Coolant ratio rich, any danger?
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Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Huntsville, TX
Coolant ratio rich, any danger?
Hi FTE Community-
I had the radiator replacement thread recently. I haven't driven the truck hardly since the replacement. Question is: Any danger in leaving my antifreeze to water ratio too rich? I've been draining out some fluid & replacing with distilled after running until operating temp. Just still too rich.
At time of replacement I put in 4 pints of NapaKool before adding any antifreeze, which was Super Tech "All Makes All Models" Extended Life (Walmart special) full strength. Shoulda gone 50/50 at that time but I was thinking I had it guesstimated.
Been workin too much & avoiding storms lately so I haven't got around to draining more. When I check with my little Rapid-Test coolant tester from Napa it's pegged at max every time.
I'm planning on a full back flush & doing the CAT EC-1 soon as possible but truck funds and time are limited right now. Any danger of anything rotting out or causing cavitation in the future?
Any advice appreciated,
Karl
I had the radiator replacement thread recently. I haven't driven the truck hardly since the replacement. Question is: Any danger in leaving my antifreeze to water ratio too rich? I've been draining out some fluid & replacing with distilled after running until operating temp. Just still too rich.
At time of replacement I put in 4 pints of NapaKool before adding any antifreeze, which was Super Tech "All Makes All Models" Extended Life (Walmart special) full strength. Shoulda gone 50/50 at that time but I was thinking I had it guesstimated.
Been workin too much & avoiding storms lately so I haven't got around to draining more. When I check with my little Rapid-Test coolant tester from Napa it's pegged at max every time.
I'm planning on a full back flush & doing the CAT EC-1 soon as possible but truck funds and time are limited right now. Any danger of anything rotting out or causing cavitation in the future?
Any advice appreciated,
Karl
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,302
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From: Morehead, Ky.
You can go up to about 75% antifreeze to 25% water. I know it is close to that anyway.
You just can't run pure antifreeze, but being in Texas, you should not have a problem.
I bought Delo ELC, They make Cat's, but it is cheaper at a Distributor.
75/25 mix will take you down to about -50deg F
I reread, and All makes and Models is not good for Diesels.
You just can't run pure antifreeze, but being in Texas, you should not have a problem.
I bought Delo ELC, They make Cat's, but it is cheaper at a Distributor.
75/25 mix will take you down to about -50deg F
I reread, and All makes and Models is not good for Diesels.
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,298
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From: Damon (South East Texas)
Too much antifreeze shouldn't be a problem. The boiling point will be a bit lower than with a 50/50 mix, but freeze protection will be higher. I wouldn't fret about it. You will be fine until the change to ELC.
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From: Gary,Indiana
Karl what do your SCA's look like? And here is a good read on coolant. Diesel Engine Cooling System - Diesel Power Magazine But I myself am not a fan of the Evans NPG+ coolant. But some have had good luck with it. Also I see you used the NapaCool and I have used it and end up having to play with the SCA's alot. The NapaCool is a DC-2 if I recall correctly. And Ford's additive is a DC-4 or DC-6 formula which I have had better luck keeping my SCA's stable and not all over the place.
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From: Huntsville, TX
@BadDogKuzz- No idea on the SCA's, haven't got test strips yet.
As I get it from reading around the net and getting way more educated on coolants than I ever anticipated, the NapaKool is made by Wix and is Nitrite based, a DCA2. Ford's is made by Fleetguard and is DCA4, with Nitrite and Molybdate.
I'm not sure what the PO was using before, I didn't get the maintenance records. It seems as though he used the Ford dealer's here and therefore probably was running the DCA4. Seeing as I used the DCA2 & didn't flush the system, I suppose I now have a mix. Seeing as I used the "all purpose, mix with anything" wally world AF, I'm assuming I have silicates coursing through my trucks veins.
