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ENGINEERING BULLETIN | 94 - 1 |
| January 11, 1994 | ||
Supplemental Coolant Additives | ||
| We frequently answer many questions about supplemental coolant additives (SCAs) and their application in heavy duty diesel engines. Most often, simple answers are available for what might seem like a college chemistry exam. Here are some simple answers to the most frequently asked questions. | Which SCA should I use in my engine? With Baldwin, the choice is yours. If you use antifreeze, you may use either Baldwin's BTE or BTA Plus products. If you do not use antifreeze, you must use Baldwin BTA Plus. The following chart provides further selection information for various situations. | |
| Option | Caterpillar | Cummins | Detroit Diesel | Mack | Navistar |
| Change coolant | BTE | BTE | BTE | BTE | BTE |
| Use OEM type | BTE | BTA PLUS | BTE | BTE | BTE |
| Have used 2000 | BTE | BTE | BTE | BTE | BTE |
| Have used 3000 | BTE | BTE | BTE | BTE | BTE |
| Have used DCA2 | BTE | BTE | BTE | BTE | BTE |
| Have used DCA4 | BTA PLUS | BTA PLUS | BTA PLUS | BTA PLUS | BTA PLUS |
| Plain water | BTA PLUS | BTA PLUS | BTA PLUS | BTA PLUS | BTA PLUS |
| Can I mix one type of SCA with another or another brand? Yes. In general, all SCAs are compatible with one another. No serious engine damage will result when SCAs are mixed either intentionally or by accident. However, because all SCAs are not chemically the same, the best practice would be to avoid mixing. When changing from one type to another (BTA Plus to BTE for example), Baldwin recommends the system be drained and flushed first. The major difficulty which might be experienced with mixtures of SCAs could be in the use of a test kit. Test kits work best when you know the type of SCA in the system. | How long will SCAs remain in the system before they need replenished? Generally, adequate levels of SCA will remain in the system for a normal service interval of 12,000 to 15,000 miles. SCA chemicals deplete with engine usage, therefore, they must be replenished periodically. Proper preventative maintenance utilizing a test kit such as Baldwin's CTK5026 is necessary for long cooling system life. This simple test will quickly and accurately determine the concentration of SCA chemicals remaining in the system. |
| More information is available about Baldwin SCAs and their application. Form 742, - Understanding Supplemental Coolant Additives and the video PKG455 - Understanding Supplemental Coolant Additives are now available and contain the latest information on this important topic. |
call our Service Engineering Team at (308) 237-9729 |