Community Forums

duckboatking · 12-09-2018, 06:35 AM

Hi,
I have a 2001 Monaco 38' Diplomat with the 8.3 Cummins in it. How do I check the PH ? level in my anti-freeze ? I've owned it for 2 years now and put a little over 20,000 miles on it. When I purchased it the previous owner said he just had it checked, and was told it had about half it's life left in it. I have asked around my local area and no one knows where I can get it tested, and I'm too far away from where the previous owner took it. I'm thinking maybe I should just change it to be on the safe side, but what type of anti-freeze should I use to replace it with ?
Thanks
Michael

Migkiller · 12-09-2018, 06:58 AM

I go to the Cumins dealer and get the test strips. I also get the cumins coolant filter if I need to change it. I think the test strips have a 'expiration' date which I think is a year.

https://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/....s-3-way-each-p..

monacojim · 12-09-2018, 09:13 AM

I use the red stuff. Supposed to last twice as long. Don't know about testing, I let Massey's worry about that.

RockyMtnRide · 12-09-2018, 09:50 AM

JGLubrication Services. You can order a test kit on line, take a sample, and return to them for analysis. They test chemical makeup and the real important level of SCA’s that protect your cylinder sleeves from cavitation damage.

distaff · 12-09-2018, 11:08 AM

Lets start with the first question - what are you running for antifreeze? If it has never been changed over it will be the old type that requires testing of the Supplemental Coolant Additives (the SCA in SCA) to avoid corrosion and pitting of your engine coolant passages.

If you are running SCA coolant you need to test it periodically or run the risk of damage. You can change over to Extended Life Coolant (ELC) by draining, flushing and replacing your coolant. ELC does not require testing.

Flushing requires a drain of the system, then a fill with water and detergent (Simple Green is commonly used) followed by a water rinse, then the system can be filled with ELC coolant.

If you have SCA, the test strips will tell you when to replace the coolant filter that is pre-charged with the additives. Now, you should also test the coolant to make sure it is still properly diluted, and you can deal with the SCA issue by dumping it and refilling with pre-charged SCA coolant.

Those are your options.

firedoc · 12-09-2018, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by distaff

Lets start with the first question - what are you running for antifreeze? If it has never been changed over it will be the old type that requires testing of the Supplemental Coolant Additives (the SCA in SCA) to avoid corrosion and pitting of your engine coolant passages.

If you are running SCA coolant you need to test it periodically or run the risk of damage. You can change over to Extended Life Coolant (ELC) by draining, flushing and replacing your coolant. ELC does not require testing.

Flushing requires a drain of the system, then a fill with water and detergent (Simple Green is commonly used) followed by a water rinse, then the system can be filled with ELC coolant.

If you have SCA, the test strips will tell you when to replace the coolant filter that is pre-charged with the additives. Now, you should also test the coolant to make sure it is still properly diluted, and you can deal with the SCA issue by dumping it and refilling with pre-charged SCA coolant.

Those are your options.

And how do you know which coolant is in your rig....?

Bob_C · 12-09-2018, 12:02 PM

That's the 64 thousand dollar question......with no way of knowing......so I'd be changing it to whatever is recommended for your unit...

rgl · 12-09-2018, 12:11 PM

The $64,000 question! Can’t really tell. Colors vary, so if you have no tag or maint record on it best to replace. You may have an easy to find petcock at a low point. I drained mine into a storage bin. Know that you won’t get it all, so adding water and running awhile then draining again will further dilute.

“...half it’s life...” was probably not a useful answer to your question. When you see pictures of pitted cylinder walls you realize freeze protection is maybe the secondary protection. pitted walls due to cavitation is pretty ugly!

rgl · 12-09-2018, 12:17 PM

Testing old style coolant for sca is simple with these strips:

https://www.finditparts.com/products...hoCMnMQAvD_BwE

Which are easily found at a Cummins shop which gave me strips and said bring in a sample if I wanted it tested.

Not sure what results you get if you test long life coolant?

rgl · 12-09-2018, 05:14 PM

More info on this chart saved from another poster here:

duckboatking · 12-09-2018, 06:49 PM

Thanks for all your responses.

No, I don't know exactly what antifreeze is in it. When I bought it 2 years ago I was told it was changed a few years before that, but that's about all I know. The person I bought it from recommended to check it and that it would have to be changed occasionally, so I don't believe it's the Extended Life Coolant. I did get allot of the maintenance records with it, but the only thing I see that references Antifreeze was on a previous oil chance & service the invoice says they checked the antifreeze and list the freeze point as well as the Nitrate level as 3.2 Does this 3.2 mean anything to anyone here ? My Monaco has 90,000 miles by the way, not sure if that would matter
Thanks
Michael