I recived a mailer from my local dealer about mainteance intervals. on the bottom is a section marked "Things to know with your 6.0l"

Number one is "The engine coolant system nitrite level should be checked and serviced at the milage or equivalent hour intervals specified by the maintenance schedule. Check coolant nitrite levels to determine if additive is required. If nitrite level is below 800, add 32oz(946mL) of supplemental coolant additive Motorcraft VC-8 or equivalent.

I called the same dealer and they said they add this vc-8 every flush and don,t use vc-9 during a flush.

when they told me that I decided to do my own flush , but wonder about nitrite levels. is the napa ph tester going to tell me that. I used a generick ph test and looked like right at 7. and what do you guys think is an "equivalent" additive

 

You need to use a Rotunda test strip. Here you go these should help

if you have not done the flush: VC-9 Before and after; Worth the money - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

testing:Take care of your coolant: - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

 

The mailer from the dealer is accurate. If your nitrite level falls below the spec, you can add vc-8 to increase it.

What the dealer told you on the phone is wrong. You flush with vc-9. It is an iron cleaner and should be done when you flush. There is no reason to add vc-8 to new coolant, because new coolant will have the correct nitrite level already.

 

As the diesel engine works, combustion forces set up a natural vibration in the sleeves, causing the sleeve walls to first pull rapidly away from the coolant, creating a low-pressure area in which the surrounding coolant boils and forms tiny air bubbles. Then, as the sleeve springs back, it slams into the bubbles with a force estimated at up to 60,000 psi, causing the bubbles to collapse, or implode, violently.

This bubble-bursting action against the sleeve is called "cavitation," because it can create tiny cavities in the sleeve wall if the coolant inadequately protects the metal. Left unchecked, this "pitting" process can eventually perforate the sleeve wall, allowing coolant into the cylinder, where its incompressible nature can crack blocks, break pistons and bend rods.

Although cavitation can be devastating, it's also easy to prevent, simply by maintaining a film of cavitation-resistant native oxides on the sleeve's outer wall. The diesel engine's coolant is responsible for keeping this protective film in good repair, but to do so, it must in turn be adequately maintained. This means, essentially, keeping the coolant's additives in proper concentration.

For many coolants, a "supplemental coolant additive" (SCA) package not only has compounds that help the cooling system resist corrosion, scaling and attack by acids, but also contains nitrite, which mends the sleeve's protective-oxide film when cavitation tries to wear it away. Some SCA packages also contain molybdate, intended to enhance nitrite's healing action and thus allow lower levels of nitrite, which, in excessive concentrations, may contribute to solder corrosion.

If you still use "conventional coolant," a heavy-duty, low-silicate antifreeze with an ASTM D4985 specification, then remember that this antifreeze contains no supplemental coolant additives. At initial fill, along with mixing it with 50 percent water, you must add an SCA package, typically at a ratio of one pint to four gallons of coolant.

A better alternative, is to use "fully formulated" antifreeze that meets ASTM D6210 specifications. These antifreezes already contain SCA components and require no initial treatment. In fact, all makers of vehicles with heavy-duty diesels now require coolant meeting this standard.

You can use test strips designed to measure nitrite and freeze point ("2-way"), or nitrite, molybdate and freeze point ("3-way"). These paper strips react to coolant by changing colors, which can be evaluated with a supplied chart. In theory, if the nitrite or nitrite/molybdate concentration is okay, then the rest of the SCA package is adequate.

Freeze-point/nitrite (molybdate) test strips should be fresh, designed for your coolant and stored at temperatures below 90F. Collect samples from radiator or petcock, not from the coolant-recovery system. Test coolant at temperatures between 50F and 130F, but room temperature is preferred. Readings usually should be taken between 45 and 75 seconds after exposure to coolant; use a stopwatch. Freeze-point readings may be unreliable at glycol concentrations above 60 percent. Other test strips evaluate nitrite, freeze point and pH (acidity/alkalinity) levels, and some evaluate make-up water condition, measuring chloride, sulfate and pH.

http://www.maxsafeantifreeze.com/new...%20Engines.pdf