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Day Dreamer · 05-03-2022, 07:51 PM

My 1996 cummins 8.3L was running warm like 220 degrees while standing still with engine running. The coolant resivor was low so I pick up a gallon of Final Charge at Wal-Mart. The jug said it was good for 1 million miles. It was pricey so I thought it must be good. I add about 3 quarts. I am now concerned because someone told me I can't mix red and green coolants. My Gillig chassis manuel says I hold 91 quarts, can that be right? Is so can 3 quarts really hurt?

gjames50 · 05-04-2022, 02:44 PM

Silicate (green) type antifreeze does not mix with red type antifreeze. Never mix the two colors in a cooling system. The organic acids in red type will cause precipitation of silicates in the green type and corrosion protection is greatly reduced.

Your coolant could start clogging and you will ruin components due to etching. Sorry to say it but you need to empty and refill with the approved coolant for your motor.

In the future you are better off just adding water if you don't have the appropriate coolant.

Verify what you need from Cummins.

wolfe10 · 05-04-2022, 02:48 PM

Agree with you-- I would question if three quarts low would cause and engine overheat condition.

Thermostat not fully opening would be one "likely suspect".

Another would be that the cooling package fan(s) are not operating as they should.

When was the last time the cooling system was serviced (flush, new coolant, new thermostat)?? May be time!

Certainly, something "ain't rite"!

153stars · 05-09-2022, 02:14 PM

According to cummins it's compatible with any other coolants ,as in no weird reactions not necessarily ideal. If you were to mix half with SCA type coolant it would be hard to test levels later. Reason to mention compatibility by them may be address owners wanting ridiculous amount of flushing by a shop, creating lots of hazardous or special waste.

Day Dreamer · 05-10-2022, 11:51 AM

I have only had my 96 Eagle for not yet a year. I have done much of the PMs. I don't know the last time the coolant system was flushed out. We are headed to Longville MN for the summer months I will have it flushed out there. We are currently in Yuma. It only overheats when sitting at idle for long time. If I run rpm up say 1,200 to 1,500 the temp comes down. Driving down the road at 63mph it hold 180ish all day.

153stars · 05-10-2022, 11:49 PM

Does Eagle have hydraulic fans?

Day Dreamer · 05-11-2022, 10:56 AM

Yes Hydraulic fan. There is also a 12v fan mounted to an additional cooling core. I have never seen that fan run

153stars · 05-12-2022, 07:28 AM

I think it's AC condenser 12v fan. Is control over hyd fans with wax thermo hyd valve or electronic. The wax valve screws into radiator has its lines in Monaco. I know there's a way to increase idle speed of hyd fans ,on a Monaco hyd fan system it's to cool AC condenser at idle when it's in the cooling stack. You may want to have thread moved to American group. The chassis drivetrain forums get way less traffic.