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Technical Reference
FAQs - Coolant Filtration

Q: Do the liquid and solid additives last the Q: I’ve never had cooling system problems.
same amount of time? Why do I need coolant additives and filters?
Yes, when equivalent amounts of supplemental coolant It is very rare that a gasoline or diesel engine has “never”
additives (SCA) are added. experienced a failure of a cooling system component, or
a related part that couldn’t have been prevented with the
proper use of SCA’s and a coolant filter. Both the short term
Q: How often should system maintenance be and the long term economic benefits of properly utilizing
performed? SCA’s and coolant filtration far out weigh the low initial
investment for the appropriate coolant products and their
This is dependent on the type of SCA you have chosen installation.
to use. Refer to engine and additive manufacturer
recommendations.
Reference FMC TSB 02-1 for further details. Q: How often do I need to monitor the
system? How do I control monitoring when

Q: How can I obtain Material Safety Data vehicles are traveling nationwide?
Sheets (MSDS) for coolant additives? Monitoring, or testing, SCA levels are critical to the over
all success of any coolant system maintenance program.
MSDS information is available from the coolant additive
manufacturer or your filter manufacturer. SCA level monitoring can be done very easily by using
coolant testing. Testing should be done at the maintenance
interval for the type of SCA being used to determine if
Q: Are there environmental hazards to not more additives are actually needed to accurately track
SCA depletion rates. Testing can also be done at any time
treating a coolant system properly? between maintenance intervals.
ENGINE LIQUID FILTRATION TECHNICAL REFERENCE
There are no “environmental” hazards. There are definitely
mechanical hazards related to incorrect coolant system
maintenance procedures. (Water pump failures, wet sleeve Q: Can liquid SCA’s and filters with SCA’s be
cavitation erosion and pre-mature catastrophic engine used together?
failures.)
This depends on the total capacity of the cooling system.
Most system capacities are of the size that either the
Q: Why doesn’t a coolant filter come factory liquid SCA or a filter with solid SCA is utilized. In larger
capacity systems, however, both products are used for
installed on some engines? proper maintenance. Initial installation and maintenance
Due to various engine designs, some engine and equipment instructions should always be consulted for proper product
manufacturers do not require coolant filtration. Coolant usage.
filtration can be added to these systems to prolong water
life and/or aid with coolant maintenance.
Q: What is the difference between filters
that are the same physical size and have the
Q: Is regular tap water all right to use in same thread size?
coolant systems? The differences in products that “look” alike are whether or
Most tap water does not meet engine manufacturer’s not the filter contains SCA and, if it does, the type and the
specifications for use in coolant systems. Please refer to cooling system volume it will treat.
OEM guidelines and consider a coolant analysis program to
determine suitability when in question.
Reference FMC TSB 88-1R3 for further details. Q: What is the difference between extended
drain and extended service products?

Q: How can I convert “normal” additives If the SCA has the correct chemical formulation, the time
to extended drain or extended service required between total coolant system drain intervals
can be extended beyond normal recommended intervals.
additives? The maintenance intervals to keep this product working
Each additive manufacturer offering extended service effectively are not extended. Extended service interval
interval products can provide advice. products allow the service interval of the SCA to be
extended beyond normal.

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