Coolant Additive

[copeland]

According to the owners manual there is some sort of Ford coolant additive that has to be added every 15000 miles or so. What is this and is there a product at the local Walmart or Auto parts store that is the same?

[Toolman]

Welcome Copeland. The additive is Motorcraft FW-16(or FW-15). There are other products, but Ford recommends using theirs(for obvious reasons). Anyway, the additive is for mainting proper ph, nitrite and molybdate levels in your coolant. Lots of information in these forums about the additives and what they do. If interested, you can go to the Fleetguard online training site. This is a really good source to learn about diesel cooling systesm.
Or you can do a search within these forums....and you'll come up with lots of extra-curricular reading.

You won't find the additive at Wal-Mart, and probably not Auto-Zone either. You can however, get it at your Ford dealer or online at Diesel Injection Services . They are really good to deal with and have really fair prices...and quick shipping too. Don't forget to get some "Fleetgard" test strips. You'll need these to analyze your coolant and determine whether or not you need more additive.
Cheers, Toolman

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2001 4x4 Excursion-Limited, 7.3L Power Stroke, Chestnut, 3.73 Ltd Slip, TT Mirrors, Htd Seats, A/T Tires.

[Rattler]

Hey Toolman,

I just received my order yesterday from DIS. I ordered a K & N Filter, 2 fuel filters, test strips and a case of FW-16. After my initial check, how often should I check the "Chemical Level" in the system ??

Thanks [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[H ED S]

Cope first welcome to the forum and enjoy that beast, I have already welcomed Rattler.

First let me tell you that I worked in a lab for a chemical co. and have learned on the forum other things about the reasoning for the need of the additive FW-16.

Here it is in a nutshell from a nut [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img].

There is this phenomonum called cavitation. What it is, is tiny bubbles form on the water side of the cylinders and implode. When they do this the bubbles take a miscropic piece of metal off. Once this starts the bubbles seem to come back to the same place. It takes about 100,000 miles or so for this process to make a pinhole and alow water to start entering into the combustion side of the cylinders. When this happens you are looking at a short block at the minimum.

The additive coats the water jacket side and is sacrificially removed instead of the metal. So in time we need to replinish what has been used up.

The test strips are a litmus type test and are temprature and time sensitive. The test strips also have an expriation date on them. The reagents or chemicals on them is why they are dated and sensitive to temps. You need to store them inside so they will give you an accurate reading, It is a good idea to store the FW-16 inside to. If it freezes some have said it seperated out and formed a granular substance in it.

The range is from about 1.3 to 3.0. I try to keep min from 1.8 to 2.5. Too much is not good either. From what one highly respected member said a while back is it would cause premature water pump damage and may percipatate out the granules as I mentioned before.

To get a test sample the easiest way that I have found to do it is to get a turkey baster at the grocery or Wal-Mart type store and draw it out of the plastic degass bottle. We do not have an overflow bottle like a gasser. The plastic bottle is part of our cooling system and alows for expansion and degassing of the coolant. The cap on it is our radiator cap. I know it does not look like but its. Had me fooled the first time I looked for it [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]. Anyway draw a sample and let it get to room temprature and then dip the test strip in it. Read the instructions on which type you have. Most test three different items. Make sure to notice the time limit to compare the color of the standard on the bottle or chart that come with them. This is important in order to get an accurate reading. I know this sounds complicated, but after a few time it is like water rolling off a ducks back [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] . After you are through you can pour the sample back into the degass bottle and wala you are done.

Oh I almost forgot each bottle or 16 oz. of FW-16 equals a .6 increase to your test #s. If youhad a test of 2.0 and added 1 bottle you would test out real close to 2.6. When adding you need to run it a few 100 miles before retesting.to make sure it has mixed well.

After you get the strength of the addtive where you want it I would check it when I chang oil, unless you have lost coolant.

When flushing and replacing coolant our 32 quart systems need 4 pints to get it clos to 2.6 in strength.

I know this is long winded but hope it helps you understand how and why we need this additive. I feel it is cheap insurance compared to a $10.000 engine. Hope I did not [img]images/icons/crazy.gif[/img] you.

I hope we get spell check back soon 'cause I need it bad [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] .

[Toolman]

Rattler, I plan on checking mine at every other oil change or 10,000 miles. If you haven't tested your new truck yet...might wanna do it. I tested mine when I took the truck home from the dealership and low and behold...it was at an acceptable level....but it was at the lower end of the acceptable range. So, I added one bottle of FW-16 right off the bat.

[Rattler]

H ED S,

Thanks for the excellent post. I felt like I was in school again. [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]


Toolman,

Thanks for the information. I will check it tomorrow. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Terry

[H ED S]

Sorry bout that Rattler but if you havent done test before it is easy to get confused [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img].

I forgot but Toolman is right, do check it soon because a while back some people on the boards said their new trucks had none at all. There would be little damage for the first 20,000 miles but if left alone it would only get worse.

I am going to have to pull the plug and get some shut eye sooooy all have a goodn' ya hear.

[RDSII]

My X had none. I put a bottle in and it only took it to 1.3. How much do you have to add??

[H ED S]

RDS11
If you have not been welcomed consider yourself WELCOMED [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] and enjoy .


Each bottle raises the leve real close to .6 in our 32 quart systems. When it is time to flush out and put in new coolant, 4 bottles will get you real close to goal amount. You do not want to over do it though.

Hope this helps. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[RDSII]

H ED S
Thanks for the info!! I was adding a 1/2 a bottle at a time and seeing very little difference. WOW did I waste a load of strips!!!

[shamuex2000]

My ex had a level of 1 at about 12K miles. The information I read recommended a level near 3. This is considered to be the high-side of the range, but the logic was that as the additive depleted, you would be more likely to remain in the safe range until the next check. Ie: my lower radiator hose clamp failed on the road, and I had to add coolant without FW16. It was hard enough to find the correct coolant, and I didn't have to be too concerned about doing the FW16 chemistry until I got home.

[H ED S]

Shameaux it takes quite a few thousand miles ot do ireversible damage. 2.8 is about my max and unless you loose collant like youd there is no reason to recheck except about every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. some do at oil changes. Thi additive does not depleate very quick. The reason for not going ovet 3.0 is it is not good for the water pump. I usually takes 75,000 + miles for the cavitation to eat into the cylinders and some have gone twice that much. It is good insurance with mu luck. If it was not for bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all!! [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]

Take care and keep that tank rubber side down and between the lines. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[pyperbear]

ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF THE SYSTEM
I THOUGHT I READ IN THE FORD MANUAL 23 QUARTS
FOR THE PWRSTRK + ADD 1.5 PINTS OF FW-15 32 QUARTS=8GALS OF LIQUID

[pyperbear]

SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS LOCK DIDNT SEE IT ON

[H ED S]

Pyperbear If you will look in the diesel supplement on page 34 we have 32.75 quarts in our cooling systems. You may have looked at a gasser???

On Edit: I just noticed your signature and I really do not know the refill capacity of a 97, But you can check your diesel supplemt manual for that year. I also know that Ford has added a larger auto tranny cooler and I think a power steering cooler. In our 32 quart systems each pint = about .6 increase in the SCA reading. Check yours out you don't want too little or too much. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]