Coolant Test Strips
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
Coolant Test Strips
Guys,
Is Napa P/N FIL4106 the same as the fleetguard CC2602 3-way test strips?
I ran out of test strips and can't remember either P/N right now.
DG
Is Napa P/N FIL4106 the same as the fleetguard CC2602 3-way test strips?
I ran out of test strips and can't remember either P/N right now.
DG
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
Test Strips
Napa guy wasn't that helpful. The local place isn't very Diesel Savvy.
Going to see if I can get Fleetguard strips ordered in the morning. Still'd be nice ta know if they are the same thing - the Napa's closer to me than the place that sells Fleetguard.
DG
Going to see if I can get Fleetguard strips ordered in the morning. Still'd be nice ta know if they are the same thing - the Napa's closer to me than the place that sells Fleetguard.
DG
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 115
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From: Connecticut
Hey, on a side note: What years are the test strips a must do?
Do I understand this correctly, that the green coolant needs the test strips to monitor the coolant to keep the motor from killing itself from damaging vibration/harmonics from the detonation?
Thanks
Do I understand this correctly, that the green coolant needs the test strips to monitor the coolant to keep the motor from killing itself from damaging vibration/harmonics from the detonation?
Thanks
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
Test Strips
Never figured it out. Made the trek out to east of Gresham to get the Fleetguard strips from a truck stop. it'd still be nice to know the answer in case I don't have the time to go get them. Our parts person is in hiding as she let us run out of several items @ the same time. Test strips are just one of about 6 things he let us run out of this week. Nothing like trying to keep trucks on the job w/o Oil Filters, Air Filters, etc, etc.
To answer the 2cnd question: The strips are intended to be used w/ coolant that have DCA4/SCA added to them. IE> the traditional "green coolants" although the color of the coolant doesn't necessarily tell the whole story these days.
The test strips are not necessary for the ELC "gold" coolants - however we do monitor the PH on trucks that have ELC's in them as we've seen some systems go slightly acidic over a period of time. (Not a problem for most folks but, we maintain a small fleet of trucks so they don't always get serviced as often as we'd like. esp when they are dispatched to remote work sites Like me here in OR - Our main Office/Shop is in VA)
DG
To answer the 2cnd question: The strips are intended to be used w/ coolant that have DCA4/SCA added to them. IE> the traditional "green coolants" although the color of the coolant doesn't necessarily tell the whole story these days.
The test strips are not necessary for the ELC "gold" coolants - however we do monitor the PH on trucks that have ELC's in them as we've seen some systems go slightly acidic over a period of time. (Not a problem for most folks but, we maintain a small fleet of trucks so they don't always get serviced as often as we'd like. esp when they are dispatched to remote work sites Like me here in OR - Our main Office/Shop is in VA)
DG
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 578
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From: Cincy OH
I just ordered a four pack of strips w/ chart from Diesel Manor.com. They work great!
I recall reading in previous posts that the Napa strips are NOT the same as they do not test for the same things. I know I have read this several different times, as guys have tried them to realize they won't work. Surely someone else remembers seeing this?!
I recall reading in previous posts that the Napa strips are NOT the same as they do not test for the same things. I know I have read this several different times, as guys have tried them to realize they won't work. Surely someone else remembers seeing this?!
New User
Joined: Mar 2006
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hey dagren, The NAPA on 25th and evergreen in hillsboro has the test strips. I have a pack of them and they work well. I just asked the parts person in the back. I dont know the part number but they were very helpful.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Gig Em, Tx
Napa strips test for nitrite level, freeze point and pH. Fleetguard tests for nitrite, molybdate and freeze point. I believe the moly is contained in the Ford sca. I use the Napa sca and I don't think it has the moly, hence their strips don't test for it. Hope this helps.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2006
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Does anyone use Cat extended life coolant? Do you still need to use the test strips with this coolant? It is my understanding this coolant is good for 300,000 miles in a diesel and prevents the cavitations problem. Am I right about this?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
Test Strips
I'll try the Napa on 25th sometime - I don't go over there very much. We're on the other (West) side of Hillsboro. We're working down near McMinnville this month so I hit a Napa place down there. Sgrol gave the answer I was looking for - we use the fleetguard DCA4 so, the napa strips won't test all the items we need to look for. Need to watch the Nitrate & Moly levels w/ the fleetguard additive. (We use the pre-charged coolant filters on our trucks)
DG
DG
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From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
Cat Elc
We've switched some of our 01 & 02 trucks over to the CAT ELC Coolant at they're 1st coolant system flush - so far so good. Several of these have racked up 40-50K miles with this coolant w/o trouble. (We do leave the coolant filters in place on these - just switch them to a non DCA4 precharged filter)
Make sure you get a complete system flush as mixing the Green in w/ the CAT ELC negates the benefits.
A lot simpler maintenence than the std Coolant. We just watch the PH.
DG
Make sure you get a complete system flush as mixing the Green in w/ the CAT ELC negates the benefits.
A lot simpler maintenence than the std Coolant. We just watch the PH.
DG