Engine coolant advice

[pasdad1]

I just called Freightliner asking what engine coolant was installed in my 2013 Dutch Star, and the guy said this:

Shell Rotella with SCA (Purple in color)

Is this what you are running in your similar year ISL engines?

Is this an ELC extended life coolant? Doesn’t seem to be according to the reading I have done.... I thought SCA was old school.....

I’m also having trouble finding sources to buy this. Is there another brand/formulation which crosses over and provide the required protection?

Where do you buy the SCA to add if needed? The test strips indicate the coolant is ok when testing coolant from the overflow tank, however it is 7 years and 28,000 miles old, and wondering when I should have it changed.

[redbaron73]

Every chassis is unique with the coolant. You need to know if your chassis requires the sca. My 13 did not, as it was using the OTA that my current 19 does. Others in the same model year did have SCA.

A call to freightliner with your vin number is the best way to find out.

[ftharrisiii]

My 2016 uses the same purple coolant with SCA. I found it at Evo Lube supply. You can either purchase the concentrate or 50/50 diluted.

https://www.evolubesupply.com/rotell...jug-550027617/

https://www.evolubesupply.com/rotell...jug-550027616/

[Dutch Star Don]

For some reason, Cummins can't decide if they want to use coolant that requires SCA/DCA and strips, or OAT coolant (Organic Acid Technology). Red Barron said his '13 and my '14, had the old style coolant requiring SCA/DCA, a change from prior years. Then they changed again, back to the OAT coolant, I'm guessing in 2018. I know my 2019 has OAT coolant.

If I were changing out coolant, I would go with the ELC or Final Charge OAT coolant and not have to worry about testing and additives. I changed my 2005 ISL to OAT many years ago and it ran great, with no more testing.

[redbaron73]

I was hesitant to recommend the change to OAT, as I didn't know what was required in flushing the system. I agree that if this can be safely done, that is the only fluid I would want in my coach. The stress of testing the fluid is just not worth it to me.

I say stress, because I dealt with the testing on my 2008 Fleetwood, and discovered that I was using expired strips. Yet one more thing to worry about. Then you add in a bit of color blindness like I have, and it gets worse trying to read the crazy strips. I had 3 "helpers" and received 3 opinions on what the results where.

I much prefer the fluids that just have a time expiration vs ones that require testing and determination that could be subjective to interpretation, especially if your color challenged like I am.

[Spk64]

I switched to OAT and it’s one less thing to deal with. If you are switching I would have coolant tested after couple months to make sure all is good. I had issues on mine with getting hard water mixed in, guess I did not rinse enough with Distilled. Cummins does seem to switch between the two a lot.

[vsheetz]

Agree with those that recommend to convert to ELC and be done with it. I had our 2011 converted a couple years ago. Was time to give the cooling system some TLC anyway.

[Tigerfan1]

When I talked to Freightliner about switching from the purple stuff needing testing to Final Charge they recommended against it saying it would cause issues with coolant sensors.

[bobwallace]

x2 what Tigrefan1 said. Freightliner told me if I switch to ELC sensors may not work. I'm still confused after all these years as to what coolant I have. My antifreeze will not register on the test strips?????? Have discussed this with many times with freightliner????????????

[Chief Alen]

I would use what Freightliner told you to use, final charge is approved for mine, so that's what I use.

When you don't know what you need call find out and use that.

[05kstar]

I have a 2005 ISC and went from SCA to OAT 7 years ago and have had no known issues with sensors or engine cylinders.(knock on wood). That being said, I drained,flushed with city water then flushed with 18 gallons of distilled water. Starting and running to at least 180 degrees at each flush. Then added Final Charge.

[SeattlePirat]

I believe my 5.9 ISB, Freightliner came with ELC initially from Newmar. We flushed the radiator a few years back and replaced it with ELC, (I think) Trying to locate the receipt for the job as my rad news a little topping off. Never had issues with what we are using. Going to replace the cap as I believe its still original and looks like it has a L5 stamped on it.

[NWIP]

Nov 2016 is when FL went to ECL fluid, I know this because mine missed the changeover by 2 weeks😡

[NHRA225]

Final Charge --- Period ! The last 18 yrs for me.