will be doing coolant flush and switching to the red rotella elc nf .will this be a good coolant choice ? I was able to get it at one of my local napa stores.

 

Edit, didn't see all the detail so may have posted incorrectly.

 

ok cool thanks for the reassurance toomanytoys

 

Jack, I thought we were not supposed to use the nitrite free? I have an old post from 2017 to that effect. Just can’t get the link to it. Did something change?

 

Sorry, I didn't pick up in the NF designation. Bad overnight.

I'll change the post.

 

If you guys can remember that link I would love to re-read it. I have never been 100% sure it (NF coolant) was good OR bad.

 

With the headache I've had overnight, I'm not even sure what a Powerstroke is.

 

Cant get it from my phone. As soon as I get to my laptop, I’ll post it.


Here are some posts. This is the only reason I questioned the NF.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-question.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-the-same.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...c-coolant.html

 

What were you drinking?

 

My current thinking is that the Nitrite Free version is ok.

I like cbonet's post and SmackDaddy's post (#42 and #43) in your third link:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...coolant-2.html

 

This was in an old post over on TheDieselGarage:

The discussion on EC-1 coolants begins on page 71 of the attached document, with the most details on page 75. The coolant section begins on page 67.

Some of their (Caterpillar) statements:

EC-1 rating is Cat saying that it conforms with certain ASTM standards: ASTM E1177 and D6210. Also D3306, but not D3306 alone.
Also, page 71 specifically states that OAT coolants that contain silicates do not meet the EC-1 standard.
On page 75 it states:
"Note: The CAT EC-1 specification describes the minimum requirements for Extended Life Coolants."
Table 29 (also on page 75) gives more details, and the discussion below Table 29 describes the required testing for the EC-1 rating.
Interesting statement on page 74 of the link:
"All CAT engines that are equipped with a CAT NOx Reduction System require a minimum of 50% glycol concentration to help prevent cavitation damage and boiling of the coolant."
I would bet that our EGR systems are similarly sensitive to the coolant concentration as well.

Also, it states that for the OAT ELC coolants that are EC-1 rated .... these coolants should have a minimum of 500 ppm Nitrites. This means that the ELC NF might not be able to actually get the EC-1 rating. I do believe however, that the Cat EC-1 rating is not the ONLY acceptable rating for a good Heavy Duty coolant that would work well in our 6.0's. Shell seems to have stated that the ELC NF will work fine and there are several forum folks that are using it (I can only remember SmackDaddy at this point though).

 

I sent a email to shell asking if the nitrite free is cat ec-1 rated . I am waiting on a reply back from them .
in the mean time I will probably return the nitrite free and get the rotella elc in the blue jug as it states
on the jug that it meets or exceeds ec-1 requirements, that it is a little cheaper then nitrite free stuff.
I will try to let you guys know what shell had to say .

 

Looks like you were typing your response when I posted my earlier one. Take a look at it. I bet that Shell will not say it (the NF variety) is EC-1 rated, but they will most likely say it is fine for our "Heavy Duty Diesel" sevice.

Thanks for contacting Shell, it will be interesting to see what they will say!

btw - My Shell Ultra ELC isn't completely EC-1 rated (it does meet Sections 2.3 - 4.5), but I have been using it for 10 years and the system is great. It is Nitrite Free. I have had the water pump out several times (trialing the BPD water pump) and the impeller looks brand new (no cavitation pitting) and I have no rust or particulates in my system (it is so clean now that I no longer filter it).

I have attached another interesting article from years gone by (had to convert the mht file to txt for posting).

 

I should have not tried to be online this am ... or now. Sorry.

Euroman, wish it was all that simple. Don't drink alcohol at all.

 

Some Rotella info.