Coolant System on Volvo

7/28/2015

Coolant System on Volvo

SuiteSuccess
02 November 2010
05:04 PM
Have read the threads on "search" function on coolant so want to be sure I'm doing this right.  I have the Volvo D12 Engine with the red coolant.  I tested today with the Fleetguard strips.  My nitrite intersected the molybdate at 2.7 which was within the green on the chart, however my freeze point was only at -3 degrees.  Do I need to add some straight antifreeze (not 50/50 mix) to bring down my freeze point?  Also read that SCA =system coolant additives.  What is DCA-2, DCA-4, Compleat Systems, and ES Systems and referenced on the Fleetguard chart?  BillB, would appreciate any help since you seem to know this stuff "cold"--no pun intended.
Bill B
02 November 2010
05:22 PM
Hey Suite - silly question but were the strips for the Red (ester acid) coolant??  Nitrite sounds like the wrong strips!!

SCA, DCA-2, DCA-4, is for the green nitrite coolant also.

I'm not an expert by any means!!!  I just know enough that the green, red, orange do not mix and that they are different chemistry.

On the other hand, I did stay at a Holiday Inn several years ago.

I have some links that I can send you.

SuiteSuccess
02 November 2010
05:33 PM
Bill,
They are the CC2602B Fleetguard 3-way coolant test strips.  Did I screw up?
RandyA
02 November 2010
09:48 PM
When I switched my D-12 over to red the tech at Volvo told me NOT to add a pre-charged coolant filter and not to worry about testing or adding SCA before the next coolant flush date.

I could not find a filter locally that did not have the pellets in them so I called back.  His reply was that the pre-charged filter would not hurt - it just would not help.  Again, this was for Volvo Diesel approved long life RED Zerex coolant.

Other than that I don't know squat about SCA or test strips for the red.
Randy

Jim2
03 November 2010
09:35 AM
Maintaining your coolant based purely on its color, is not a very accurate approach these days.  There are so many different manufacturers, producing so many different specs of coolant, using widely differing colors.  Find out what coolant spec (ASTM and TMC) your particular engine mfg. recommends/requires.  Find out exactly what type/spec coolant is really in your system, or flush the old stuff and replace with a known coolant of the proper spec.

I'm not an expert either, but here are a few basics:
Heavy Duty Conventional Diesel Coolant - requires adding SCA at initial fill and periodic testing to maintain proper SCA %.

Heavy Duty Fully Formulated Diesel Coolant- comes pre-charged with SCA for initial fill, followed by periodic testing to maintain proper SCA %.

Heavy Duty Diesel Extended Life Coolant (ELC) - Uses a variety of proprietary "inhibitors" instead of SCA and therefore does not require testing or adding SCA, but requires the addition of an "Extender" after so many miles of use.

Light duty (automotive) coolants are not acceptable for heavy diesel engines.

SCA = supplemental coolant additive = the chemical cocktail added to the basic ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, to reduce scaling, corrosion and cavitation of the coolant system components.

DCA2 and DCA4 are the two different types of SCA based on their different chemical cocktails - nitrite/borate/silicate vs. nitrite/molybdate/phosphate/silicate - which additive to use is spec'd by the engine mfg. as part of their coolant spec. many recommend not mixing these two different chemical additives, some say its ok to mix them.  Each has pluses and minuses.  Best overall approach is to follow the recommendations of your engine mfg.

DCA4 has been historically spec'd by Ford, International and Cummins
DCA2 has been historically spec'd by CAT and Detroit Diesel and a few others

Mark & Dale Bruss
13 November 2010
08:00 AM
This thread triggered the Diesel Coolant page in the Resource Guide.

One of the things I learned was that Extended Life Coolant (600,000 miles/6 years) needs a mid-life Extender (300,000 miles/3 years).