Anti-cavitation for Cummins???

[Texas Diesel]

http://www.dodge-pickup.com/coolant.html



Any comments? I thought that power-jokes needed this because of cylinder wall flex, does this apply to "real diesels" too?

 

[KevinK]

I had read in "Trailer Life" (about a year ago) that the Cummins does not have a cavitation problem like the PSD. I think that the issue exists with larger displacement diesels. Sorry, I don't remember more details.



Kevin

 

[rashwor]

Don't think it is a problem.

I have never heard of this being a problem so long as the coolant mixture is clean and changed at least every two (2) years. Also never heard of this happening on a Cummins period.



Sounds like someone just wants other people's money.

 

[yogibear]

cavitation

It just happens in the larger cummins eng. that are sleeved. Our eng. is not sleeved.

Larry

 

[TXRam]

It's a Ford thing ...

http://www.interstat.net/ford/



Check out this link, it's the same except it's for the Ford's. Notice all the hype about pinholes in the cylinder walls causing coolant loss - this is due to cavitation. Notice that you dodn't see any of this mentioned on the Dodge site above.

 

[TPyle]

Yogibear is correct about the sleeves. The B model Cummins have no sleeves where as most heavy duty diesels do (exception PSD). The pros are that we don't have to worry about proper inhibitor levels in our coolant (although it is still a good idea). I've seen Detroit Series 60s with as little as 280,000 miles need 6 new liners because of cavitation. The cons to a sleevless engine come when you want to rebuild it. Its not as easy or cheap.

 

[Chad Sheets]

Cavitation is more commom with liners, BUT you can have cavitation anyplace the water makes contact inside the engine.



Keep good anti-freeze in your rig and you will be fine.



Use distilled water or treated water because tap water varies throughout regions, and some contain more chlorides, sulfates and acids than others do (makes you thirsty, doesn't it).



Care must be taken so that corrosion doesn't take place... and even if you don't see it, it can still be there. The corrosion can cause scale to form, which will eventually build up and cause "hotspots" to form which can crack heads, burn valves and all kinds of other good things.



There are spin-on type filters containing borate chemicals. With this you get the water filtered and treated at the same time.



NALCOOL 2000 is a widely used treatment. It protects against rust, galvanic corrosion and foaming. The anti foam inhibitor is a must due to what we listed above. Engine vibration causes foam and bubbles, which leads to cavitation. Cavitation is nothing more than the bubbles in the water coming in contact with the metal in the engine and water pump and blowing up (imploding) causing pitting, which in time can eat a water pump up... . cavitation can be anyplace.



Cummins has a dry type chemical additive (DCA) for our engines. They will also sell you a kit to read the coolant like a chemist and decide how much more DCA to add.



Ethylene glycol based antifreeze has a boiling point of 223 deg, which is 11 deg higher than water. This means you don't have to worry much about ethylene glycol based antifreeze evaporating away. Ethylene glycol is good to go for any engine. It can be "beat" by the dry type additives that can be analyzed down to perfection.



The important thing to remember is, no matter what you use, you need to replace it every year or so. It will loose its anti rust/foaming and lubricating properties. It will still keep the water from freezing, but it wont treat the water any more.



Hope this helps.