Antifreeze compatibility problem...

[erniecarpet@...]

James. post a picture in the photo section and we can add that to the bird of
the week. ernie-83pt40 in texas


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[orbitalsolutions]

I made a mistake, not sure how much trouble I'm in. To make a long
story short, I have a cooling system in my Bird' that is filled with an
ethylene glyco antifreeze. I topped it off with one gallon of
Catapillar antifreeze, discovering later that the two antifreeze types
are not compatible.

I do not know why they are not compatible. How much trouble am I in?
Do I have to drain all 15 gallons of antifreeze? What will happen if I
just continue to top off with an ethylene glycol product?

Thanks in adance for your help.

--James(nerviously awaiting your replies)
978FC33
Las Vegas NV

[mbulriss]

James,

What makes you think that they are not compatible? Did they
coagulate, congeal, seperate, or otherwise react when mixed together?

I just went to the Cat website and they list both their ELC and DEAC
brands of antifreeze as ethylene glycol based, so what's not
compatible? They even state that the ELC is compatible with other
glycol based antifreezes. They advise against mixing them, mainly as
I read it because of the long-life additive packge in the ELC.

Go to this page for more details:
http://www.finning.ca/downloads/sos/Exte...t_peh\
p4036.pdf


Mike Bulriss
1983 PT40 "Stagecoach" - For Sale - Financing Available
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "orbitalsolutions"
wrote:
>
> I made a mistake, not sure how much trouble I'm in. To make a long
> story short, I have a cooling system in my Bird' that is filled with an
> ethylene glyco antifreeze. I topped it off with one gallon of
> Catapillar antifreeze, discovering later that the two antifreeze types
> are not compatible.
>
> I do not know why they are not compatible. How much trouble am I in?
> Do I have to drain all 15 gallons of antifreeze? What will happen if I
> just continue to top off with an ethylene glycol product?
>
> Thanks in adance for your help.
>
> --James(nerviously awaiting your replies)
> 978FC33
> Las Vegas NV
>

[pattypape]

If the Cat stuff is purple, It is OK to mix with the green
ethylene gylcol. Why are you concerned, what makes you think it is
not compatible.

Bill 88 FC


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "orbitalsolutions"
wrote:
>
> I made a mistake, not sure how much trouble I'm in. To make a
long
> story short, I have a cooling system in my Bird' that is filled
with an
> ethylene glyco antifreeze. I topped it off with one gallon of
> Catapillar antifreeze, discovering later that the two antifreeze
types
> are not compatible.
>
> I do not know why they are not compatible. How much trouble am I
in?
> Do I have to drain all 15 gallons of antifreeze? What will happen
if I
> just continue to top off with an ethylene glycol product?
>
> Thanks in adance for your help.
>
> --James(nerviously awaiting your replies)
> 978FC33
> Las Vegas NV
>

[orbitalsolutions]

Thanks, I feel so much better now. I was confused, but now all is well.

When flushing time comes around, I will refill with Cat extended for
the same reason I use Cat motor oil. It keeps it all simple enough for
my aging brain to remember what to pour where.

Thanks again.

--James
1978FC33
Las Vegas NV

[orbitalsolutions]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "pattypape"
wrote:
>
>
> If the Cat stuff is purple, It is OK to mix with the green
> ethylene gylcol. Why are you concerned, what makes you think it
is
> not compatible.
>
> Bill 88 FC
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "orbitalsolutions"
> wrote:
> >
> > I made a mistake, not sure how much trouble I'm in. To make a
> long
> > story short, I have a cooling system in my Bird' that is filled
> with an
> > ethylene glyco antifreeze. I topped it off with one gallon of
> > Catapillar antifreeze, discovering later that the two antifreeze
> types
> > are not compatible.
> >
> > I do not know why they are not compatible. How much trouble am
I
> in?
> > Do I have to drain all 15 gallons of antifreeze? What will
happen
> if I
> > just continue to top off with an ethylene glycol product?
> >
> > Thanks in adance for your help.
> >
> > --James(nerviously awaiting your replies)
> > 978FC33
> > Las Vegas NV
> >
>
Thanks, I guess I confused compatibility with recomended. What I
must have read, some where at some time in the past, is that you
should not mix the two. Now I understand that if you are full of
Cat extended adding an off the shelf brand would retard it's
lifespan. But there is no compatibility problem of any consequence,
the two will work together, but only at the life span interval of
the inferior antifreeze type.

Thanks again.

--James

[dthollis1961]

James,

I may have made a mistake telling you they were not compatible. I
know that when this extended life stuff first came out(specifically
Dexcool) that it was not compatible with anything. Truthfully, I
haven't kept up with newer developments. If the stuff you put in
says it's OK with ethylene glycol, you're OK.

David Hollis Springfield,IL No Bird...James has it


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "orbitalsolutions"
wrote:
>
> I made a mistake, not sure how much trouble I'm in. To make a
long
> story short, I have a cooling system in my Bird' that is filled
with an
> ethylene glyco antifreeze. I topped it off with one gallon of
> Catapillar antifreeze, discovering later that the two antifreeze
types
> are not compatible.
>
> I do not know why they are not compatible. How much trouble am I
in?
> Do I have to drain all 15 gallons of antifreeze? What will happen
if I
> just continue to top off with an ethylene glycol product?
>
> Thanks in adance for your help.
>
> --James(nerviously awaiting your replies)
> 978FC33
> Las Vegas NV
>

[orbitalsolutions]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "dthollis1961"
wrote:
>
> James,
>
> I may have made a mistake telling you they were not compatible. I
> know that when this extended life stuff first came out
(specifically
> Dexcool) that it was not compatible with anything. Truthfully, I
> haven't kept up with newer developments. If the stuff you put in
> says it's OK with ethylene glycol, you're OK.
>
> David Hollis Springfield,IL No Bird...James has it
>
>
Dave, no problem, I'm so glad I don't have to flush the system.
What I remember is that you should not mix the two as well, and
perhaps that was correct at one point and time. So, in reality all
I did was over pay a little for one gallon of antifreeze.

I had a solar screen fitted for the windshield and two front side
windows. It's black, just like the custom made wheel covers I got
for those beautiful wheels. so far, I've applied three coats of
polymer polish (Bus Armor) to the ext. paint job, the old bus shines
all over like a light bulb! So I'm taking good care of your old
girl, she's getting plenty of love.

I'm surprised you have not bought a new Bird' by now. I know It's
got to be hard for you and the family to camp in your Antique Fire
Engine!

Best Regards,

--James

[Jeff Miller]

The best way I've found to test for compatibility is to drain some of
the existing coolant into a bucket, pour in some new anti-freeze, see
if they mix without coagulating (becoming a mess).

- Jeff Miller
in Holland, MI


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "orbitalsolutions"
wrote:
>
> Thanks, I feel so much better now. I was confused, but now all is
well.
>
> When flushing time comes around, I will refill with Cat extended
for
> the same reason I use Cat motor oil. It keeps it all simple enough
for
> my aging brain to remember what to pour where.
>
> Thanks again.
>
> --James
> 1978FC33
> Las Vegas NV
>