CAT and Dexcool???

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jeffh19

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St. Louis, MO
I have an 01 Sierra I bought from a guy who worked at CAT, and he got some CAT ELC coolant and flushed the Dexcool out, and put that in. I've had the truck for 2 years now, and the coolant is low. I have some Dexcool on the shelf...can I just add some to the CAT coolant, or do I have to flush and replace with Dexcool?

http://lazzarapartsexpress.com/content/101-2844-cat-ec-1-extended-life-coolant-1-gallon

link to what the cat stuff is
 
I wouldn't mix.

But the more pertinent question is, why is your coolant low? Under normal circumstances, you shouldn't lose coolant.
 
Originally Posted By: Brons2
I wouldn't mix.

But the more pertinent question is, why is your coolant low? Under normal circumstances, you shouldn't lose coolant.


Ya I know. Haven't seen any signs of leaks or burning it though, although i haven't looked that hard. Who knows.
 
Check very carefully the bottom of the water pump mounting gaskets, its a very common point of leakage. It will leak just enought to not drip on the ground, but you will loose level over time. Make sure the underside of the oil fill cap looks OK, there was a Castec cyl. head issue, but I think it was later models, though not positive.
 
Originally Posted By: EricG
Check very carefully the bottom of the water pump mounting gaskets, its a very common point of leakage. It will leak just enought to not drip on the ground, but you will loose level over time. Make sure the underside of the oil fill cap looks OK, there was a Castec cyl. head issue, but I think it was later models, though not positive.
I'll have to check the oil cap area, didn't know about that. I know the LS motors are very common to have pumps go out, its actually already been replaced once at the dealer about 100k ago or so.
 
Slight changes in coolant level with engine cold can be due to changes in outside temp.

I would add more CAT fluid, its probably better than DexCool. It may be G-05 or close to it, since it says low silicates. But I cannot confirm that.

I like to fill it to a certain mark on the overflow so I know for sure. Or add some masking tape with a line.
 
Originally Posted By: Donald

I would add more CAT fluid, its probably better than DexCool. It may be G-05 or close to it, since it says low silicates. But I cannot confirm that.


Cat ELC is not a G-05, it is an 2-EHA based coolant, like dex-cool. So the basis of the fluid is the same, personally I would just grab some coolant meeting Cat EC-1 and use that to top off.
 
Originally Posted By: tommygunn
Not necessarily, it can also be carboxylic acid based, not 2-EHA. I'd use EC-1 coolant, too.


I thought 2-Ethylhexanoic was a carboxylic acid....
confused.gif


http://www.chemicalbook.com/ChemicalProductProperty_EN_CB5425330.htm
 
I stand corrected.

People should be legally forced to disclose what the [censored] the differences are between their coolants .-.
 
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