How to Protect your Diesel! Supplemental Coolant Additives (SCA's) are important to ensure long diesel engine life. Their primary function is to protect the cylinder wall from cavitation erosion (pitting). Secondarily, they bolster the anti-corrosion additives in antifreeze. The purpose of SCA is to prevent cavitation erosion of the cylinder lines. The additive concentration should be checked every 4 months to assure that it is properly maintained. If the coolant system develops a leak that requires additional coolant to be added, the SCA concentration level should be checked and DCA-4 added as required to maintain the 1.5 to 3.0 units per gallon level.

I am an owner of a 1989 Ford F350 PU that has a 7.3 Liter Diesel Engine...or should I say had. After 108,000.00 miles, my motor developed pin holes in the block which caused major damage. I serviced the truck, including changing the coolant, and maintained detailed and accurate records. However, this did not help because I never added a coolant conditioner which is very important in diesel engines. Ford does not even mention this conditioner in their maintenance guide! And to make matters worse, two local Ford dealerships which serviced my truck in the past said they never heard of this problem. I now have a truck that is useless. After calling Ford and informing them of the problem I was told that the truck is out of warranty, which doesn't help me one bit. If there are other owners out there who have this problem please E-Mail a Message or POST A COMMENT on our comment board so we may futher assist Ford in recognizing this problem.

1. THIS IS A SAD CASE OF BS FROM FORD. YOUR NOT A LONE IN THE PROBLEM IM A MECHANIC IN CALIF, WERE WE DON,T REALLY HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE DCS/DSC LEVEL TO OFTEN THE REASON THE LEAKS OCURE IS THE CASTING PROCESS IS TO PORISE AND THE VIBRATION/FREQUNCY CREATED IN THE ENGINE WHILE RUNING MAKES THE OXYAGEN ACT AS A BORING TOOL. THUS THE PIN HOLE AS FORMED IN THE CAVITY OF THE ENGINE OIL GALLEY OR THE LINER BORE OR THE SUMP/OIL PAN. THERE IS NOTHING BUT LOWERING THE CAP PRESSURE AND ADD MORE NALCOOL OR WIX COOL TO THE SYSTEM. THE ANTI FREEZE SHOULD BE 50/50 OR BETTER.

RANDY R&K ENTERPRISE

---

2.
We have encountered the same problem in man 6.9&7.3 engine also in the new 6 cyl in-line ford diesel. We repair them by installing a repair sleeve in the effected cylinder. Philip Ingram Auto & Diesel Machinist Inc. Birmingham Al. PDI1@P* com

---

3.
You may be interested to know that U-Haul, a major user of these engines, uses heavy-duty coolant practices to prevent the cavitation problem Thiese
practices typically include:
1. Use of a "Fully Formulated" diesel coolant meeting Maintenance Council
Recommended Practice "RP329" (The Maintenance Council of the American
Trucking Association)

2. Use of Pencool (formerly Nalcool) supplemental coolant additive to
maintain the coolant quality and prevent problems with cavitation.

Some antifreeze brands that meet RP-329: Navistar FLEETRITE, Prestone
Heavy-Duty, Old World's FLEETCHARGE, Detroit Diesel POWERCOOL, Caterpillar
Heavy Duty Antifreeze, Fleetguard COMPLEAT, Quaker State antifreeze, Pronto
antifreeze, John Deere Antifreeze, Autoguard, and Trust. Also recycled
antifreeze from Antifreeze Environmental Service, Superior Products and
Toxguard in Califonia.

More info: Pencool@AOL.com

Ed Eaton
Director, Tech Service
The Penray Companies, Inc.
1-800-322-2143

---

4.
READ YOUR ARTICLE ON THE FOR ENGINES, AND FOUND IT QUITE INTERESTING. I HAVE A 1986 FORD WITH THE 6.9 AND AT 98000 MILES I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM, WHICH CAUSED THE MAIN BEARING TO SPIN ON THE CRANK, SO I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. I BOUGHT A LONG BLOCK AND PLAN ON USING THE COOLING SYSTEM ADDITIVES IN IT,I CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 30,O00 ON THE NEW ENGINE. I WASN'T AWARE OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL I READ YOUR LETTER SO THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION.

---

5.
Date: Thu, 04 Apr 1996 17:41:16 -0800 From: zulman@express.ca (Zulfikar Ali Manji) To: anatale@shopdiesel.com
I read your page and I have managed to get some info for you from work. I work for an engine rebuilding shop; last month we rebuilt almost 100 engines of your description. It seems sleeves were installed in all on the left bank, apparently to stop coolant to seep in to the area with oil. I have two pages of info if you are interested let me have your address and I will mail them to you. It will take me ages to type them all to you. 

