[Dick]

Davy,

On my previous coach and my current one I switched to extended life. After four drain and fill cycles and 4 drain and fill cycles after flushing I was still getting water out of the coolant system pink in color from the original 2 year coolant. I don’t know if it would be a valid way to verify the mix but we used to use the specific gravity hygrometer or hydrometer for anti-freeze when checking coolant prior to winter when we lived in the Miami of the north Jamestown, NY.

[Andy]

Davy and Everyone,

Here’s a DDC pdf link about coolant etc

DDC coolant etc link

Here’s a Cummins/Fleetgaurd coolant product link

CumminsFleetgaurd coolant products info

[Archived]

Thank you for all the help and information.

I called the Speedco and drove a little over an hour to purchase a bottle of SCA additive and get some test strips. They do not sell strips, but I had explained on the phone and they gave me three. I tried to buy them, but they had no way to ring it up. I bought the cashiers lunch instead. He seemed to ring that up just fine.

I could easily find the 50/50 Final Charge that Pres recommended, but I needed full strength to get the antifreeze percentage up. I finally located full strength antifreeze for our engines, pre-charged with SCA’s.

Later I found that Rural King had it in stock. Rural King should have been my first stop. Where else can you by food, feed, guns, tools, live chickens, furniture and the proper antifreeze for a Detroit 60, all in one spot?

I drained a little over 4 gallons by hooking a hose to the valve that goes forward to the Aqua Hot.

That allowed me to get a five gallon bucket under the end of the hose easily. The coolant I drained tested low, between 500 and 800 for SCA’s, which was to be expected.

I added 5 gallons of the new coolant. 4 gallons barely raised the level to the bottom of the sight glass. We cranked it up with the bus air blowing full strength. In 40 minutes it was up to temp and the radiator fan began to cycle onto the low setting and back off. I let it run about 10 more minutes.

After cooling down, I drew some coolant from the tank and it tested good for freeze protection and good for SCA’s. The level was between 1200 and 2000. This strip said 1200 was ideal and 2000 was OK. I did not have to use the additive I purchased at Speedco.

I will not be surprised if I need to add more coolant when I travel this weekend.

Until I get this flushed and filled later, I think that takes care of this episode of “Bus Psychosis.”

Thank you again for your help.

Davy

[DON]

Drove 230 miles on our travel day pulling the tent trailer through hills. No problems with the coolant level or cooling. Yay!

Davy

[John]

DDC Approved Coolants link