[rayr]

I bought my 2001 psd about 3 months ago. It has 83000 miles on it. I just checked the antifreeze with the Fleetguard test strips and the SCA is a little high (3.1) and it looks like they put the Gold in the system. For the test I pulled the sample from the petcock. The antifreeze is very clean and clear. Do you think I should go ahead and change the antifreeze or just let it ride.

Thanks,
Ray

 

[vapstroke]

I would go ahead and flush it out. Better safe than sorry. It is also a good time to put on a new dual alternator style upper radiator hose, new thermostat, and maybe a coolant filter.

 

[Gooch]

Welcome to TDS Ray! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Unless you know the maintenance history of the truck, it would be a good idea to do a complete flush. Coolant isn't that expensive, and by flushing you'll know where you stand.

As an alternative you could drain a portion of your coolant and then top off with fresh 50/50 (with no SCA added). This will lower your SCA level by diluting the old coolant/SCA solution with new coolant.

If your 3-way Fleetguard test strip is showing a reading of Molybdate (scale on left side of chart), then the coolant was not replaced with the Gold, or it was not flushed completely when changed out. The Gold is a Nitrite-only coolant, meaning that zero Molybdate is present. And the Gold will not have 3.1 Units of SCA even when new (at best it will have minimum SCA protection).

 

[rayr]

Thanks for the info. The truck has been maintained very well. I think I will top it off and check it again. I will probably wait until the next oil change to change out the coolant.

This is my first diesel and I love it. I have a 28ft. 5th wheel that I pull with it on occasion...awesome truck.

Ray

 

[NCHornet]

Maybe the previous owner realized, like me, that the Gold did not give enough cavitation protection and added some SCA's but over did it!!! At best the Gold will only read 800ppm and this brand new out of the bottle, so either somebody added SCA or it wasn't flushed properly prior. I would flush it out real good and use a good ELC coolant that meets CAT=EC-1 requirements and know you have the best coolant possible in your truck.