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Testing SCA in Antifreeze
How and what do I test the antifreeze for chemistry ? I used Prestone Command with SCA charge and a blank filter about 8000 miles ago what do I do now??
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5 Replies
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Extended life coolant acceptable for use in our engines does not require testing or adjustment of the chemistry for the life of the coolant.
HOWEVER……if somehow conventional coolant or SCA’s are added the chemistry of the coolant reverts to that of more conventional 2 year and then SCA’s need to be checked. There are test strips available for testing the chemistry. Last time I bought some I got them at Truck Pro so I suspect most truck parts supply houses will carry them. They are of no value on extended life coolant.
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$35 dollars if your a preferred customer
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Coolant is something not to be ignored. For decades the coolant used in our engines was an ethylene glycol chemistry and required occasional adjustment with SCA’s (supplemental coolant additives).
Caterpillar developed a long life coolant and a specification EC-1 which is an Organic Chemistry extended life coolant. The difference between the two types has been 2 year coolant changes for conventional coolant and 6 years for EC-1 spec coolant.
It is very important owners understand the coolant used in their engines because they are different in how they are maintained and their useful life.
Failure to use and maintain the proper coolant can result in severe engine damage not only from internal corrosion, but the more severe damage caused by cavitation.
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So Jon … when we bought our coach in May of 2014 Jeff replaced all the fluids and hoses. I trust he put the “right stuff” into the cooling system.
Since that time we’ve had some coolant leaks and I’ve been putting in green ethylene glycol based antifreeze (Prestone).
Should I be testing the coolant to make sure it’s OK? Thanks!
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Dick,
First of all you need to know and understand what coolant was used. Nothing I have to say is going to be good news.
If Jeff used an organic chemistry extended life coolant which has a 6 year life, by adding conventional coolant or SCAs you have reverted it back to a 2 year coolant and changed the chemistry and benefits of the extended life coolant.
If it was a conventional 2 year Ethylene Glycol coolant it has a 2 year life and if it was changed in 2014, it should have been replaced in 2016 and should be replaced again in 2018 no matter what the test strips show.
One of the biggest risks of buying a used coach without service records is the coach having been run without the needed coolant or transmission fluid changes. A while ago a Vantare with only 42,000 miles had to have an engine rebuild because the coolant had never been changed and cavitation caused porosity in the engine cylinder liners leading to engine failure. Yet despite the risk of engine damage I remain surprised at how many owners fail to change and maintain coolant.
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