Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Coolant Additives

[Dave Remillard]

It's a known fact that the powerstroke engines require a coolant additive that as I understand it, keeps air pockets or cavitation from happening around the cylinder walls in the cooling jackets. I was just talking with a local diesel mechanic and he mentioned that the Cummins engines should also use this kind of additive. A first for me. Just wondering what anyone else has heard about this topic.

 

[illflem]

Our Cummins don't have the cavitation problem and don't need the additive.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by no-strokin



I was just talking with a local diesel mechanic and he mentioned that the Cummins engines should also use this kind of additive.

Don't let this guy work on your truck. He probably thinks they also burn gas :-laf

 

[Dave Remillard]

I just talked to the guy on the phone. Had I met him in person, he probably would look like something from another planet. Just wanted to confirm I hadn't missed a fun little discussion on potential problems. By the way, he said to make more power with the Cummins, you add air first and then fuel only if you think you need it. Both at the same time adds up just a wee bit better.

 

[Pit Bull]

I bet he also thinks it's a good idea to add transmission fluid to your diesel to keep the injection system clean :-laf

 

[jimk]

DCA

I had a older Dodge and the radiator was in bad shape, partly stopped up with hard water deposits. I installed a in-line water

filter that had DCA in it. The unit was installed in the heater hose. A by pass was installed to use year round. The truck heater worked for about 15 minutes and after replacing the filter with a new filter ( unit stopped up) the heater worked good again.

The radiator after a couple of years of use had no visible deposits in the radiator looking in the filler cap hole. I think that you can over charge with DCA, check with a test kit.

I am going to install one on the 95 dodge as it has some hard water deposits in it. I drained the radiator an flushed several times with water from water treatment. I should have replaced the antifreeze ever year and will do so from now out. The filter should help to keep the radiator clean.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Most makers specify distilled water in cooling systems... It's quite cheap, and largely avoids water deposits - or, you can buy coolent already mixed to proper antifreeze percentages...