New Fleetguard coolant test strips

[Steve Ownby]

Recently Spike45 posted concerning these test strips going bad very quickly and giving false readings. I pulled a coolant sample and used my last 2 test strips which were marked, "use by 9/2011. Both strips were obviously bad and the colors were odd and could not be read. I kept the sample and bought a few strips at Cummins Crosspoint in Knoxville. These were marked, "use by 6/2012 and it was very apparent that the package the strip was in has been up graded. It is now a slick plastic exterior. I used one of the new strips on the same coolant sample and got a very clear and easily readable result.

Maybe they have solved their test strip problem.

[Mr_D]

I picked up 4 strips from the Cummins booth at the Albany OR FMCA rally. NONE of them were any good and they were dated June 2011. They were giving them away, now I know why!!
I need to get over to Cummins in Portland R and pick up some more I guess.
Thanks for the info, I'll check them. Last time they had out of date ones on the shelf and I refused to buy them.

[Mr_D]

I picked up a four pack today, the envelopes are different and mine are dated Dec 2011.
I got that at Cummins in Portland OR. The parts person told me they always have the latest stuff so I wonder why mine ar dated Dec 2011 and Steve's are June 2012!?

[spike45]

The reason that some have newer strips than others has to do with when they ordered their products. Our supplier has informed us that strips now marked with expiry date of August 2011 are said to have the new packaging. Our expiry dates are for 18 months from month/year of manufacture. You can count backward to determine the month and year your strips were manufactured.

I would very much appreciate hearing from anybody who has the new batch if there are any problems. Please contact me directly as I want to jump on any issues. We have no way of knowing how this product is performing in the field unless we get feedback from you, the customer.

You can send me a note by looking at my profile. You may also contact me by calling 800-223-4593. Select the option for Warranty. When a live human answers, ask for Gary Spires at extension 9418.

[spike45]

Update on Test Strips in foil wrap.

I received a foil wrapped CC2602B test strip with a November 2011 expiry date. When I opened that strip it was VERY dead. I previously stated that the note that came out from our product line engineer on this product was that any strip with a date code of August 2011 or later was good.

This information is incorrect. He got it wrong. Sorry, but if you bought test strips based on my earlier note and found them to have the nitrite pad (top most) turning some shade of brown then they are also DOA. Return them to your supplier if you are able.

You may also contact me directly. I will see what I can do to help. Your first effort has to be with the supplier you bought them from. They will need to go to Fleetguard to get replacement product.

If the new strips you bought have a new plastic packaging that is different from the old packaging, you have the new product package that is expected to be good. I am sorry I cannot be more specific as I do not have any of the new product as yet so I have no picture. Neither do I have a real date code that is good.

If yours look like the attached, return them.