Coolant....I think that I am learning.....Advice?

[John316]

Purple. I didn't end up getting the extended life. They didn't have it concentrate, so I have purple (with additives), and a lot of gallons of distilled water.

God bless,

John

[Sean]

... The major difference is that automotive antifreeze has a fairly high level of phosphorous to address issues with aluminum engine components.

That depends on the brand.  The standard Prestone automotive coolant today, now yellow in color, has no Phosphorous or Silicates.  One of the great things about the chemical safety legislation of the 80s is that you can look up the composition of any of these products simply by requesting the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) that every manufacturer must provide.  Most even have them available on the web.

As many have already stated, you have lots of choices, but the one thing you want to make sure of is that the antifreeze meets ASTM D-6210.  Every label I have seen lists the ASTM specification it meets.  BTW, the ASTM spec for automotive antifreeze is D-3306.  You want to avoid that type.

However, note that many products are multiply labeled.  D3306 is OK so long as it also carries D6210 or D4985.

I use the stock Prestone stuff, which is listed to ASTM D4985 ("Standard Specification for Low Silicate Ethylene Glycol Base Engine Coolant for Heavy Duty Engines Requiring a Pre-Charge of Supplemental Coolant Additive") in addition to D3306.  I also use test strips supplied by either Detroit or Cummins (the latter will sell them in smaller quantities, so they don't go bad before you can use them all), and add SCAs as needed using Detroit's SCA package.

FWIW.

Since you've already done so much research on this, perhaps you can comment on the differences between D4985 and D6210 with respect to two-stroke engines.  My reading of Detroit publication 7se298 would suggest either is acceptable so long as there are no phosphates or silicates.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[Sean]

Since you've already done so much research on this, perhaps you can comment on the differences between D4985 and D6210 with respect to two-stroke engines.

OK, I found it... D6210 is for coolants made from virgin, recycled or reprocessed stock and are fully formulated (SCAs included), whereas D4985 is for coolant made only from virgin stock and requires SCAs to be added.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[luvrbus]

Sean, I find the the ASTM 4985 green stuff meets DD,Cummins, Cat, Mack, Volvo,and Freightliner trucks specs for non aluminum radiators and engines also the automotive spec 3306.
I use the SCA filter on my 8v92 changing the filter about once a year and never add any chemicals to my system it does the job but our 8v92's are not as sensitive to cavitation as the 60 series we just have 2 inches of our liner that contacts the coolant so the green stuff works for me too and I don't use distilled water if my water was good here I wouldn't even buy the R/O for .20 cents a gal.
So many different metals in the newer stuff I guess that is the reason for all the new antifreeze and chemicals.  
I think Jim is a little off saying to use only the ASTM 6210 number but if I had a 60s I would buy the 6210 per DD


good luck