I've been on this part of the forum for a week after upgrading from my OBS and I haven't heard anyone mention cavitazation or SCA's. Do these newer trucks not need the adative? My truck also has a funny looking(not green) antifreeze. How often does it need to be replaced?

 

Should be the Gold cooler antifreeze and I read in here how long its good for but I cann't remember without searching for it.

 

Limeade,Green antifreeze = check SCA and adjust as neccessary.
Lemonade,Gold antifreeze= good for 100K (IT MIGHT BE 200K, but Im not sure)
Red Kool Aid= red antifreeze= life of the truck.

 

The gold is good for 100k or ~5 years. It came in the 2002+ trucks made in KY. It's called "Hybrid OAT" coolant with some SCAs, and some "Oraganic Acid Technolgy" additives. The red stuff is full OAT and has no SCAs at all. I'm changing mine out to the red stuff in the spring. If you're going to change it, go ahead and flush it with distilled water and refill with the red stuff. It's the best stuff out there and doesn't need messed with until ~300k, which is when you add a refresher additive, then it's good for another ~300k. Basically, lifetime like Brandon said...

 

Any particular brand that is better than others as far as the red stuff?

EDIT: Sorry for the hijack.

 

I put some red antifreeze in my tractor from Wal-mart. Don't how good it is, had a picture of a semi truck on it.

 

SInce I got the green stuff and have never tested it since I replaced my water pump about 20,000 ago, how do I go about making sure I'm not killing my block?

 

I think they make some sort of test strips.

 

I think the Rotella is some of the red stuff. Napa Final Charge is some good stuff to use.

 

Folks have used various types of ELC (Extended Life Coolant), just make sure it's diesel rated. Cat makes some (but I think it's not red), but the common stuff here they guys call "Red Kool-Aid" is Rotella ELC and/or FinalCharge. I can't find Rotella any place close, but the Napas around here sell FinalCharge. And it's the same stuff as Rotella. I'll be using the FinalCharge myself. Here is their site:
Final Charge Antifreeze Home Page

And yes, you use test strips for the green stuff and are supposed to put in the FW-16 additive every 15k, supposedly.

EDIT: Cat ELC IS red. I know there's a blue or purple out there too...

 

Thanks guys- I think I'll get some additive from the stealership before I deploy for 7 months so I don't come back to a block pissin' green LOL

 

Danny,

PM me your mailing address and I'll send you a few test strips USPS.

Pop

 

I have the Gold ( 02 ). Can I just drain, flush, and refill with old stuff again as long as its diesel rated? I am soon at the 100K mark.

 

If it came with gold, i'd put gold back in it. I won't do mine untill 100,000 miles or until the waterpump goes. Whichever comes first.

 

Look for Cat EC-1 approved on the label. Peak Final Charge meets this rating. Just changed mine to this last month. It's kinda a "set it and forget it" type thing. No more SCA's to test. Ordered mine thru O'Reilly's. I talked to my local NAPA and OTR parts guys. They did not carry it and didn't know too much about it, until I educated them. The NAPA guy said he was going to start stacking some after my inquiry. I told him it was pretty much standard OEM for the newer OTR diesels. I've seen it in our new fleet trucks for the last 2 years.