Anything special on the coolant for an L3200?

[Atlanta Panther]

I was going to change mine out and put in a 50-50 mix of Prestone Extended Life coolant. I know my Powerstroke takes a special coolant. Thought I'd better check on my L3200 before I did it.

 

[dmanlyr]

The required spec is in your owners manual.

Most engine manufactures have a particular spec on the coolant, varies from manufacture to manufacture, and as well as differences between gas and diesel engine, different yes, but really nothing special about any of it, just has to meet the manufactures specifications for your engine.

Think of it this way, your powerstroke really does not require any "special" antifreeze per say, but it does require the proper spec antifreeze, and technically any old antifreeze meeting that specification would be fine.


David

 

[MagKarl]

It's likely that his Powerstroke does require coolant additive or "special" coolant, mine does in the form of SCA for cavitation erosion protection. I'm running the same pink Fleet Charge in my pickup and tractor. I don't know if cavitation damage is a problem on these engines or not, but I use it just in case and I've got it on hand anyway.

 

[dmanlyr]

It's likely that his Powerstroke does require coolant additive or "special" coolant, mine does in the form of SCA for cavitation erosion protection. I'm running the same pink Fleet Charge in my pickup and tractor. I don't know if cavitation damage is a problem on these engines or not, but I use it just in case and I've got it on hand anyway.

I agree that the powerstroke probably has a SCA requirement, most diesel engines do. However that does not make it special, just different from what one might put in a Honda Civic for example.

I guess the word I am having issues with is "special" when it is really just a different spec. Looked at another way, I guess the Honda Civic takes a "special" antifreeze without the SCA's....

Or because a engine requires a standard weight oil rather than a multi vis oil, does that make one engine oil special, or are they really just a different spec?

So rather than denote one as standard, one as special, it serves much better in my opinion just to accept them as different and use the one that meets the particular specification of the engine manufacture. This also has the desired effect to make people pay attention to the specification, rather than looking for some nebulous "special" antifreeze.

At least in my 41 years of mechanical experience it makes sense.....

David

 

[MagKarl]

Fair enough. I see now that we're talking about a very new tractor and that you own the same model. You would obviously know what's in the manual. I mistook that for a "RTFM" type response, my mistake.

I too took exception to the word "special". In the OP's context, SCA meant special to him. I'm confident we both wanted to stress the importance of using an appropriate coolant.

 

[ipz2222]

A great LONG discussion last year led me to start useing an antifreeze from tractor supply co. It's called "fleet " something.