thanks for the help
-Justin
-Justin
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 352
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From: Palatka, FL
I just changed my water pump and and want to test my coolant so i can add some additive. I would like to know what places sell the strips. I have heard Napa does but does the Ford dealer have it? Also can you buy the additive from some cheaper place than the dealer? I would like to get it from a store and not order from the net.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Elkhorn, WI
i got my test strips at www.dieselmanor.com and i got the additive at the dealer. it is about as cheap as anywhere i have seen and you dont have to pay shipping. maybe the dealer has the strips too
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 13,653
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From: Cabot, Arkansas
They do. Keep in mind that the test strips do have an expiration date, so you won't need a batch of 100, or even 50. You only really need to test it a couple of times a year, so a five pack will last a while.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: San Diego, CA
My local Ford dealer didn't even have the stips for sale and directed me to go to an International dealer! Some help Ford always seems to be! Maybe someone has a bottle of 50 laying around you could get a couple for a couple bucks. They have an exp. date of about 1 year so the average person won't need a full bottle anyway!
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Gig Em, Tx
Got test strips (50 for $18) and additive (NAPA Kool # 4056) at NAPA today. Only question I have is that the NAPA additive (1 pint) treats 4 gallons of coolant. About twice that of Ford's additive. The NAPA test strips (made by Wix) tests for Nitrite, freeze point and pH. Is this the same as the Ford test strips?
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: San Diego, CA
Those are not the correct stirps for checking the SCA (according to my NAPA and International dealer) You need to check for Molybdate as well! The strips I was told to purchase by the International dealer test for:
1) Freezepoint
2) Molybdate
3) Nitrite
They are made by Fleetguard. In my directions is states: "The amount of SCA units per gallon in the cooling system is given where the Molybdate row intersects the nitrite column" based upon the results after dipping the strips in the coolant. My Ford dealer didn't even have the strips for sale and told me they get them from International when they need them. Maybe someone else is using the Wix stirps and can explain?
1) Freezepoint
2) Molybdate
3) Nitrite
They are made by Fleetguard. In my directions is states: "The amount of SCA units per gallon in the cooling system is given where the Molybdate row intersects the nitrite column" based upon the results after dipping the strips in the coolant. My Ford dealer didn't even have the strips for sale and told me they get them from International when they need them. Maybe someone else is using the Wix stirps and can explain?