Usage:
Reference: Engine News, November, 1986, Page 2, "Caterpillar Antifreeze Now Used And Available From Parts Departments" for all Caterpillar Engines.
Some users are testing Caterpillar antifreeze and a competitive low silicate antifreeze that they are presently using for the amount of silicates. There is a natural concern about silicates because too high a concentration of silicates causes formation of solids and gels which will plug the radiator and heater tubes. Caterpillar antifreeze will usually contain less silicates than commercially available antifreezes, but it still provides adequate protection for the aluminum parts in all Caterpillar products.
In many cases the wrong conclusion is reached when antifreeze is tested at an outside lab for silicate levels. The competitive low silicate antifreezes have less silicates because the amount of the inhibitor required for diesel engines has not been added to the competitive antifreeze. The correct amount of Caterpillar corrosion inhibitor must be added to the competitive antifreeze before a realistic silicate test can be made. When this is done, the same test will usually show more silicates in the competitive antifreeze. The inhibitor already in the Caterpillar antifreeze will show our required silicates in a test for silicates.
Many competitive antifreezes are marketed as having the inhibitor already added, and not needing any additional inhibitors in order to perform adequately in a Caterpillar engine. In most cases this is not true. A convenient way to check any antifreeze for an adequate inhibitor package is to verify the nitrite level in the antifreeze by checking it with the 8T5296 Coolant Conditioner Test Kit.
The Caterpillar antifreeze is competitively priced only if the user recognizes that the Caterpillar antifreeze already includes the correct amount of inhibitor (nitrites). If the user is using a low silicate competitive antifreeze and not adding the correct amount of Caterpillar coolant conditioner for Caterpillar equipment, he is not following the recommended maintenance practices.