coolant additive

[Rob454]

is there some sort of coolant additive that is needed for 7.3 motors? i read that it is in some diesel mag but I cannot remember the name of the stuff.

[NoRalPh]

First you have to determine which coolant you have in your truck.

Is it Green or Gold? You don't want to mix them or use the wrong stuff with them.....

[19558077]

shouldnt be any add. for the 7.3. it doesnt require dca. it does not have liners.

[Rob454]

its just regular green coolant

[no-tel-in]

UHH I am pretty sure that you have to add the Ford specified additive to the coolant... then use the test strips to determine if you need more

[01flatbed]

ya im pretty sure just about all diesels require DCA's. i know for sure the 7.3's do

[NCHornet]

Yes you must test the green and the gold. The gold doesn't even meet min cavitation requirements which is 1200ppm. The Gold will test at 800 ppm right out of the jug when mixed 50/50 with distilled water. Ford has now recanted their "maintenance free" claims on the Gold coolant. It will take two bottles of Napakool to bring it up to ideal which is around 1800ppm. If you don't want to worry about SCA levels then use a EC-1 rated coolant like Fleetrite ELC. That is what I switched to and have been very happy with. Good for 300K and out to 600K if you use the extender at 300K. Now I won't leave any fluid in my truck for 300K but it is good to know I could. Make sure you do the proper flush first. If you need the How To send me a PM.

[ju015dd]

Go with fleetrite and never looke back!

[countryraised]

Originally Posted by 19558077

shouldnt be any add. for the 7.3. it doesnt require dca. it does not have liners.

Yes the 7.3 is a wet sleeve engine, all wet sleeve diesel engines need DCA either added by you or provided in the jug. without it you will eventually learn what cavitation does. small explosions of the coolant molecules that will pit and over time eat away the cylinder liner.

[tubular031]

Flush it and put a good ELC in there like NCH said! I run red fleetrite ELC now.