Coolant Ph

[SRF34]

A friend was advising me to make sure the coolant Ph in my 1320 was a neutral 6.5-7. He commented that over time, if the Ph becomes too acidic, it can burn pinholes in the head or the block (cant remember which.) In searching the forums, some guys claim not to worry if the motor is sleeved. Any comments in general as well as on my specific motor?

 

[Soundguy]

Ya got 'half-correct' info.

Some diesel engines are prone to cavitation and or electrolysis issues. There are addatives which will prevent this, and most of them are calculated by adding a specific volume of addative to a specific amount of coolant, and a test strip is used to verify the concentration.. usually by ph. CNH makes an addative called fw-15 that does this.. etc. It's not that the coolant becomes acidic and etches the cylinder wall.. or sleave wall.. it is actually that cavitation causes the wall to erode.. the reason this happens is due to the vapor pressure of the coolant, and the vibrations from the cyl.. etc. ( very basic explanation )

I'm not sure if your machine has sleaves.. or if so.. if they are wet or dry. Check your manual to see if it calls for the addative.

Soundguy

 

[SteveInMD]

If you don't have the test strips to see if you need more FW-15 you can check the pH. 6.5 - 7 sounds low to me. What's the pH of fresh antifreeze?

 

[Doc_Bob]

I just got some diesel rated antifreeze and changed my antifreeze.
Easy to do for peace of mind.
Bob

 

[Soundguy]

I don't have a bottle in hand.. but if memory serves me.. the fw15 bottle states the proper ph to shoot for. Also.. check your manual. My 7610s manual tells exactly how many ounces of fw15 to mix with x gallons of water to make the correct strngth mix... etc.

soundguy

 

[VIEWQUEST]

What's your thought on using extended service antifreeze for a 5 year period?

 

[Soundguy]

I'd prefer to use regular stuff, with the fw15 added, and change out at intervals.. the ph may need to be modified before 5 ys.. as well as water pump lube.. and the electrolysis and corrosion inhibitors int he fw15 are likely time sensitive / used up.. etc..

Soundguy

 

[Turbys_1700]

My 1720 calls for anti-freeze maint. change out every year but does not state anytihing about using an anti-cavitation additive...I think that my unit holds 2 gallons of anti-freeze so cost is not a major issue...I use additives in my old F-250...They were prone to cavitate around teh 150K mile mark...You can go several routes here...Prestone and Zerex have anti-freeze that has additives already in the anti-freeze...My 03 F-350 had this anti-freexe in it from the factory and it does not need to be changed until 100K miles per factory maint. schedule...So, you could buy that and not worry about your levels...Another route would be to buy the FW-15 and add it to your anti-freeze...It doesn't take much for me to add to a small 2 galon capacity system...You can get the Fw-15 additive at your local Ford dealer...I bought the Winns equivalent at my local International truck dealer...Cheap stuff...I think that a 1 quart bottle treats like 50 galoon or so...Very cheap insurance...

 

[Farmwithjunk]

What's your thought on using extended service antifreeze for a 5 year period?

One of the factors involved in electraulysis/wet sleeve pitting is dirt in the cooling system. (improper Ph, cavitation, certain engines more proned than others, ect.) Prolonged use anti-freeze heightens the possibility of dirt/rust particles being allowed to stay in the cooling system. Particles of dirt or rust mixed with the coolant increase the rate at which cylinder walls are eroded. Drain, flush, re-fill with new anti-freeze, then treat. (I use a product sold by Fram) (SOME diesels even come with cooling system filters to reduce the likelyhood of dirt staying in the coolant.)

I've seen 3 engines destroyed by wet sleeve pitting. 2 were in less than 750 hours from NEW. Suddenly finding 2 or 3 gallons of coolant in the oil pan isn't a pretty sight. A few gallons of anti-freeze isn't a big investment compared to a new crankshaft.

 

[MikeD74T]

(SOME diesels even come with cooling system filters to reduce the likelyhood of dirt staying in the coolant.)QUOTE]

My workplace has two stationary 6cyl Cummins diesel fire pumps. They have coolant filters & the filters have disolvable chemicals in them to treat the coolant. MikeD74T