Coolant Top Off..

[Dixieray53]

I need to top off my coolant. Should I just add distilled water until I get to the Cat dealer. Or is there a compatable brand to add with out causing a problem. The Auto Zone guy said I could only use Cat ESL. I am realy confused Help D

[Tha_Rooster]

I used rotella ELC that meets cats. Ec-1 it is a 50/50 check their web site and it is not hard to find.

[1ciderdog]

I called a Cat dealer not long ago and he said preferably a CAT product but also said other brands of ELC would do. Went to NAPA and read the labels and found one that said it met Cat requirements.

[spike45]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dixieray53 I need to top off my coolant. Should I just add distilled water until I get to the Cat dealer. Or is there a compatable brand to add with out causing a problem. The Auto Zone guy said I could only use Cat ESL. I am realy confused Help D

Unless you are desperate never fill a cooling system with plain water. MD and HD Diesel engines that require fully formulated coolants like CAT ELC and similar would experience cavitation pitting increase when you fill low coolant levels with water or even water with antifreeze premixed. Always fill low coolant levels with a premixed coolant containing chemical inhibitors that protect against cavitation pitting of cylinder walls. While CAT would resist the idea, you can refill low CAT ELC coolant with Shell Rotella ELC, Chevron Delo ELC, Shell Ultra, Fleetguard ES Compleat EG Premix, Fleetguard ES Compleat OAT, Old World Fleet Charge, Old World Final Charge. All of these coolants have one specification in common, ASTM D6210. To use any coolant not listing that spec is to use light duty automobile coolant. Something you will regret.
Gary Spires, Field Service Engineer for Cummins/Fleetguard

[Tha_Rooster]

If you have final charge you can get it at a o'rielys auto around 14 bucks.

[spike45]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tha_Rooster If you have final charge you can get it at a o'rielys auto around 14 bucks.

Final Charge does meet the Cat EC-1 spec. I know the president of Old World. They did do the Caterpillar field test that most other coolant manufacturers do not do but say they meet the CAT spec. It is a much better coolant than the Caterpillar ELC. Cat ELC can be tested with test strips to measure the amount of nitrite and molybdate that this coolant contains. Final Charge cannot be easily tested as that formula does not utilize nitrite and only traces of molybdate.

[Dixieray53]

Thanks for all the replies...I finaly broke down and read the manual for fluid specs. Bougth one that matched...All is well...dang I hate to read...D