[farnorthdriver]

I've seen the reference on this site that you can only switch to a ELC coolant if your engine was built after 2/2/99 and has a serial number after 940614.
So looking on my left valve cover I see a yellow sticker on which the first two lines of numbers are quite clear but the third line (this is the engine serial number, right) is not quite readable. Here are those first three lines:
XE 002 BC
21Feb99
0925036

It's that third line (0925036) that I'm guessing on 'cause I can't quite decipher it.
So my question is with a 21Feb99 build date could the engine serial number indeed be 0925036? --This serial number would imply I shouldn't use ELC coolant but the build date (which is for sure 'cause it's not scraped like the eng serial number) implies ELC coolant is OK.

So (1) any ideas if I can switch to a ELC coolant and if I can't
(2) is there anything better than the green Motorcraft stuff I can put in that doesn't require testing/adding of SCA's?
And (3), what happens if you switch to a ELC coolant in a pre-940614 serial number engine.
Thanks!

 

[klhansen]

Your engine serial # is also stamped on the bottom of the block. Look on the driver's side at the rear of the pan where it bolts on. The SN on the block can't be changed like the sticker on the valve cover. Well, not as easily anyway.

 

[farnorthdriver]

Hi KL,
I found a number stamped on the block just aft of where the oil filter mounts. It's XE091201 ....that doesn't seem like a engine number does it?

 

[klhansen]

Take a look at this post:

http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f24/engine-ser-269851/#post1979215

And the one following it.

It looks like there are two numbers on that machined spot, the one that you found looks to be a Ford Part #, and the other the serial number.

 

[farnorthdriver]

Thanks, that helped. Went back out there and scrubbed down that area with some paint thinner and found another number, just barely visible.
It is JU2U0925036 ....the "0925036" part I'm sure of and the "JU2U" part I'm only semi-sure of as it's just hard to make out.
Anyway, I take it from this that my engine serial number is 0925036 and matches that on the valve cover.
So this would mean I can't use ELC coolant and am forever stuck with the green stuff, adding SCA's and the test strips?
Any options to changing to something other than the green stuff?
And on my valve cover the manufacture date is 21Feb99 ...wasn't it after 2/2/99 that ELC's were ok??
There's so many posts on "what type of coolant to use" (and I've read almost all of them) it seems like I should be able to figure it out but am still unsure enough I need to ask.