Fechino Files: Engine Coolant and a Few Other Things to Consider

Words: Steven Fechino

It's the time of year when hunters, football, and pumpkin-flavored coffee become popular. For a mason contractor, this means that cold weather will soon be upon us, and we must prepare and be ready.

In my shop, just like most of you, I have several types of antifreeze in labeled jugs, indicating the compatible vehicles. The colors are green, gold, and orange. It is not a good idea to neglect checking your equipment at least once a year. Equipment that typically stays parked must also be checked. Equipment that has been topped off a few times during the year should be tested to determine the temperature range of the coolant currently in the radiator.

Coolant testing is easier than ever before. You can use a test strip or one of several types of ethylene/propylene glycol refractometers. Inexpensive testers are available; yes, I bought the cheap one, but it works for my needs and would likely suit most of yours. The refractometer allows the specific gravity of the coolant and water mixture to reach a certain level in the chamber, corresponding to a temperature range. If you need more coolant, once you add it to the radiator, recheck the coolant. It will allow the mixture to extend further into the refractometer, indicating the new safe temperature range for that vehicle.

I did not know that the Green Zerex Original Green Antifreeze/Coolant is only good for approximately 24,000 miles or two years. I have green coolant in tractors that have been parked for several years inside a building; the coolant is still green. Who knew? It's realistically still good, I guess, but I should change it out before any surprising corrosion arises that I'm not interested in fixing. Dex-Cool has a great advantage over the green; it is designed for 150,000 miles or five years, which dramatically reduces maintenance costs.

When the wrong coolant is added to a radiator, big problems can occur relatively quickly. When two different types (chemistries) of coolant are mixed within the same coolant system, the different chemical mixtures can reduce the life of the coolant, resulting in higher maintenance costs. A gel-like coolant can form due to the different chemistries of the two coolants, which can clog cooling systems and reduce overall efficiency due to the sludge. Corrosion of parts can become an issue because the combination of the two antifreezes tends to have a lower pH, which is acidic. If ever you find that an employee, or in my case, me, puts the wrong coolant in the system, diagnosing the problem will be more difficult.

The old coolant, the green stuff, is an ethylene/propylene glycol mixture containing phosphates and borates. This coolant has been around the longest and is the most dangerous because, if ingested by an animal, it can result in death, and therefore, is generally being phased out. General Motors uses a Dex-Cool introduced in late 1995. The Dex-Cool has the phosphates and borates removed and will last longer than the Zerex Original Green Antifreeze/Coolant. Dex-Cool contains additives that will lubricate the water pump and extend the life of many engine seals on the block. Ford also introduced both gold and orange coolants, depending on the model year the vehicle was manufactured. The coolants are typically blended with many of the base chemicals; however, in the case of Dex-Cool, they have also formulated their product with organic acid technology that reduces engine corrosion.

Checking the antifreeze of all your equipment may not seem like a fascinating task, but if it keeps the freeze plugs in the block of the vehicle, then it's worth the effort. I had to change two freeze plugs on an F-350 a few years back. I had to unbolt the engine mounts and jack up the engine within the frame to access the freeze plugs to install the new ones. It was cold, and I had to lie on the ground because I couldn't get the truck to the shop. It was a tough lesson, but now I check them regularly. Please do the same!

You might as well change the wiper blades or at least put a spare set behind the seat of the truck. When the blade rips, it's usually when you're using the wipers. At least, that's how I learned the hard way. Blades and antifreeze can be expensive and are often the last items you want to spend money on because they seem like something that can always wait. Well, yes, they can wait until they can't, and by then, it's either raining, snowing, or dark outside, or a combination of all three. Please don't make the mistakes I have made over the years; at least check these components and fluids.

Fechino Files: Engine Coolant and a Few Other Things to Consider

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