40
SEBU8337
Maintenance Section
Re
fi
ll Capacities
Coolant Recommendations
The following two coolants are used in Perkins diesel
engines:
Preferred –
Perkins Extended Life Coolant (ELC)
Acceptable –
A commercial heavy-duty antifreeze
that meets “ASTM D4985” speci
fi
cations
NOTICE
Do not use a commercial coolant/antifreeze that on-
ly meets the ASTM D3306 speci
fi
cation. This type of
coolant/antifreeze is made for light automotive appli-
cations.
Perkins recommends a 1:1 mixture of water and
glycol. This mixture of water and glycol will provide
optimum heavy-duty performance as a antifreeze.
This ratio may be increased to 1:2 water to glycol if
extra freezing protection is required.
Note:
A commercial heavy-duty antifreeze that
meets “ASTM D4985” speci
fi
cations MAY require a
treatment with an SCA at the initial
fi
ll. Read the label
or the instructions that are provided by the OEM of
the product.
In stationary engine applications and marine engine
applications that do not require anti-boil protection
or freeze protection, a mixture of SCA and water
is acceptable. Perkins recommends a six percent
to eight percent concentration of SCA in those
cooling systems. Distilled water or deionized water
is preferred. Water which has the recommended
properties may be used.
Engines that are operating in an ambient temperature
above 43 °C (109.4 °F) must use SCA and water.
Engines that operate in an ambient temperature
above 43 °C (109.4 °F) and below 0 °C (32 °F) due
to seasonal variations consult your Perkins dealer
or your Perkins distributor for the correct level of
protection.
Table 8
Coolant Service Life
Coolant Type
Service Life
Perkins ELC
6,000 Service Hours or
Three Years
Commercial Heavy-Duty
Antifreeze that meets
“ASTM D4985”
3000 Service Hours or
Two Years
Perkins POWERPART
SCA
3000 Service Hours or
Two Years
Commercial SCA and
Water
3000 Service Hours or
Two Years
Extended Life Coolant (ELC)
Perkins provides Extended Life Coolant (ELC) for
use in the following applications:
•
Heavy-duty spark ignited gas engines
•
Heavy-duty diesel engines
•
Automotive applications
The anti-corrosion package for ELC is different from
the anti-corrosion package for other coolants. ELC
is an ethylene glycol base coolant. However, ELC
contains organic corrosion inhibitors and antifoam
agents with low amounts of nitrite. Perkins ELC
has been formulated with the correct amount of
these additives in order to provide superior corrosion
protection for all metals in engine cooling systems.
ELC is available in a 1:1 premixed solution . The
Premixed ELC provides freeze protection to
−
36 °C
(
−
33 °F). The Premixed ELC is recommended for the
initial
fi
ll of the cooling system. The Premixed ELC is
also recommended for topping off the cooling system.
ELC Concentrate is also available. ELC Concentrate
can be used to lower the freezing point to
−
51 °C
(
−
60 °F) for arctic conditions.
Containers of several sizes are available. Consult
your Perkins dealer or your Perkins distributor for the
part numbers.
ELC Cooling System Maintenance
Correct additions to the Extended Life
Coolant
NOTICE
Use only Perkins products for pre-mixed or concen-
trated coolants.
Mixing Extended Life Coolant with other products re-
duces the Extended Life Coolant service life. Failure to
follow the recommendations can reduce cooling sys-
tem components life unless appropriate corrective ac-
tion is performed.
In order to maintain the correct balance between
the antifreeze and the additives, you must maintain
the recommended concentration of Extended Life
Coolant (ELC). Lowering the proportion of antifreeze
lowers the proportion of additive. This will lower the
ability of the coolant to protect the system from pitting,
from cavitation, from erosion, and from deposits.