---

6.
Subject:
Ford 6.9 and 7.3 liter diesel engines
Date:
Mon, 01 Jul 1996 15:03:35 -0700
From:
"Gary A. Spires" 
Organization:
Fleetguard Inc.
To:
anatale@shopdiesel.com

Use of Fleetguard DCA4 liquid or filters containing DCA4 will prevent this problem. Navistar International, the maker of these engines, has long recognized that they need supplemental coolant additives to prevent cylinder wall cavitation (liner pitting). Navistar installs Fleetguard DCA4 into the engines at time of manufacture. However, one precharge dose is not enough. You must add additional doses of these coolant additives on a regular basis (such as at every oil change) to rebuild the lost inhibitor package. These chemicals are sacrificial compounds that are used to put a microscopic coating on the cylinder walls (coolant side). Since they are sacrificial, the concentrations need to be tested on a regular basis and more DCA4 added to maintain a MINIMUM precharge level of 1.5 units per gallon of coolant capacity. For more information on Fleetguard DCA4 coolant additives and filters contact Fleetguard Service Engineering at 1-800-22FILTER, select option 2.

7.
Subject:
Ford 7.3 & 6.9 diesel engines/cyl wall pin holes
Date: Fri, 07 Feb 1997 23:13:13 -0800
From: jehman@netcom.ca
To: anatale@shopdiesel.com

First of all Ford does recognize this problem. There is a technical service bulliten about this exact thing. Any Ford dealer that isn't famillar with this problem should not be a Ford dealer. I am a parts manager for a large ford dealer in Canada. We know all cyl. wall pitting in diesel engines, it is very common. I have no reason why Ford does not add this info into the owners manual. The reply that you recieved from the gentleman from Fleetguard very good, it states exactly what has to be done to maintain the cooling system in that engine.Ford of Canada sell DCA4 (their part no. FW-15). Our dealership is well informed on how it works and why you should use it. I feel your problems are not with Ford, but with the particular dealers you are dealing with.

---

8.
Subject:
Ford 7.3 & 6.9 diesel engines/cyl wall pin holes
Date: Thurs, 13 Mar 1997 23:13:13 -0800
From: Neil Anderson 
To: anatale@shopdiesel.com

I just bought a '97 F 250 with the 7.3 L powerstroke. The service manager impressed upon me the importance of a periodic recharge of the coolant additive, as mentioned in the other e-mail messages. According to Fleetguard, DCA4 is sold by Ford as FW-15. The owner's manual for the powerstoke engine says that the use of FW-15 "aids in the prevention of scale buildup on the internal parts of the engine" -- nothing is mentioned about pitting. Ford's recommended maintenance interval for the coolant is every 15,000 miles, for normal or severe use. 

---

9.
Subject: Ford Diesel Engine Coolant Problems

Date: Mon, 28 Apr 1997 08:47:22 -0500

From: "Wade W. Wagner" <wwagner@tcmail.frco.com> Organization: Fisher-Rosemount Systems

To: anatale@shopdiesel.com

I appreciate the information!! I purchased a 96 F250 7.3L in June of 96. Within one month, I had already put in 10 gallons of coolant. I took it back to the dealership for repair. The dealership kept it for one month. They replaced both heads and gaskets and then returned it to me. One month later, the truck was doing the same thing. Ford said they have never heard of this problem. They called Navistar and they said the same thing. The truck was back in the shop a couple of months later and Ford replaced the whole engine. The new engine is not exhibiting the problem....YET!! You are not alone and I appreciate the information. 

---

10.
Subject: 7.3L. Ford

 Date: Tue, 25 Nov 1997 14:53:12 -0500

 From: bswanson@netcom.ca

 To: anatale@shopdiesel.com

 I just thought I should let you know that cavitation, the process by which this problem occurs is a common operational characteristic of any diesel engine. It is sad that your local dealers did not know of the problem. The responses you recieved above by Fleetguard & jehman are of help to you I hope, but I must also add that if you buy a diesel you should have it serviced at a dealer with a diesel or heavy truck department. These tech.s will have the best knowledge of proper maintanence and care for your engine, compared to a car & light truck only dealer who may not know the best way to care for your vehicle. Again the Ford part # for the coolant additive is fw-15. DCA levels should be checked with every oil change and fw-15 will likely need to be added at every 2nd or 3rd oil change intervals. For those out there with the Powerstroke 7.3L, an added note to this should be to make sure you strictly follow the oil change shedule reccommended by Ford, or you could run into all sorts of engine running problems due to depletion of the additives (anti-foaming agents) in your diesel engine oil. 

---

11.
Someone at your Ford dealer is blowing some serious smoke up your backside, or they have no one on their staff that works with diesels. I am a Ford and Cummins certified diesel technician at a Ford dealer. There is even instructions in the Ford service manuals that explicitly spell out how important it is to use the FW-15 coolant additive in the diesel engine. I've also read in this message board about mysterious cooland loss in the Power Stroke engine. I have run accross the inserts in the cylinder heads that the injectors mount into occasionally leak coolant. This can be remedied by simply replacing the inserts and applying the proper amount of loctite sealant to the new inserts. I just stumbled across this website and I can say that it is nice to hear from all you good folks that own Ford diesels and see some of your concerns first hand. As a tech I rarely get to hear the customer myself. Any of you can feel free to e-mail me with any questions you have, and I will do my best to get you accurate and honest information for your concern.
Jasen Andersen truckslammer@yahoo.com
Jasen Andersen
Omaha, NE USA - Sunday, March 25, 2001 at 20:36:54 (EST) from cras33p21.navix.net

---

MORE COMMENTS!!!!!!

You may also place orders by calling
(856) 273-9607 or by fax at (856) 273-0147

Special Thanks to: The Automotive Engine Rebuilders Association and all the People who respond.