Extended Life Coolant

[topdwg]

Well looking to change out my coolant and I'm wanting to use some ELC. I started looking at Rotella and Cat, and I have to say $30 plus for a gallon is pretty pricey. Just stopped off at autozone and they sell their ELC for $12. My question is, is it the same as the Rotella and Cat, and would it be ok to use?

Valucraft/Antifreeze and coolant (AXA003) | Antifreeze | AutoZone.com

[PGreenSVT]

I doubt it. Look for the Zerex in the black bottle that has the EC-1 approval on the front. I would not use what you posted up. I personally wouldn't put the Zerex in either without further research but being EC-1 rated it should be ok.



Keep in mind that the ELC is pretty much a lifetime antifreeze. You will never have to change it again.

[topdwg]

I bought my truck with roughtly 60k on it and when I bought it there was a few small leaks, so the dealership pulled the motor and sealed everything. New coolant went back in. Then about 20K later I had my headstuds put in, and once again coolant was changed. So I have about 20K miles on the coolant, do you think I even need to change it out? Especially now that I'm running a coolant kit?

[PGreenSVT]

That's a pretty tough call for me to make Glen. It's pretty well substantiated that the Gold coolant is the major culprit. Beyond that it is theorized that it is the heat of going through the EGR cooler that is causing the silicates to gell and fall out of suspension. Your egr cooler is blocked off and not deleted so is still being subjected to some heat at the exhaust entry end even though is isn't flowing through it any more. If it was me, for $120-$125 I'd swap it out (wait a minute...I did). That's pretty cheap peace of mind as far as I'm concerned. I believe that is more important than the filter but having a filter in place . That's a one time expense unless you have to tear your motor apart.

To put it in perspective, that's about what it costs me to do an oil change.

[topdwg]

That's true, you've sold me. Been buying a lot of stuff for the truck here lately so I'll probably get it done here in a week or so. I just found out there is an international dealership/service department about 20 miles away, so I'll probably just have them do it, if there not to much...

[FastFocus]

so,,, what about using water and water wetter?

obviously it would not work in cold climates and would need switched out in winter. But would it work in our trucks? If the Gold stuff is really a big culprit for puking and failing oil coolers and such, then i'm going to be flushing my system very soon and putting in some CAT coolant.

[bfrank81]

Originally Posted by FastFocus

If the Gold stuff is really a big culprit for puking and failing oil coolers and such, then i'm going to be flushing my system very soon and putting in some CAT coolant.

There is a ton to read on this subject. I suspect that the true culprit lies with using Gold at the wrong water to coolant ratio and or using tap water instead of distilled water.

[PGreenSVT]

Water and water wetter does nothing about corrosion so I wouldn't recommend that. I don't know how it would protect against cavitation either.

Go with the Cat coolant.

[Evil Eye]

Originally Posted by PGreenSVT

Water and water wetter does nothing about corrosion so I wouldn't recommend that. I don't know how it would protect against cavitation either.

Go with the Cat coolant.

I was just about to mention cavitation.

[PGreenSVT]

Originally Posted by Evil Eye

I was just about to mention cavitation.

Great minds think alike.