Check coolant now!!
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 1
From: Middleburg, FL
Yeah I got the letter yesterday. However, it indicates the coolant strength (nitrate) check is optional at 15k miles or 600 hours for normal operating conditions and required at the same interval for special operating conditions. Still would be hard for Ford to deny warrantee with this kind of language.
Freshman User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Also got the letter. I'd be concerned along with the rest of you guys, but my warranty expired this month. My truck was in for warranty work about every six months to a year anyway, so I got fresh coolant as a result on a yearly basis at the very least anyhow.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 1
From: Moyock, NC
I finally got the letter too...do they think we're idiots...I was offended. They didn't happen to mention anything about Mercon SP...whats up with that....you would think that would also be on their list of major concerns....go figure.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
They both replyed no. I then explained the letter for the 6.0 and 6.4 PSD, and both dealers said they are the last to hear about letters or issues and both had no test strips for sale. I even gave them the Rotunda # and they couldn't even find that # anywhere.
Good luck trying to deny my warranty because of this!
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Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 87
Likes: 5
From: Fountain Hills, AZ
My dealer says they don't sell the test strips, but they have the strips for use in the service shop. Below is NAPA's selection of anti-freeze test kits. The least expensive kit is about $16, but I am not sure exactly what these kits will test for (nitrates?) since the info on each item is skimpy.
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...+Kit&VehCode=N
Below is the link to the acustrip website which is the brand of test kit that Ford has "approved" according to the Ford form letter.
http://www.acustrip.com/afcoolprod.html#threeway
I see one kit for $35 that will test the nitrates and water/coolant mix, but the website only lets one place orders of at least $100. Looks like the test strips themselves cost less than a buck per strip when bought in quantity. Not outrageous, but I don't need a 20-year supply.
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...+Kit&VehCode=N
Below is the link to the acustrip website which is the brand of test kit that Ford has "approved" according to the Ford form letter.
http://www.acustrip.com/afcoolprod.html#threeway
I see one kit for $35 that will test the nitrates and water/coolant mix, but the website only lets one place orders of at least $100. Looks like the test strips themselves cost less than a buck per strip when bought in quantity. Not outrageous, but I don't need a 20-year supply.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 754
Likes: 0
From: Cedar Springs,MI
My dealer says they don't sell the test strips, but they have the strips for use in the service shop. Below is NAPA's selection of anti-freeze test kits. The least expensive kit is about $16, but I am not sure exactly what these kits will test for (nitrates?) since the info on each item is skimpy.
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...+Kit&VehCode=N
Below is the link to the acustrip website which is the brand of test kit that Ford has "approved" according to the Ford form letter.
http://www.acustrip.com/afcoolprod.html#threeway
I see one kit for $35 that will test the nitrates and water/coolant mix, but the website only lets one place orders of at least $100. Looks like the test strips themselves cost less than a buck per strip when bought in quantity. Not outrageous, but I don't need a 20-year supply.
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...+Kit&VehCode=N
Below is the link to the acustrip website which is the brand of test kit that Ford has "approved" according to the Ford form letter.
http://www.acustrip.com/afcoolprod.html#threeway
I see one kit for $35 that will test the nitrates and water/coolant mix, but the website only lets one place orders of at least $100. Looks like the test strips themselves cost less than a buck per strip when bought in quantity. Not outrageous, but I don't need a 20-year supply.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 1
From: Middleburg, FL
Maybe they don't have the test strips because when the new gold coolant was introduced it was broadly advertised that the days of test strips were gone. I wonder if anyone on this forum knows what type coolant International uses in the VT365 and if it requires testing.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 156
Likes: 2
From: Northern Illinois
One thing to think about with the test strips, if they are anything like the ones I use for my hot tub (obviously they test for different things, but they look the same) they have an expiration date printed on the bottle. I just looked at the bottle that I recently purchased for the tub and they expire in a year and a half. If the test strip company was smart, they would start marketing strips in a bottle of 6 - 12 strips.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 21,113
Likes: 3,939
From: Ohio
I just received a letter from Ford on changes made to regular maintenance schedule, oil, fuel filters and coolant. Nitrite levels should be between 300 & 800 PPM add 32 fl oz of Supplemental Coolant Additive Motorcraft VC-8 or equivalent.
If nitrite level is below 300 PPM, flush with Engine Cooling System Iron Cleaner Motorcraft VC-9 and refill coolant, above 800 PPM do not add Supplemental Additive.
Test strips available at your Ford Dealer,
If nitrite level is below 300 PPM, flush with Engine Cooling System Iron Cleaner Motorcraft VC-9 and refill coolant, above 800 PPM do not add Supplemental Additive.
Test strips available at your Ford Dealer,
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
1ppm = 1mg/L
1gallon = 3.78541 liters
1ppm = 3.785mg/Gal