SCA/Cavitation possibility -- deal breaker?

[Sandalwood]

I am going now to look at a 1996 PSD F250 4x4. The current owner bought it at about 180k miles and it now has 285k miles. I asked the current owner about SCA levels in the coolant, and he had no idea what I meant. Is this a deal-breaker? Is there any way to check for cavitation before you buy? It obviously hasn't had these levels maintained.

I called Napa for a test strip kit, and they had no idea what I meant. I tried explaining it several different ways, so I guess my local Napa doesn't stock such.

[pjwoolw]

Probably a good percentage of these trucks have never been checked or had the SCA added. I know mine was never checked by the PO. Cavitation damage is a possibility but probably would have reared its head by now. I'd be more concerned about the running gear, tranny and suspension myself.

[CT Performance, Inc.]

I've never read anyone posting that it happens...I used to check mine...years never changed.

[jcart]

My understanding is that the engine block casting was changed between the idi and powerstroke blocks. I have never heard of a Powerstroke block fail due to cavitational porocity. The IDI is a nuther story....had a '91 that failed because of it and it is very common with those blocks.....I still monitor the SCA levels in my Powerstrokes as the IDI experience was as dirty deal....and SCA and test strips are cheap relative to engine failure. As a side note infact that is why (one of the reasons) TDS.com was initially started way back in the day, was because FMCo didn't support failed blocks and in my experience the dealerships where not even aware of cavitational porocity as late as 95....or at least tried to ignore it....cost me alot of grief back in the day but I'm over it now.....hahahaaaa....I think....

jrc