- Heavy-duty diesel engines
- Natural gas engines
- Automotive applications
The anti-corrosion package for Caterpillar ELC is different from the anti-corrosion package for other coolants. Caterpillar ELC is an ethylene glycol base coolant. However, Caterpillar ELC contains organic corrosion inhibitors and antifoam agents with low amounts of nitrite. Caterpillar ELC has been formulated with the correct amounts of these additives in order to provide superior corrosion protection for all metals in the cooling system of diesel engines.
Caterpillar ELC extends the service life of the coolant to 6000 service hours or six years. ELC does not require the frequent additions of a Supplemental Coolant Additive (SCA). An Extender is the only additional maintenance that is needed at 3000 service hours or one-half of the service life.
ELC is available in a 1:1 premixed cooling solution with distilled water. The 1:1 premixed cooling solution of ELC will lower the freezing point of the coolant to a temperature of −36°C (−33°F). ELC Concentrate can be used to lower the freezing point to −51°C (−60°F) for arctic conditions.
Containers of several sizes are available. Consult your CLAAS dealer for the part numbers.
ELC can be recycled. The drained coolant mixture can be distilled in order to remove the ethylene glycol and the water. The ethylene glycol and the water can be reused. Consult your CLAAS dealer for more information.
Commercial ELC
If Caterpillar ELC is not used, then select a commercial ELC that meets the Caterpillar specification of EC-1 and either the "ASTM D5345" specification or the "ASTM D4985" specification. Do not use a long life coolant that does not meet the EC-1 specification. Follow the maintenance guide for the coolant from the supplier of the commercial ELC. Follow the Caterpillar guidelines for the quality of water and the specified coolant change interval.
ELC Cooling System Maintenance
Caterpillar ELC Extender
Caterpillar ELC Extender is a liquid that is added to the cooling system halfway through the ELC service life.
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When using Caterpillar ELC, do not use standard SCA's or SCA filters. To avoid SCA contamination of an ELC system, remove the SCA filter base and plug off or by-pass the coolant lines. |
The cooling system should be treated with Extender at 3000 hours (one-half of the service life). Use Table 1 to determine the required amount of the Caterpillar Extender.
| Amounts of the Caterpillar ELC Extender by Cooling System Capacity | |
| Cooling System Capacity | Recommended Amount of Caterpillar Extender |
22 to 30 L (6 to 8 US gal) |
0.57 L (20 fl oz) |
31 to 38 L (8 to 10 US gal) |
0.71 L (24 fl oz) |
39 to 49 L (10 to 13 US gal) |
0.95 L (32 fl oz) |
50 to 64 L (13 to 17 US gal) |
1.18 L (40 fl oz) |
65 to 83 L (17 to 22 US gal) |
1.60 L (54 fl oz) |
84 to 114 L (22 to 30 US gal) |
2.15 L (72 fl oz) |
115 to 163 L (30 to 43 US gal) |
3.00 L (100 fl oz) |
164 to 242 L (43 to 64 US gal) |
4.40 L (148 fl oz) |
Changing to Caterpillar ELC
To change from heavy-duty coolant/antifreeze to the Caterpillar ELC, perform the following steps:
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Care must be taken to ensure that fluids are contained during performance of inspection, maintenance, testing, adjusting, and repair of the machine. Be prepared to collect the fluid with suitable containers before opening any compartment or disassembling any compartment containing fluids. Dispose of all fluids according to local regulations and mandates. |
- Drain the coolant into a suitable container.
- Dispose of the coolant according to local regulations.
- Remove the empty SCA filter and remove the filter base. Plug the coolant lines or bypass the coolant lines.
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Do not leave an empty SCA filter on an ELC system. The filter housing may corrode and leak causing an engine failure. Remove the SCA filter base and plug off or by-pass the coolant lines. |
- Flush the system with clean water in order to remove any debris.
- Use Caterpillar cleaner to clean the system. Follow the instructions on the label.
- Drain the cleaner into a suitable container. Flush the cooling system with clean water.
- Fill the cooling system with clean water and operate the engine until the engine is warmed to 49 to 66°C (120 to 150°F).
- Drain the cooling system into a suitable container and flush the cooling system with clean water.
Note: The cooling system cleaner must be thoroughly flushed from the cooling system. Cooling system cleaner that is left in the system will contaminate the coolant. The cleaner may also corrode the cooling system.
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Improper or incomplete rinsing of the cooling system can result in damage to copper and other metal components. To avoid damage to the cooling system, make sure to completely flush the cooling system with clear water. Continue to flush the system until all signs of the cleaning agent are gone. |
- Repeat Steps 7 and 8 until the system is completely clean.
- Fill the cooling system with the Caterpillar ELC.
Note: Clean water is the only flushing agent that is required when the ELC is drained from the cooling system.
Contamination of the ELC Cooling System
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Mixing ELC with other products reduces the effectiveness of the coolant and shortens coolant life. Use only Caterpillar products or commercial products that have passed the Caterpillar EC-1 specification for pre-mixed or concentrate coolants. Use only Caterpillar Extender with Caterpillar ELC. Failure to follow these recommendatioins can result in shortened cooling system component life. |
In cooling systems that use Caterpillar ELC, do not add Diesel Engine Antifreeze/Coolant (DEAC) as a makeup coolant. Contamination of ELC by DEAC will defeat the advantages of ELC. If the ELC in the cooling system becomes contaminated by more than 10 percent of the total system capacity of DEAC or SCA, perform one of the following operations:
- Drain the cooling system into a suitable container. Dispose of the coolant according to local regulations. Flush the system with clean water. Fill the system with the Caterpillar ELC.
- Drain a portion of the cooling system into a suitable container according to local regulations. Then, fill the cooling system with premixed ELC. This should lower the contamination to less than 10 percent.
- Maintain the system as a conventional Diesel Engine Antifreeze/Coolant (DEAC). Treat the system with an SCA. Change the coolant at the interval that is recommended for the conventional Diesel Engine Antifreeze/Coolant (DEAC).