Red coolant + green coolant + Cummings = BAD!!

[outback dude]

My friend was travelling in his 2002 Dodge Cummins 3/4 ton from San Francisco Bay area to Washington. He just had the dealer service the truck (including coolant) the day before the trip. Just past Redding California, the trucks temp gauge started to go up into the 215 - 220 range. (This truck never runs hot, especially nearly empty at highway speeds) He pulled over and popped open the hood. The upper radiator hose was sucked together (collapsed). He let the truck cool down enough to check the fluid level. Upon opening the radiator cap, he was shocked to find that the fluid had turned into a thick, vaseline like consistency. He had the truck towed to a local Dodge dealer who diagnosed the problem as mixing of coolant types. The truck had green coolant and the Bay Area dealer added red coolant (dex-cool I believe). I think that Dodge made the switch in 2003 for the Cummins, but not 100% sure. The dealer up North had a special chemical flushed through the system that was supposed to neutralize the gelling and get everything back to normal. Needless to say, the truck is still not running at its "normal" temp and is back at the dealers today. They took full responsibility for the screw up, but here is where we need some help.
What should my friend look out for? Are there any long term effects in a Cummins when this happens? Has anyone heard of a chemical to stop the gelling reaction when mixing the two coolants? The dealer made it sound like this happens often and hence the special chemical to stop the gelling effect. Any help or knowledge in this matter would be appreciated.

Thanks,
George

 

[Marty]

quote:

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outback dude:
What should my friend look out for? Are there any long term effects in a Cummins when this happens? Has anyone heard of a chemical to stop the gelling reaction when mixing the two coolants? The dealer made it sound like this happens often and hence the special chemical to stop the gelling effect. Any help or knowledge in this matter would be appreciated.

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The OAT base in DEXCOOL type coolants is not compatible with several of the other coolants out there, of which there are at least six now being used as factory-fill.

Once they're mixed, the best solution is to triple-flush the system out, replace any damaged components (I'm betting his water pump impeller is now loose on the shaft), and refill it with whatever you've decided to use.

Their are several articles (MOTOR in 1999, for example) on-line about the compatiblity problems.

 

[outback dude]

Thanks for the input guys. Is a loose impeller on a Cummins diesel common in this situation or can any engines water pump impeller get loose? I've heard of water pumps failing (bad bearing) but never a loose impeller. If anything is going to loosen an impeller, thick gelled antifreeze would probably be at the top of the list. Just talked to my friend, truck is out of dealer, but still running at 220 degrees. He turned around to take it back. I'll let him know of the loose impeller situation. If you have any other ideas on why its still overheating, please let us know. Thanks.

George

 

[Ray H]

DEXCOOL is orange, not red. The HOAT extended life antifreeze/coolant Chrysler products are using these days is also dyed orange, but, it's not DEXCOOL (actually, Zerex G-05 in all but name), so it's confusing. In neither case are these two extended life fluids compatible with the traditional "Prestone"-type "gell-of-death" green stuff.

(This antifreeze/coolant dye business has gotten completely out of hand. DEXCOOL is orange. Fine. Chrysler's "G-05" HOAT fluid is also orange. Not fine. Ford's "G-05" is some other color [not sure which - amber?]. Honda's own extended life fluid is green [well, maybe not lately - I'm going on what came in my '96 Accord...], but it's not traditional "Prestone"-type green fluid. Not fine. There are just entirely too many opportunities to replace [or, worse, add] the wrong fluid into a cooling system not designed for it. Further complicating the picture is that the Zerex-branded G-05 you can buy as back fill is hardly dyed at all! Once diluted 50/50, it's hard to visually discern that any antifreeze/coolant is present. I'm not excusing what your friend's dealer did, but I can certainly understand how it could've happened. I do give 'em credit for assuming full responsibilty, though.)

[ August 03, 2004, 12:33 PM: Message edited by: Ray H ]

 

[Marty]

quote:

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outback dude:
Thanks for the input guys. Is a loose impeller on a Cummins diesel common in this situation or can any engines water pump impeller get loose?

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Not that I'm aware of.

However, turning your coolant into a jell, and then finding the engine running warmer, it sounds like a possible explanation.


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