Apologies -- I did search the site and found alot of different threads but none I saw really came to a consensus. I am flushing the system and trying to decide what coolant to use. I am new to this diesel game so apologies if this is a stupid question.

Thanks in advance.

Matt

 

1. Flush with VC-9
2. If under warranty use only Premium Gold or Zerex GO-5
3. If not under warranty use Premium Gold or Zerex GO-5.

I'm not saying another coolant won't work but why chance it. Too much money if the decision is wrong.

 

Perfect. Thanks. Searched for flush and saw the procedures to do so using what you recommended. I'll go that route. Thanks.

 

If premium gold is so great, why doesn't international use it in the VT 365? They built the motor. Ford puts premium gold in the 4 cylinder Focus too. Ford makes money by recommending what they sell. I'm doing a flush and fill this weekend with an non-silicated coolant with the hope of less potential deposit buildup on the oil and egr coolers. Ford also chose their programming on the 6.0 instead of Navistar's, and we all know how that turned out in 2003. Just because their coolant is recommended doesn't mean we need to accept it without question. I think Navistar would be using it too if it was the best for the motor.

 

Nitrous poises some interesting food for thought but for now I'm in the same camp as 69cj.

 

There was a pretty good discussion about this on another site.
Some very knowledgeable people are switching over to the ELC coolant in an effort to get less precipitates.
I'm not too thrilled with the gold coolant. Initial claims that it would go 100k miles were not even close. I also don't believe my engine is still shedding casting sand. I think the coolant is making that gritty stuff.

Or, I could be totally wrong.

 

i think what everyone is seeing in thier coolant is a combintaion of casting sand, silicate drop-out from the coolant, and on atleast the earlier models block heater elements were known to be faulty and flaked into coolant.
on my 07 at 90,000 mi. i drained & flushed the coolant and no debris whatsoever, but i know my truck is not the norm. i refilled with john deere coolgardII 6yrs.,6000hrs.

 

I didn't say another coolant wouldn't work. I gave an opinion and since I still have almost 2 years of esp warranty left I will play it on the safe side. I wish you luck on your choices. That's why I have my truck and you have your truck.

 

I'm with you cj if your under warranty dont chance it , but we need to get some miles on this other coolant so we can all judge it

 

Use a Quality Coolant ( You Be the Judge here ), use Distilled Water and Use a Coolant filter to keep the Crapola out of the cooling system.

http://www.dieselsite.com/index.asp?...ROD&ProdID=324

coolant filter - Ford Powerstroke Diesel Forum

 

And I would love to see those long term results and I hope mudhen or/ and nitrous returns with them and they are good. If there's a better alternative I would love to know, just can't risk a bumper to bumper warranty on it.

 

I wouldn't use a different coolant if I was still in warranty either because it's just one more thing for Ford to use against you to get out honoring the warranty. It seems pretty straight forward and not experimental at all using what Navistar uses.

 

I agree w/ the perspectives on using the Gold coolant through the warranty period. As long as it is flushed at the proper interval and you occasionally look at the nitritre levels, it will do a fine job. A coolant filter is just one more layer of protection.

That being said, there are several folks w/ solid forum reputation that have used the International or Fleetrite ELC coolant for probably 2 years now - probably 50k+ miles. They see no downsides, and are completely satisfied. Here on FTE, PowerstrokeHD uses it and on TheDieselStop, teamroper60 uses it. These guys are cautious and knowledgeable resources. I know there are several others but can not recall who they are.

I know that even 2 years and 50k is not a lot when it comes to coolant corrosion protection, but it is enough to determine if it is providing the proper service for cooling (and it is).

I respect the level of caution from folks on switching. I can especially appreciate the caution that Troy mentioned on DexCool. However, I am guardedly optimistic about using the ELC coolant - it is definitely different than the DexCool. By the time my warranty is up, I will be confident that these guys will have plenty of experience under their belt. But even if I had to decide now, I would probably switch.

There is a thread on TheDieselStop that discusses this coolant subject (as it relates to the oil cooler) and there are some interesting things to consider. I know that I have been relentless promoting the use of proper fluids, but that doesn't ever exclude the possibility of finding something better.

Many of us recall that the Ford literature did not specifically approve of a 5W40 oil - until Ford started selling one. Could be a similar issue w/ the coolant.

Here is the TDS thread:
Bulletproof Diesel Oil Cooler Question? - Diesel Forum - TheDieselStop.com

 

I noticed Ford now installs a red coolant in the 6.7 psd. For the folks concerned about maintaining there extended warrenty it maybe worth checking into this new coolant.

 

Ya, red or pink. There are a number of diff. flavors out there now. From the color I thought the wife's Lexus used Dexcol but upon further homework it is considered pink and not orange and is a diff. flavor. Do your homework boys. It's only going to get more complicated in the future.