nitrate & Ph

[garyd]

Flushed heat exchanger added distilled water and detroit pro 6000.

Tested with the strips and what I expected to see was everything in balance.

However it looks ok Ph but Nitrates are still way too low.

Has anyone gone down this path to make it test out perfect. Do you just add a different solution to get the nitrate level up?

Thanks

garyd

 

[REBrueckner]

Gary: What engines have you? Do you mean NITRITES, not nitrates??

Nitrites are used for anticavitation protection in wet liner engines, series 53 and 92 engines. Makes little difference in 71 series engines.

Check here for official DD coolant specs.

http://www.detroitdiesel.com/pdf/vocations/Coolant-Selections.pdf


I am not familiar with DD pro 6000, but I have read that one needs to use test strips that match the antifreeze brand....test indications and formulations may be different for different engines...You using DD test strips??

It appears from the website referenced that "detroit pro 6000" is an OAT inhibitor used with DD Powercool, via page 6 of the referenced website, but affords no freeze protection. Is that what you are adding?

Apparently, if you have a source, nitrites can be added but you'd want to be sure you add reasonbly correct amounts.

 

[garyd]

Nitrate nitrite it was late. lol

Yes it is Nitrite, Yes have the coreect strips. Yes it is powercool 6000.

Yes no freeze protection.

6V92

thanks

garyd

 

[REBrueckner]

If you are using DD Powercool and DD test strips, I can't understand why the new Powercool isn't reading at the proper concentration. You sure Powercool uses nitrites? (I do not know.)

[I corrected my first post]....nitrites are supposedly important only in 53 series DD....

If no one else posts from experience, maybe you can have the solution lab analyzed. and/or ask a local DD mechanic if they have a suggestion.

 

[garyd]

Well it looks like if you just use Distilled water and Powercool 6000. Ph needs to be correct and nitrites are to be ZERO.

At least this is what I'm understanding for the 6V92 engines.

Anyone else have a different answer?

garyd

 

[Boatnut]

If you have any left over in a clean container try testing that and see how it comes out.

 

[REBrueckner]

(turns of nitrAtes) are also included in DD coolant formulations...but test strips I used in the past did not measure for those.)

I'd follow the DD specs:

Table 7 & instructions of the DD specs I posted says this:

"Additional SCA must be added to the coolant when it becomes depleted, as indicated by a nitrite concentration of 800 PPM or less. If the nitrite concentration is greater than 800 PPM, do not add additional SCA. If the nitrite concentration is above 3200 PPM, the system is over-inhibited."

Elsewhere, it says nitrites are required to prevent cylinder liner AND water pump cavitation corrosion.

Even though some (others) try to make fun of reading, it IS useful....If you had a chromate based coolant previously, for example, the specs say to use a special flush/cleaner.