What Antifreeze Should I Use In A Diesel Engine?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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For diesel trucks using

green

, the recommendation of coolant service is usually around two years or 30,000 miles. For diesel engines running extended-life coolant, service is around five years or 100,000 miles. To be on the safe side, periodically check the antifreeze every six months.

Can you use any antifreeze in a diesel?


You should NEVER use light duty coolant in a heavy duty engine

, this will cause damage! … Pitting/Cavitation Corrosion – Many heavy duty diesel engines use replaceable liners that fit down around each cylinder to aid in serviceability.

Do you need special coolant for diesel engines?

The difference between the antifreeze used in a diesel engine and that used in a conventional gas engine is that diesel antifreeze

contains a special additive that protects against erosion on cylinder walls

.

Does it matter what antifreeze you put in your truck?

Well, you

use the coolant that is specified in your owner's manual

. If you just need to top it up, the recommendation is still the same, however it is unlikely to cause any serious problems if you add a litre of a different type of coolant, as long as you follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule.

What color is heavy duty antifreeze?

Composition Typical Values Concentrate 2.0% 50 vol % 49% Dyes Trace Color

Red

How much coolant does a 5.9 Cummins hold?

Engine oil 2007.5 – 2018 12 qts oil capacity w/ oil filter change 2019 Engine cooling system 2007.5 – 2012 ~

5.7 gallons
2013 – 2019 Automatic transmission fluid 68RFE 6 spd auto 17.5 qts total capacity ~ 5.5 – 6.5 qts service refill

What happens if you use the wrong color antifreeze?

Mixing different engine coolants or using the wrong coolant can

impair the performance of the special additive packages

; this can result in increased corrosion to the radiator. … Using the wrong engine coolant can gradually lead to corrosion and damage to the water pump, radiator, radiator hoses and cylinder gasket.

Are all antifreeze compatible?

All antifreeze falls under one of three basic types. We will give you a brief understanding of each and why

they are not compatible with each other

. … Manufacturers recommended that you change the green IAT antifreeze every 36,000 miles or three years. IAT coolant was used in GM vehicles until 1994.

Does GM still use Dexcool?

Dex-

Cool is now used in almost 40 million vehicles sold by GM since 1996

. On its website, GM claims Dex-Cool will last 5 years or 150,000 miles but a steady stream of consumers insist the product is defective and has damaged their vehicles.

What color is Prestone 50/50 antifreeze?

Prestone is

yellow

, but many other coolant manufacturers use different colours.

Will straight antifreeze hurt my engine?

Using pure antifreeze inside your vehicle's cooling system causes that system to lose about 35 percent of its ability to transfer heat versus a proper mixture of antifreeze and water. … For this reason,

you should not run your vehicle on pure antifreeze

.

What is heavy duty antifreeze?

Heavy Duty Engine Coolant is a

superior fully formulated engine coolant based on a proprietary formulation of corrosion inhibitors

. Heavy Duty is a low silicate, phosphate and amine free ethylene glycol based product. … It does not require an additional charge of supplemental coolant additive (SCA) upon initial fill.

What causes diesel fuel in coolant?

The fuel pressure from the injector rail cast into the head (small hole to the left of the arrow) is far greater than the pressure in the cooling system.

When a crack occurs

, diesel fuel easily passes into the coolant.

How do you flush a diesel engine cooling system?

The goal of the flush is to completely drain the cooling system as much as possible, then refill it with distilled water. Then

slightly warm the engine

(120 degrees to 140 degrees Fahrenheit) at fast idle to circulate the water through the heater core and block.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.