I recently changed my coolant the other day. I used the standard prestone stuff (ethylene glycol) with a mix of 50/50 distilled water. After doing some research I'm a bit confused on whether or not this was the right product to use.

http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/cooling-sys/antifreeze.htm

After reading the link above, it mentions you should use a low-silacate antifreeze. Well after doing some research on the web it appears the standard yellow bottle Prestone is a "High Silacate". I have not checked my bottles for confirmation on this.

However if you check the bottom of the link you will see the Cummins Service Bulletin 3666132-01 where it states that "The B Series engine normally does not require SCA because the engine normally does not experience cast-iron cavitation corrosion. The Cummins B Series engine has not shown any tendency toward cast-iron cavitation corrosion" I'm a bit confused on if I should leave the Prestone in their, or drain and refill with another product.

Thanks,

 

i been useing the green stuff from parts plus
i dont even know what the silacate levels are
i havent had any problems

 

Low silicate antifreezes are more geared toward blocks with liners in em. The "B" doesen't have liners in it but I'd still go with a low silicate coolant.
carty

 

Since there were only two plants manufacturing anti-freeze in the US and one burned down a couple years ago I highly doubt if brand names mean anything. Use either the green or orange but don't mix the two.

 

I recently flushed mine out completley, and went back with the extended coolant mixed with distilled water. Whichever you chose just be sure and mix with distilled as the heater cores are a booger to change out. Goodluck,,Rick

 

I use Fleetguard ES Optimax in my 2000. Coming soon in my 1997.

 

cheap green stuff

 

Thanks for the replies, I figured as much that I would should be ok. This is my first diesel vehicle so things are a little different on it then my gasser models I have owned in the past.

 

Yep a lot different in that I wanna keep this one so, maintainence is stressful,sooooo stressful!

 

What about PEAK? I used the pre-mix and dont know how well its doing as I did it the day before I deployed to where I am now. Anybody have any input on that brand?

Semper Fi

Sgt USMC

 

Peak is fine. I generally run less than 50/50 with a little Redline Water Wetter for corrosion resistance...

we don't have to worry about freezing temps where I live. 100% water is the most efficient cooler, but it doesn't have the corrosion resistance and it doesn't lube the waterpump. so I run ~25-35% antifreeze.

Forrest

 

I USED THE RED STUFF ROTELLAS ELC ALREADY PREMIXED AND CERITIFIED FOR CUMMINS