I used Prestone Anitfreeze good for everything it says???

[midwestconnection]

I hope it is OK, I also added the Ford 16 ounce bottle of conditioner.

I put Full Synthetic Rotella T 5-40 in the engine with a Motorcraft filter.

The rear end I'm afraid to put the synthetic 75-140 in it so I'm taking it back and putting in Synthetic 75-90 instead. It gets really cold here, like -40 and I'm afraid the 75-140 would get to thick, even though it's synthetic. My Dana 60 floater doesn't even recommend synthetic if I'm not mistaken.

My E40D transmission is getting Mercon V, I think that it is synthetic, I'm not sure I still have to buy it.

I put in my $500 Kim Hotstart 2000 Watt tank heater today that I got for $158 off from eBay. It cost me an additional $60 for hoses and adapters.

I'm concerned about the cold radiator water gushing into a hot engine, does anybody know anything about any of these things.

I'm supposed to be a master but I'm gambling on a lot of this stuff.

Trying to keep my van alive.

[pjwoolw]

If you flushed the cooling system and put in new coolant about one and a half pints of the SCA additive would be needed. You'll test strips to check for the correct amount. As long as the coolant is a low silicate formula you should be good. There is much debate on that subject.

That oil is really gonna loosen up the gunk in the engine. Change it again after 500 miles or so. It may use oil faster too and possibly leak more so keep an eye on it. Thats a ton of miles on one engine.

What is the tank heater for and where did you install it? I'm curious.

From what I understand that unit has a thermostat in it so it only gets so hot regardless.

[midwestconnection]

Originally Posted by pjwoolw

If you flushed the cooling system and put in new coolant about one and a half pints of the SCA additive would be needed. You'll test strips to check for the correct amount. As long as the coolant is a low silicate formula you should be good. There is much debate on that subject.

That oil is really gonna loosen up the gunk in the engine. Change it again after 500 miles or so. It may use oil faster too and possibly leak more so keep an eye on it. Thats a ton of miles on one engine.

What is the tank heater for and where did you install it? I'm curious.

From what I understand that unit has a thermostat in it so it only gets so hot regardless.

Is the Ford additive the SCA that I need, if so the three 16 oz bottles at $10 each, I can get two more and add them Thanks. Where do I get those test strips.

This motor is so clean inside and out you would swear it only had 80,000 miles on it. I know I gambled big time going synthetic. I put it in everything I own two years ago, everything had 150,000 and more. It improved every thing. Winter starts are critical here.

I put the heater in the pocket nearest the gas tank.

[pjwoolw]

Napa normally carries the test strips. Or any Cummins of IH shop. They do expire so check the dates on the package.

[94strokerace]

FYI...courtesy of Steve Baz:

Coolants

Extended Life Coolants

Cooling system maintenance

The cooling system on any diesel has special concerns. It's possible for the coolant to cavitate --produce tiny bubbles--that can with time cause pinholes through the cylinder walls from the water jackets. For this there is an additive; Ford P/N FW-15 or FW-16, Fleetguard P/N DCA4; that needs to be maintained in the coolant. Generally this means installing 8 to 10 oz of the additive to the cooling system every 15000 miles. Another method is to monitor the cooling system with Fleetguard's DCA4 test kit P/N CC2602 or CC2602A. This measures the level of DCA4 in the system, and then you add the amount as required. The cooling system should be drained (and flushed if you live in an area with especially alkaline water) and refilled with a fresh 50/50 mix of coolant/water and one pint of the additive for every two gallons of coolant/water at 30,000 miles. Use only a low-silicate ethylene glycol-based coolant. Ford does not recommend using propylene glycol coolants in any of their vehicles. · Ford or Motorcraft Premium Antifreeze · Motorcraft Premium Gold Antifreeze (does not require SCA/DCA)
· Texaco Antifreeze/Coolant
· Texaco Antifreeze/Coolant Pre-diluted 50/50
· Zerex 5/100 (white bottle) Antifreeze/Coolant
· Zerex Ready To Use Antifreeze/Coolant (premixed 50/50 with de-mineralized water)
· Zerex Heavy Duty Pre-charged Formula
· Shellzone Premium Quality Antifreeze
· Fleetguard Complete EG--pre-charged at 1.5 units/gallon DCA4
Also available premixed 50/50 with water with the same DCA4 level · Pyroil Heavy-Duty Antifreeze/Coolant--Low Silicate
· Fleet Charge Antifreeze/Coolant--pre-charged with Pencool

[midwestconnection]

