Question on checking coolant

[mmorgan]

Recently purchased 2002 Dutch Star with 8.3 ISC….it has green coolant that prior owner says he never changed since new .
Cummins says it was filled with blue coolant from factory so seems like it has been changed.
So…. I obviously want to check it and see if it’s ok.
Looking at the picture the freeze point and nitrite is ok….my question is for the molybdate level, the middle pad on the test strip is the moly and it does not match any color, I tested twice and first one was the same.
Two friends think it is closest to the bottom row 0, which is white like rows 3 and 5.
Any ideas??

[Alpine36]

Yes, the molybdate level is extremely low.
Do yourself a favor, Flush your system completely and fill with the appropriate amount of Cummins/Fleetguard ES Compleat Blue, a new non charged coolant filter and never worry about it again. Six gallons of concentrate was just right for our ISC side radiator.
It's what Cummins recommended for the older ISC, as the ethelyne glycol coolants are compatible with their sensors.

https://www.amazon.com/FLEETGUARD-CO.../dp/B00D1FK72M

[Arch Hoagland]

When in doubt...change it out.

I have a policy of replacing hoses, belts and antifreeze every five years no matter what.

When were those items last replaced in your 2002 Dutch Star? Easier to do it now than along side the road broke down somewhere.

[wolfe10]

Your chassis maker, NOT the engine maker installed the coolant.


And, irrespective of what it is and how it tests, at 20 years old, REPLACE IT!

[mmorgan]

Yes I am definitely going to change the coolant, just would like to know how to read the test strips and this one through me a curve.

If the moly is around row 0 then the fluid is testing OK because the nitrite is in the F column, your reading is where the two columns intersect and according to Cummins you need to be below 3.0 to be good.

[Bruce Anthon]

You will not need test trips on the new generation coolants that will replace what you have. Fleetgard has a flush additive that will help clean the system internally and reduce buildup and overheat issues in the future. Use it for the flush step. If you are not getting premixed coolant (50/50), be sure to mix the antifreeze concentrate with distilled water. As mentioned, the new water filter should be filter only with no additives. Your coach is way overdue for this.

[96 Wideglide]

Good chance that coolant didn't have molybdate in it, so you would use line 0.

[bandcworkhorse]

Those test strips have an expiration date printed on the package. If past that, or have been subjected to moisture or high temps, the test results may be inaccurate. Trying to find up-to-date test strips seems to be a challenge.

[vettenuts]

Why not draw a sample for analysis before swapping it out. I would definitely change it, but at least you would have an accurate record.

[wolfe10]

Originally Posted by vettenuts

Why not draw a sample for analysis before swapping it out. I would definitely change it, but at least you would have an accurate record.

IMO a waste of time and money.


Just flush and replace it.


If you are going to do this yourself (time consuming to do correctly, but definitely NOT something that demands more than rudimentary mechanical skill), let us know and we can give you the step by step. Yes, you will do a better job than a tech as he can't spend the time/you wouldn't want to pay him to do it the "best" way.

[Winemaker2]

I'm curious what the DIYers do with the drained coolant and first flush water?
I checked around here in NY and could not find any place that accepted coolant unless I stored it for an annual or semi- annual Hax Mat collection day... and then I'd have to be available that day.

[wolfe10]

Originally Posted by Winemaker2

I'm curious what the DIYers do with the drained coolant and first flush water?
I checked around here in NY and could not find any place that accepted coolant unless I stored it for an annual or semi- annual Hax Mat collection day... and then I'd have to be available that day.

Check with your city/county vehicle maintenance department. I have had good luck in having them take it for recycling.

[samert111]

Originally Posted by Alpine36

Yes, the molybdate level is extremely low.
Do yourself a favor, Flush your system completely and fill with the appropriate amount of Cummins/Fleetguard ES Compleat Blue, a new non charged coolant filter and never worry about it again. Six gallons of concentrate was just right for our ISC side radiator.
It's what Cummins recommended for the older ISC, as the ethelyne glycol coolants are compatible with their sensors.

https://www.amazon.com/FLEETGUARD-CO.../dp/B00D1FK72M

I did this thinking that I would never have to worry about it again but after a year my test strips showed very low protection and after consulting with my local Cummins facility they told me that I still needed to use SCA charged water filters to maintain the protection. They gave me a bottle of the ES Complete SCA additive to bring it up to spec on the test strip and also a water filter with 2 units of the the additive to maintain the protection level until the next service.
If you read the back panel of the gallon jug, right at the top it says to use it with liquid SCA's and change the water filters at normal PM's. This is just a long life coolant that is good for 150K miles or 5 years, whichever comes first like most automakers have been using for the last 20 years.

[CountryB]

Originally Posted by Winemaker2

I'm curious what the DIYers do with the drained coolant and first flush water?
I checked around here in NY and could not find any place that accepted coolant unless I stored it for an annual or semi- annual Hax Mat collection day... and then I'd have to be available that day.

I took mine to the local landfill. They have a section for hazardous materials (like car batteries, and such). I put the old coolant in the jugs that the new coolant came in and dropped off at the landfill. It cost something (I think it was around $10.00 at the time). Which is the "minimum charge" based on weight (vehicle weight coming in versus leaving weight).