Seeing as I kinda went into this blind, I think I'll spend a day soon here and do a big ol' flush of the system. There a few truck stops in town, hoping one of carries Delo ELC or another quality EC-1 spec coolant. Anyone think there a need to use Motorcraft® Premium Cooling System Flush when I do this?.
The ol' girl has 223k on her & I'd hate to be the one that puts her in the hospital.
As I get it from reading around the net and getting way more educated on coolants than I ever anticipated, the NapaKool is made by Wix and is Nitrite based, a DCA2. Ford's is made by Fleetguard and is DCA4, with Nitrite and Molybdate.
I'm not sure what the PO was using before, I didn't get the maintenance records. It seems as though he used the Ford dealer's here and therefore probably was running the DCA4. Seeing as I used the DCA2 & didn't flush the system, I suppose I now have a mix. Seeing as I used the "all purpose, mix with anything" wally world AF, I'm assuming I have silicates coursing through my trucks veins.
Seeing as I kinda went into this blind, I think I'll spend a day soon here and do a big ol' flush of the system. There a few truck stops in town, hoping one of carries Delo ELC or another quality EC-1 spec coolant. Anyone think there a need to use Motorcraft® Premium Cooling System Flush when I do this?.
The ol' girl has 223k on her & I'd hate to be the one that puts her in the hospital.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,951
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From: Gary,Indiana
@BadDogKuzz- No idea on the SCA's, haven't got test strips yet.
As I get it from reading around the net and getting way more educated on coolants than I ever anticipated, the NapaKool is made by Wix and is Nitrite based, a DCA2. Ford's is made by Fleetguard and is DCA4, with Nitrite and Molybdate.
I'm not sure what the PO was using before, I didn't get the maintenance records. It seems as though he used the Ford dealer's here and therefore probably was running the DCA4. Seeing as I used the DCA2 & didn't flush the system, I suppose I now have a mix. Seeing as I used the "all purpose, mix with anything" wally world AF, I'm assuming I have silicates coursing through my trucks veins.
Seeing as I kinda went into this blind, I think I'll spend a day soon here and do a big ol' flush of the system. There a few truck stops in town, hoping one of carries Delo ELC or another quality EC-1 spec coolant. Anyone think there a need to use Motorcraft® Premium Cooling System Flush when I do this?.
The ol' girl has 223k on her & I'd hate to be the one that puts her in the hospital.
As I get it from reading around the net and getting way more educated on coolants than I ever anticipated, the NapaKool is made by Wix and is Nitrite based, a DCA2. Ford's is made by Fleetguard and is DCA4, with Nitrite and Molybdate.
I'm not sure what the PO was using before, I didn't get the maintenance records. It seems as though he used the Ford dealer's here and therefore probably was running the DCA4. Seeing as I used the DCA2 & didn't flush the system, I suppose I now have a mix. Seeing as I used the "all purpose, mix with anything" wally world AF, I'm assuming I have silicates coursing through my trucks veins.
Seeing as I kinda went into this blind, I think I'll spend a day soon here and do a big ol' flush of the system. There a few truck stops in town, hoping one of carries Delo ELC or another quality EC-1 spec coolant. Anyone think there a need to use Motorcraft® Premium Cooling System Flush when I do this?.
The ol' girl has 223k on her & I'd hate to be the one that puts her in the hospital.
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Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Huntsville, TX
Is the VC9 the flush additive I noted? I just pulled that from a Ford site.
I've been a gasser or alky for 37 years +/- when building all my projects, diesel not so much, trying to learn here, so I hope folks don't think I'm a dope on vehicles.
Please let me know what I'm doing wrong! As a great teacher I once had said, "The only stupid question is the one that is never asked"...
Thanks
I've been a gasser or alky for 37 years +/- when building all my projects, diesel not so much, trying to learn here, so I hope folks don't think I'm a dope on vehicles.
Please let me know what I'm doing wrong! As a great teacher I once had said, "The only stupid question is the one that is never asked"...
Thanks
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