Coolant Filter: Necessary if you replace Gold with ELC?

[Shane3507]

First off, I love this site and the helpful people on here!! I've been ready thread after thread regarding coolant.

Now, I bought my truck with 55k on it and believe the orginal coolant is still in there. My question is if I flush and replace with ELC, do I need to get the coolant filter system then? Where is the sand and trash coming from once you get rid of that crappy Ford coolant?

I ordered an Edge Insight today to help monitor EOT and ECT. How important is it to get the coolant filter with 55k already gone by?

[T.R.P.]

I can't offer any advice unfortunately, but am in the read good responses. Bump.

[BigRigs]

From what I've learned/read, the "crap" is inside the block and such, so no matter what fluid you use, the crap is still in there. I've come to the conclusion that a coolant filter system is something to have no matter what, which is why I just bought and installed one over the weekend. Now as for the gold coolant.......I would also like to know more about it being "crappy coolant", I've been using it since day 1....I'm sure more useful knowledge will be here soon!

[bfrank81]

No matter what coolant you put in there you should add a filter. I just ordered one of these from FCDP and did the install. Easy breezy!

[BigRigs]

Originally Posted by bfrank81

No matter what coolant you put in there you should add a filter. I just ordered one of these from FCDP and did the install. Easy breezy!

Yeah, thats much like the one I got from DieselSite, and I agree...it was "very easy breezy". I should have done it long time ago.....

[PGreenSVT]

Yes a coolant filter is a good idea when you consider that this coolant is good for 300k+ miles. Over time scale and and whatnot develop inside the coolant passages so it is good to have the filter.

Now as to the crappy Gold stuff, the problem is that it contains silicates. It is theorized that the heat developed in the egr cooler causes the silicates to fall out of suspension and congeal into the glop that clogs up our oil coolers. The ELC coolant is silicate free so it doesn't do that and eliminates the problem at it's source. International uses ELC coolant in its version of the engine and they built it, therefore I am confident that it is an acceptable alternative to the Ford Gold.

[Shane3507]

Originally Posted by bfrank81

No matter what coolant you put in there you should add a filter. I just ordered one of these from FCDP and did the install. Easy breezy!

Alright, that is what I'm gonna do next. I know you haven't installed yours yet, but I wonder just how much coolant you loose each time you have to change the filter?

Also is it better to flush the old stuff before adding the filter system or does it not really matter?

[wingnut]

neither the filter nor the ELC is required...

...that being said, i would put the filter on IMMEDIATELY and swap to an ELC if its something you decide to do.

as for me, i went Caterpiller ELC and threw together my own kit using Cat coolant filters...

[Shane3507]

Originally Posted by PGreenSVT

Yes a coolant filter is a good idea when you consider that this coolant is good for 300k+ miles. Over time scale and and whatnot develop inside the coolant passages so it is good to have the filter.

Now as to the crappy Gold stuff, the problem is that it contains silicates. It is theorized that the heat developed in the egr cooler causes the silicates to fall out of suspension and congeal into the glop that clogs up our oil coolers. The ELC coolant is silicate free so it doesn't do that and eliminates the problem at it's source. International uses ELC coolant in its version of the engine and they built it, therefore I am confident that it is an acceptable alternative to the Ford Gold.

Thanks alot for clearing up my confusion. I plan to go ahead and get the bypass system.

[bfrank81]

Originally Posted by Shane3507

Alright, that is what I'm gonna do next. I know you haven't installed yours yet, but I wonder just how much coolant you loose each time you have to change the filter?

Also is it better to flush the old stuff before adding the filter system or does it not really matter?

Mine is installed but I just did the install on Sunday. I decided to flush the coolant before installing the filter.