Mixing antifreeze?

[jjrbus]

I am tweeking my cooling system and need to top off the coolant. Last year I drained and refilled the system with Detroit Diesel antifreeze. Interesting when I put it in it was red, now it is green? I'm 45 min from a Detroit dealer to purchase coolant. Would it acceptable to mix with another brand that is approved for DD?

[tekebird]

Red + Green Equals some snot like substance that will clog your Radiator.

Drain and Flush ASAP

[trailblazer2]

  Yea;
Tekebird is right! I had problems with my ole 6-V92 last year,and without asking their mechanic gave me a lecture on coolant. He told me of the horror stories of mixing coolant,even told me about the extended/or permanent types. His final,was use Detroits brand and use it diluted with  distilled water(50%);nothing else. It sure would be nice if someone out there knew the generic,huh???
Bill

[jjrbus]

It is not red + green. I did a flush and fill last year. I put in the DD antifreeze, it was red, now when I drained some out it is green ??

[tekebird]

That can't happen.........you likely still had green in it somewhere, perhaps the heating loop....

[Sojourner]

All "green" coolant will show some red transparent in thin flow but toward green in heavy flow while pouring in a bucket.
All others are straight color such as red or yellow.

About mixing:
Only use coolant with same like SCA additive.

There are two kinds of SCA, and they are not the same chemical.

Fleetguard DCA4 (diesel coolant additive formula #4). DCA4 is used by International, Cummins, and Ford as the SCA in their cooling systems. The only test strips designed for use to test DCA4 are Fleetguard 3-Way Coolant Test strips. Any other brand of test strips is probably made for testing Pencool, not DCA4.

The other kind of SCA is Penray's Pencool. It's used by GM, Caterpillar, and Detroit Diesel. It's not the same as DCA4, and requires different test strips.

Penray "Pencool" http://www.penray.com/images/PenrayTechFacts_1.pdf

Fleetguard DCA4
http://www.cumminsfiltration.com/en/products/en_prod_fg_cool_sca.shtml

FWIW
Sojourn for Christ, Jerry

[muddog16]

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that the anti freeze in my system when removing the 8v71 was a clear to clear with a purple tint to it, does anyone have an idea what that might have been, was it a glycol solution or what, one thing for sure it kept the system extremely clean.   

Pat

[Sojourner]

Old menthol anti freeze is purple color...however I believe this a case of worn Ethylene glycol based with possible additive mix in. Needed changing.

Caution! Clean coolant doesn't always mean clean cooling system....make sure you clean the system with DD cleaner before replace with new coolant fluid.

FWIW

Sojourn for Christ, Jerry

[muddog16]

Thanks Jerry, I'll make sure I clean it before the new engine goes in!

Pat

[LegalEagle82]

okay, now everyone has me worried, because my bus  is a new purchase and I have no idea what is in it right now.  Maybe I can go back to the old owner and find out, if not, what is the safe way to top off the antifreeze without changing all the fluid out.

On that thought.   How long is the antifreeze good for.  My bus really didnt see a lot of action before I bought it because the owner had upgraded and just didn't want to get rid of the old bird.  I did have a mechanic go over the bus, but no mention of the antifreeze...  Should I test the antifreeze other than a simple ph test, or just be safe and flush the system.

The bus probably has had 45,000 miles put on it over the last 10 years.  And most of those miles were in the first 5-6 years.  The last 2-3 years have been very, very mild.

[Sojourner]

okay, now everyone has me worried, because my bus  is a new purchase and I have no idea what is in it right now.  Maybe I can go back to the old owner and find out, if not, what is the safe way to top off the antifreeze without changing all the fluid out.

On that thought.   How long is the antifreeze good for.  My bus really didnt see a lot of action before I bought it because the owner had upgraded and just didn't want to get rid of the old bird.  I did have a mechanic go over the bus, but no mention of the antifreeze...  Should I test the antifreeze other than a simple ph test, or just be safe and flush the system.

The bus probably has had 45,000 miles put on it over the last 10 years.  And most of those miles were in the first 5-6 years.  The last 2-3 years have been very, very mild.

Look for later post subject " Detroit Diesel Coolant" as of Friday 23.
FWIW

Sojourn for Christ, Jerry

[niles500]

Legal - barring any other problems you can just "top off" your coolant with distilled water - for nominal usage you aren't diminishing your coolant/anti-freeze capabilities by adding small amounts of "thinners" - HTH

[jjrbus]

 Legal, Coolant in a detroit Diesel is something to be concerned about. The wrong coolant can cavitate and put little holes in you cylinder walls. While we do not need to use Detroit Diesel brand. We do need to use one approved for Detroit Diesel!   Try this link   www.detroitdiesel.com/pdf/vocations/Cooland-Selections.pdf
If this link does not work go to   www.detroitdiesel.com and look for coolant

[TomC]

If you have a 71 series that has dry cylinder liners, standard Prestone type antifreeze works fine.  Still should test for acidity.  In fact, Prestone was the only antifreeze I ever used on my four trucks. No problems.
On 92 series and 4 strokers with wet cylinder liners, can use Prestone, again test for acidity and add Nocool when necessary.  It's the acidity that's important to keeping the liners from pitting.  Good Luck, TomC

[jjrbus]

Tom, you always post good things!! Now how does a newbi tell if he has dry liners??