When was the last time you......
...did a drain, flush and refill the cooling system??? I'm planning our trip for later this year and just for grins to pass the time on this 4th of July weekend, I dug out the owners manual to go t...
Forum Discussion
There is no "here is how often to change coolants" based on engine. Engine makers do not spec or install coolant. And if they did, for your Cummins 8.3 liter, the recommendations would likely be based on experiences for OTR trucks-- irrelevant for RV use.
The chassis maker and/or owner choose the type of coolant-- there is a wide range in coolant life:
Older generation/less expensive: "Low silicate for diesel with added SCA/DCA. Normal life 3 years with annual testing and replenishing of SCA/DCA which is used up to protect the cylinder liners.
Newer generation/more expensive originally but less expensive over the life of the coolant: OAT-based coolants. 6 year maintenance free (unless you drive over 300,000 miles, then add a "booster".
SOOOO, what coolant do you have in there? If the "old" kind, when was it last tested? Test strips are available to check: SCA concentration, freeze point and pH.
Here are the test strips we use at all Diesel RV Club Rallies, and I also have at the FMCA Conventions (at the Caterpillar Engine Maintenance Seminar):http://www.wixfilters.com/Lookup/PartDetails.aspx?Part=22873
The only bad news with the test strips is that they come in boxes of 12 four packs and have less than a year shelf life. DO NOT USE AN EXPIRED STRIP, RESULTS CAN BE ERRONEOUS. So buying a box makes sense if you will be getting together with other DP owners.
The chassis maker and/or owner choose the type of coolant-- there is a wide range in coolant life:
Older generation/less expensive: "Low silicate for diesel with added SCA/DCA. Normal life 3 years with annual testing and replenishing of SCA/DCA which is used up to protect the cylinder liners.
Newer generation/more expensive originally but less expensive over the life of the coolant: OAT-based coolants. 6 year maintenance free (unless you drive over 300,000 miles, then add a "booster".
SOOOO, what coolant do you have in there? If the "old" kind, when was it last tested? Test strips are available to check: SCA concentration, freeze point and pH.
Here are the test strips we use at all Diesel RV Club Rallies, and I also have at the FMCA Conventions (at the Caterpillar Engine Maintenance Seminar):http://www.wixfilters.com/Lookup/PartDetails.aspx?Part=22873
The only bad news with the test strips is that they come in boxes of 12 four packs and have less than a year shelf life. DO NOT USE AN EXPIRED STRIP, RESULTS CAN BE ERRONEOUS. So buying a box makes sense if you will be getting together with other DP owners.
