Radiator Fluid Testing

[Larry holland]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Henry F. Claeys"
wrote:
>
> (1) I'm planning to test my radiator's fluid for the first time.
What
> type of tester is recommended, where to purchase, and what exactly
am I
> testing for? (2) When testing the radiator fluid in the Kohler
> generator should I be looking for similar or different test results
as
> compared with the main engine? Henry Claeys 1979 FC 35 Cat 3208
N.A.,
> Austin, Tx. henry@...

Henry,
Stop by your friendly Caterpiller dealer and pick-up a radiator test
kit. It consists of a small bottle for taking a sample of your
radiator coolant, a label that you fill out and attach to the bottle,
and a postage paid box to send the sample off to Cat Labs for
analysis. The whole thing costs about $7.00 US. You will get a report
back in about a week telling you what the PH is along with everything
else they find in the coolant. They will recommend any action you
should take to bring the coolant up to Cat. standard. The test strips
work just fine, but you have to know what level of PH you are looking
for. I tested my coolant last year with test strips and found that my
coolant had a PH of 11. I thought that was high on the alkaline
(basic) side. 7 is considered neutral, so each number above or below 7
changes the PH by a factor of 10. Caterpiller did't have any
recomendation for me, so I have to believe that an 11PH is within
specs. PH is just one of the things that you need to know with regard
to anti-freeze coolant. Caterpiller also has a test kit for your
engine oil. It is a little more expensive, but loaded with information
about what is going on inside your engine. They will make
recomendations based on what they find in your used motor oil( water,
copper, iron , etc). If your coolant isn't correct you could have
cavitation going on in the engine water jacket. Cavitation will erode
the metal inside the water jacket. The test sample will tell if there
is any cavitation going on.

Hope this long post helps.
Keep it between the lines out there on the road.
Larry Holland
82FC35SB 3208T
>