Originally Posted by 94strokerace

FYI...courtesy of Steve Baz:

Coolants

Extended Life Coolants

Cooling system maintenance

The cooling system on any diesel has special concerns. It's possible for the coolant to cavitate --produce tiny bubbles--that can with time cause pinholes through the cylinder walls from the water jackets. For this there is an additive; Ford P/N FW-15 or FW-16, Fleetguard P/N DCA4; that needs to be maintained in the coolant. Generally this means installing 8 to 10 oz of the additive to the cooling system every 15000 miles. Another method is to monitor the cooling system with Fleetguard's DCA4 test kit P/N CC2602 or CC2602A. This measures the level of DCA4 in the system, and then you add the amount as required. The cooling system should be drained (and flushed if you live in an area with especially alkaline water) and refilled with a fresh 50/50 mix of coolant/water and one pint of the additive for every two gallons of coolant/water at 30,000 miles. Use only a low-silicate ethylene glycol-based coolant. Ford does not recommend using propylene glycol coolants in any of their vehicles. · Ford or Motorcraft Premium Antifreeze · Motorcraft Premium Gold Antifreeze (does not require SCA/DCA)
· Texaco Antifreeze/Coolant
· Texaco Antifreeze/Coolant Pre-diluted 50/50
· Zerex 5/100 (white bottle) Antifreeze/Coolant
· Zerex Ready To Use Antifreeze/Coolant (premixed 50/50 with de-mineralized water)
· Zerex Heavy Duty Pre-charged Formula
· Shellzone Premium Quality Antifreeze
· Fleetguard Complete EG--pre-charged at 1.5 units/gallon DCA4
Also available premixed 50/50 with water with the same DCA4 level · Pyroil Heavy-Duty Antifreeze/Coolant--Low Silicate
· Fleet Charge Antifreeze/Coolant--pre-charged with Pencool

My Prestone Extended Life Antifreeze/Coolant Official NHRA Antifreeze Up to 150,000 mile/5year protection bottle says ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, sodium 2-ethyl hexanoate, sodium neodecanoate. Maximum 70% Prestone 30% Water = -84F It says ALL MAKES, ALL MODELS of cars and light trucks add to any color antifreeze.

I wish I had seen this before I did it. Live and learn. I got 3 1/2 gallons in and one 16 oz bottle of the Ford additive in there now. It's looking like I will have to drain it.

It doesn't say propylene glycol unless it's the same thing with another name.

But I should have waited.

[midwestconnection]

Originally Posted by pjwoolw

Napa normally carries the test strips. Or any Cummins of IH shop. They do expire so check the dates on the package.

OK, thanks, I'll get some today.

[MichaelPatrick]

Why do you have to drain the Prestone? I use it without problems.

[midwestconnection]

Originally Posted by MichaelPatrick

Why do you have to drain the Prestone? I use it without problems.

See the above.

[speeddemon31176]

Seeing the above makes no difference. You are using the correct type coolant and you added the correct additive. There is no difference between the coolant that you bought and the ones listed above. I have news for you. The dealer buys their fluids in bulk from the cheapest place they can get it from. I have personally been in the shop when the truck has come to refill the supply tanks. I personally know the three local diesel techs at the dealerships(two of them) and all they do is add the additive to the coolant.

[TNTech]

Just one little note. The Fleetguard ES Compleat is charged with 2.5 units of
SCA per gallon.

[ryhed]

Originally Posted by speeddemon31176

Seeing the above makes no difference. You are using the correct type coolant and you added the correct additive. There is no difference between the coolant that you bought and the ones listed above. I have news for you. The dealer buys their fluids in bulk from the cheapest place they can get it from. I have personally been in the shop when the truck has come to refill the supply tanks. I personally know the three local diesel techs at the dealerships(two of them) and all they do is add the additive to the coolant.

No he is not running the correct fluid. You will get cavitation if you do not use the proper antifreeze.

#2. Hence why we don't take our obs trucks to the stealership!

Also, did you drain the block plugs? if not your missing a bunch of coolant.

[RonKZ650]

The Ford spec is ESE-M97B44-A. Prestone meets the spec. It is silicate free according to prestone.

[midwestconnection]

My bottle says "Meets or Exceeds" ASTM D3306 and ASTM D4985, whatever that is. Yes it is Silicate, phosphate,borate and nitrate free. I drained at the drain plugs and the radiator.

[BigDieselBoy]

Very good post, the first thing I'm doing today is going to ford and getting some fluid and additive.