I was wondering what exactly the coolant additive does. I am in the middle of replacing h20 pump and need to refill. I talked to a person at NAPA and he told me a lot of people are using a ROYAL PURPLE additive. Not sure if it is the same or not. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

 

Does anyone know or have input? Please! Would it help if I said I need my truck running by this weekend to pickup swing set for my son (guilt should be setting in about now, HAHA)

 

It's an anti-cavitation additive to prevent diesel cavitation erosion. Google that.

I use PenCool 3000 and have very good reports from Polaris Labs.

Ford dealers have the factory-specified additive, as well. Most truck stops will have PenCool, which is the BTE-compatable stuff, but there is also PenCool 2000, which is a different formulation.

Most folks here will advise you to just switch to a more permanent, ELC-type coolant.

If you didn't get it into your engine for a Saturday's drive, it's not going to kill anything. Just don't forget it and let it go too long without it, as it will allow the coolant to etch pinholes through your cylinder walls!

REALLY not a good thing!!!

Pop

 

I use the NAPA KOOL no problems.

 

if you use the coolant test strips, what do you look for to tell if you need to add the DCA additive?

 

Thanks!!!!

 

If you get the Fleetguard strips, it comes with a card like this:


Where the molybdate level intersects the nitrite level determines the sca units in your fluid. Then you add enough sca to bring the level into the green area, if the sca level is low. Here are the commendations from Fleetguard:

Below 1.2 units per gallon: add 1 pint of DCA4 per 4 gallons of coolant

1.2 to 3.0 units per gallon: everything is cool, just keep going

Above 3.0 units per gallon: keep driving until concentration falls below 3.0 units per gallon.

 

Ok!, My Ford Dealership parts guy "Did Not" have any idea what I was talking about when I asked for the coolant test strips and DCA additive, so I got the white bottle from nappa(WIX) that has about 300 test strips in it lol.

I still really dont understand that pic but I will read to you what my results were and maybe some one can explain to me if my coolant is in need of the DCA additive. The strips had three blocks, the first was the Nitrite indicator( mine read in the "Ideal" range 1200 ppm). Second block was for freeze point(Mine was dark which ment -60*F), Third and last was the pH block(mine read in the 8.0 range).

Does that mean my coolant is ok on the additive level?

 

First, never go to Ford dealership...they are, in general, morons. Go to International, they talk trucks and diesels for sure.

Now, there is no way to use the chart I gave earlier, because the Fleetguard strips test molybdate, not pH and then uses those nitrites and molybdates to determine sca level. Your test strips must use nitrites and pH to determine sca levels. But your nitrite would be just about right (it could go as high as 2400 ppm and still be alright and maybe as low as 1000 ppm and still be alright.

Here is a good read on coolants and sca:
http://www.diesel-central.com/News/coolant.htm

 

Your test strip indicates you're in the ballpark. Just keep it there.

But, that won't be difficult. This isn't rocket science.

Pop

 

Thanks guys! "Pop" and "nlemerise"

 

Napa also sells a coolant filter with dca additives built in to release automatically into the system.