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lakeside013104's avatar
lakeside013104
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013

2011 F-350 6.7 diesel – Coolant Nitrite Check?

My Ford dealer says that the Coolant Nitrite Strength Check on my 2011 F-350 needs to be done every 15,000 miles for the sum of $100.
My questions are:

Can a do it your self-person perform this Coolant Nitrite Strength Check?

Other than from a Ford dealer, where can I purchase OEM Coolant Nitrite Strength Check kits?

Lakeside
Tow Vehicles

43 Replies

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  • Huntindog's avatar
    Huntindog
    Explorer
    Dec 12, 2013
    rhagfo wrote:
    45Ricochet wrote:
    campingken wrote:
    Do all new diesels need this test every 15,000? What about new gas engine trucks? The radiator fluid in our 2003 Dodge needs to be changed every 100,000 miles.

    I don't think so, gas not sure and yes 100k miles or 5 years is Cummins PM rate.
    "Why the big difference?" Google Ford radiators. They've had a few problems to put it lightly. That is exactly why I stated to have it documented by Ford dealer.


    The Cummins have always been easy with coolant, the reason is the block is solid one piece cast iron. Ford and Dmax use separate cylinder liners. You can have issues with cavitation, which is when small bubbles form on the liners and erode them.
    This is a absolute falsehood in regards to the Dmax. It has NO coolant teating requirements an NO coolant testing messages on the DIC.

    Ford as far as I know is the only one to have this issue.
    Fords coolant and radiator problems seemed to start with the 6.0. They had problems that the other two did not. It is now universally accepted that the 6.0s need a coolant filter. The others do not. Coolant testing is SO important on the Fords that a message will show on the DIC to warn the owner... Not on the other two.
    Coupled with Ford's dismal success in addressing their radiator failure issue, leads me to believe that the root of the problem is the Ford coolant. Which they seem to agree on as they have changed the formulation at least once.

    If I owned one, I would strongly consider a complete flush and coolant change out to a different type.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Dec 12, 2013
    Turtle n Peeps wrote:
    The Cummins have always been easy with coolant, the reason is the block is solid one piece cast iron. Ford and Dmax use separate cylinder liners.


    Say what?????? :h


    What part confused you.

    Cummins one piece block cylinders are part of the cast block.

    Ford and Dmax, cylinder walls are a pressed in sleeve, they need special additives to prevent cavitation (erosion) of the cylinder walls.
  • Turtle_n_Peeps's avatar
    Turtle_n_Peeps
    Explorer
    Dec 12, 2013
    The Cummins have always been easy with coolant, the reason is the block is solid one piece cast iron. Ford and Dmax use separate cylinder liners.


    Say what?????? :h
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Dec 12, 2013
    45Ricochet wrote:
    campingken wrote:
    Do all new diesels need this test every 15,000? What about new gas engine trucks? The radiator fluid in our 2003 Dodge needs to be changed every 100,000 miles.

    I don't think so, gas not sure and yes 100k miles or 5 years is Cummins PM rate.
    "Why the big difference?" Google Ford radiators. They've had a few problems to put it lightly. That is exactly why I stated to have it documented by Ford dealer.


    The Cummins have always been easy with coolant, the reason is the block is solid one piece cast iron. Ford and Dmax use separate cylinder liners. You can have issues with cavitation, which is when small bubbles form on the liners and erode them.
  • stuckinthesand's avatar
    stuckinthesand
    Explorer
    Dec 12, 2013
    My local ford dealers had no idea what I was talking about when I took it in for the coolant check. They handed me some of the old coolant strenght strips and sent me on my way.
  • 45Ricochet's avatar
    45Ricochet
    Explorer
    Dec 12, 2013
    campingken wrote:
    Do all new diesels need this test every 15,000? What about new gas engine trucks? The radiator fluid in our 2003 Dodge needs to be changed every 100,000 miles.

    I don't think so, gas not sure and yes 100k miles or 5 years is Cummins PM rate.
    "Why the big difference?" Google Ford radiators. They've had a few problems to put it lightly. That is exactly why I stated to have it documented by Ford dealer.
  • C_Schomer's avatar
    C_Schomer
    Explorer
    Dec 12, 2013
    I use Fleetguard coolant. The strips are $1 and the additive is fairly cheap. FG says it's not necessary for Cummins but the additive will also keep the Ph up. Craig
  • campingken's avatar
    campingken
    Explorer
    Dec 12, 2013
    Do all new diesels need this test every 15,000? What about new gas engine trucks? The radiator fluid in our 2003 Dodge needs to be changed every 100,000 miles. Why the big difference?
  • FishOnOne's avatar
    FishOnOne
    Nomad
    Dec 12, 2013
    lenr wrote:
    Check out extensive discussion about this test on dieselstop.com and costly mistakes made by many including dealers. Remember there are two radiator systems.


    And a couple of common mistakes is the fluid is sampled from the overflow and the fluid temperature is not at ambient.
  • FishOnOne's avatar
    FishOnOne
    Nomad
    Dec 12, 2013
    Here's a kit for you to consider.

    Link


    I've got ~37k miles on my 6.7 and took it to my local Ford shop twice already when the "check coolant" reminder popped up. Both times the service writer asked if I take my truck to a independent quick lube store to have my oil changed. When I answered "no" they cleared the message, gave me a receipt and sent me on my way. :B

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