[Archived]

I would say that your engine is slowly coming apart and what you think is dirt and sand is actually small pieces of your engine. Your oil filters likely have the same type of debris.

In planes we usually ignored that stuff until the filter started trapping pieces big enough to have part numbers on them.

Just kidding.

I would guess, but do not know that if you did that when the bus was brand new you might have had enough to fill the average sand box. I believe our blocks and maybe the heads are sand cast and as much as they try to clean all the passageways and galleys it is almost impossible so over time you catch that which the manufacturer of the engine block was unable to clean out. Aren’t you glad you don’t see that in the oil filters? I open my oil filters and open the pleats and run a magnet across them. Fine particles of steel and iron will show up if you do that and your have a problem. I also inspect the drain plug because that is a magnet and also shows up particles. I never opened my conditioning filter.

[John]

50 bucks, did you leave your PC Napa card at home?:)

[Archived]

Actually the suggested list on that filter is $58.68. This is a easy do-it-yourself change.

Soooo….. PC members use your NAPA card.

This 4074 filter is at the high end capacity coverage and contains the conditioner pellets.

[Archived]

If not misled, you run a blank empty canister if you are using extended life coolant. The SCA additive in the filter doesn’t mix with ELC. With that said, I wonder if the blank filter has the filter material and only lacks the SCA pellets.

[Archived]

That is correct regarding SCAs are not to be used if the coach has extended life coolant. In fact if SCAs are added or conventional 2 year coolant is added the coolant reverts to a 2 year coolant.

I recently asked my local Detroit dealer for the cartridges for extended life. The only thing blank was the looks I got from the parts guys. If you have a desire to switch to extended life and you cannot get a blank cartridge your only option is to turn off the flow to your cartridge(s) and lose the filtration feature.

[glen]

NAPA sells blank filters; don’t know the part # offhand.

[Bryan]

I was through Prevost Nashville service center this week and had the coolant discussion with Keith Wilson, Service Coordinator – who spent 20+ years with Detroit as a mechanic working on Series 60 engines and his recommendation was using on recommended Detroit coolant ONLY (no traditional colored fluid) and using either Nacool or Lubercool II additive to the antifreeze. Says it is the absolute secret to keeping these engines running cool for extended periods. Says to usie Power Trac coolant test strips to determine when the coolant needs changing. This is available from Detroit as well….

Regards,

[Archived]

There are a lot of series 60’s out there running the regular ole green stuff with filter additives, mine included and they came out of Prevost that way. I just had mine changed in February at Liberty and they use the green stuff. Test your PH at each service interval and change the coolant every few years and the engine will outlast most of us. Detroit wants you to buy their coolant.

[Bryan]

Truk-did I hear you correctly the 1st time or the 2nd time? Wondering (wandering) minds need to know

[Archived]

Fixed it, freaking computers…..

[Archived]

I changed my coolant every couple of years. Prevost service at Jacksonville always used the plain ole green stuff. Seemed to me more attention was paid to getting as much of the old coolant out, and a thorough rinsing afterward, than the fresh coolant going in.

Keeping an eye on coolant condition via test strips, and making sure the filter/ conditioner was replaced at regular service intervals seemed to work well for me. I really didn’t want to have to become a chemistry expert simply to maintain my Series 60 cooling system….

[Dean]

When discussing coolants there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Colors mean nothing.

NADA, zip, zero, nothing.

At one time colors might have had a meaning, but various manufacturers are using a full range of coolant colors so never ever assume just because a coolant is a certain color it is OK to use in your coach. While a person with a lot of years of experience can be expected to offer good advice on what to use, coolants have become much more technical and it is important to understand what type you can use, and how to use it. This is especially true with OAT technology which because of its extended life is now widely available and used.

Here is the pertinent poop (a highly technical phrase) regarding coolants for our Series 60 and 8V92 coaches.

http://brandon314.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/detoitdeiesel_coolant-selections.pdf

[Archived]

OK

Green Stuff = Ethylene Glycol

[Archived]

Not necessarily. Other colors can be the same thing. And green can be coolant that doesn’t meet the diesel specs.

If I can find the chart listing coolants that also list what specs they meet and their colors I will post it here.

[Archived]

Found it. This link shows the colors of the various coolants and their technology.

The important part is not the color, but if it meets the spec established by the engine manufacturer. This is a good reference.

http://www.eetcorp.com/antifreeze/Coolants_matrix.pdf