[sbbamafan]

Can someone please give me the NAPA part numbers for the coolant test strips. I have been to the local NAPA and the people looked at me like I was crazy when I asked for them. Do the NAPA strips work for any brand of SCA that might have been adeded in the past?

 

[bcgeorge]

not sure of the NAPA part number, but I just picked some up from the Cummins dealer (refered to me by the IH dealer) their part number is CC2602. Maybe NAPA can cross them.

 

[huskyhauler]

4105 or 4106 depends if you want 12 or 50. buy the 50 pack, it reallly isnt that much more. DO NOT try to use the fleetgaurd strips sold by International,Cummins,Detroit,etc.. the NapaCool aka WixCool uses a different chemicals for the cavitation protection, and the strips will give you a false reading. this also works the opposite way. do no use the wix strips for Fleetgaurd or Ford CSA..

 

[bcgeorge]

Now I'm confused can someone give me an answer to which coolant to use and which test strips to get to check it. I just got done rebuilding my 7.3L and I'm not real anxious to create cavitation problems.

 

[agnem]

I get confused a lot by coolant talk also, so I stick to the stuff recommended in the manual (good ol' green, low silicate) and run the DCA-4 in it, and use the Fleetguard strips. I'm not concerned about low maintanance coolant.

 

[6_Myles]

I was confused too when I got my truck and wanted to test the coolant. The PO had replaced the coolant, but I didn't know with what kind. Ford has their own formula for protection from cavitation that can only be tested w/ Ford test strips. NAPA also has their own different formula for cavitation protection and can only be tested with the NAPA test strips. Trying to test the system with the wrong brand test strip will cause a false reading.

There's been lots of debate over which NAPA, CAT, John Deere, Ford products are better than the other. But my uneducated opinion is as long as you're running something and monitoring it on a regular basis, any of the products above will be fine. I just flushed my system and went w/ the NAPA system b/c of availibility and pricing issues. This is just the conclusion that I've come to for my own understanding, much smarter people on this board can probably give you a very educated opinion.

 

[huskyhauler]

run the correct amount of either SCA and you will be fine. i choose the Napa-Wix brand since it is cheaper by the gallon than the Fleetgaurd, plus my Napa keeps it in stock. i run between 60-90 gallons of pre-mix coolant a month in my shop. i treat the 55 gallon drums the second they step into the shop. no confusion on if it was or not treated correctly.. and anytime i need to do a fill up, i know the correct amount of CSA is there. best to run the old low-silcate green coolant, it is what she was made for, and i have yet to see much of a difference with longevity with the IDI Diesels..

 

[safetybob]

Here's what you need to do. Go to either an International dealer and ask for test strips for DCA-4 or go to the company that owns fleetguard (which should be Cummins...we are talking big truck companies here) and ask for test strips for DCA-4. Ask it this way and you should get a yes or no answer, and not a blank stare. Trust me, been there too.

Please put your location in your info so we can give you names of truck places that have proven themselves to be IDI friendly.

Bob E.

 

[444-4D]

Here is the SCA scoop in a nutshell. It isn't very complicated.

The two chemicals you are dealing with are Nitrite and Molybdate. Some SCA's use only Nitrite and some use a combination of Nitrite and Molybdate.

DCA-4 is a Fleetguard product and is the SCA that is sold by Ford in a Motorcraft branded bottle. It has had more than one part number. This type of SCA uses a combination of Nitrite and Molybdate.

There are a lot of brands of the Nitrite only SCA. NAPA Cool is one of them. Penray makes this SCA and markets it as Pencool. Fleetguard also has it, DCA-2.

When you use a test strip to test your coolant you need a strip that will test for the kind of SCA you are using. The Fleetguard 2602 strips test for Molybdate and Nitrite then you add the two together to get your SCA level. If you are using an SCA that has no Molybdate the strip will simply read zero Molybdate but will give the correct Nitrite reading. If you are using an SCA that has Both Nitrite And Molybdate and you use a strip that tests for Nitrite only, you are going to get a false SCA level reading.

 

[huskyhauler]

thank you 444, i hate to write it up, have done it once, and realized it was to hard. use the correct strips with the correct addative. and a quick note to those using the Fleetgaurd SCA, dont use a Wix or Napa coolant filter, its like mixing the two SCA's. not a good idea.. get the fleetgaurd filters..

 

[rawpower]

Does it matter if I use Nitrite/molybdate combo, Nitrite only, or molybdate only? I understand everything, but no one mentioned if one of the SCA's was superior to the others... I would imagine that the combo would be better... oh well.

Thanks RA

 

[444-4D]

There is no Molybdate only. Your choices are Nitrite only or Nitrite/Molybdate combo. Which is better is a debate that will continue for a very long time. Most of the info I have seen indicates that Nitrite only is less expensive and can be monitored more accurately. I am comfortable with either one. I also have no reservation about mixing the two if necessary.

 

[rawpower]

OK thanks... RA