Best coolant for first gen?

[svsenger]

Car Quest Auto Parts sold me Prestone GM Dex-Cool for my 92 cummins today. The more I look at the container, the more suspicious I am that it is not correct for the truck. They swear it is. What works best, this truck works real hard.

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

After what I've seen in GM cars with DEX Cool in them - that is the last "coolant" I would use in my truck I've seen cooling syetems with sludge that you could scoop out with a spoon, that looked like wet saw dust. Once that happens it is almost impossible to clean out. Google DEX Cool and GM problems and see what you get.



BTW Cummins recomends ethylene glycol based anti freeze in 1st Gens but both Dodge and Ford are now using GO5. GO5 is a long life anti freeze that is a different formulation then DEX Cool.



Bob

 

[JLEONARD]

After what I've seen in GM cars with DEX Cool in them - that is the last "coolant" I would use in my truck I've seen cooling syetems with sludge that you could scoop out with a spoon,

I have to agree with Bob on this. I haven't seen sludge as thick as he describes, but I have seen it clog things up.

I always used regular "prestone" or equvilent and never had an issue. I also run that in my boat diesel engines and never had a problem.

 

[Ncostello]

GO5 (Ford Gold) isn't much better in diesels than DexCool. GO5 has a tendency to allow the nitrates to solidify and form a gel in Powerstrokes... which clogs up the oil cooler passages... which in turn starves the EGR cooler of coolant... which causes the EGR cooler to rupture and shove coolant into the cylinder which in turn helps cylinder head gaskets to blow out.



Meanwhile I've seen Dexcool do well in Duramax engines IF it is changed on a more frequent basis than OEM recommendations. Same with Ford Gold GO5. Don't wait till 100K. Try 30K.



Otherwise... in a first gen I always use Peak. Long life silicate free diesel coolants such as Fleetguard Optimax, Cat ELC or Shell ELC would work great too. Thats what people switch to in newer Powerstrokes. Ford has switched to a new "orange" long life coolant in the 6. 7L PSD's and dumped the Gold.

 

[Greenleaf]

You want the Low Silicate Green "stuff". I could give you an ASTM number, but it won't do you any good if you don't know what ASTM is nor if you buy from a Wal-Mart or "Super Parts Mart". They sell one size fits all (automotive) coolant.



Go to a heavy truck dealership and get the heavy truck green conventional.