How to add antifreeze

I have a Detroit 60 and I want to replace 2 gallons of coolant with antifreeze. The manual isn't that great and wondering where I drain the present coolant from.

[Webby]

Steve, most radiators have a petcock (valve) located somewhere in the bottom tank. Just open valve and drain what you want out there.
If you find no valve, then you may have to take a hose loose. Just find a small hose, one of the heater hoses maybe and you should be able to drain 2 gal from there. I'm pretty sure that you will find a valve though. It may even be located on the lower neck of radiator.

[solo379]

Or you may pay $500 to somebody, to do that for you. :P

Or, i'd recommend "flush and fill" service, which is probably, long overdue, on that cooling system...

[bob h]

I have a Detroit 60 and I want to replace 2 gallons of coolant with antifreeze. The manual isn't that great and wondering where I drain the present coolant from.

What brand truck?

On the engine; passenger side, under the thermostat housing there should be a petcock-type drain valve. Also, there may be one on the bottom side of the water pump, depending on chassis. Also, on the lower rad hose pipe there may be a valve there.

...somewhere along the bottom of the rad; left or right side, center area. Volvo uses a quick-connect coupler as a drain.

What's the difference between antifreeze and coolant?

Too much h2O?... that's bad news in a destroyt. CHECK the SCAs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The truck is a Western Star with a Series 60. When I say coolant I mean what's in the lines, water and antifreeze. It's rated to 20 degrees and and I want to beef that up to at least -30 so I'll start with 2 gallons. I haven't really checked out the engine compartment yet for places to drain but you all gave me good places to look. I actually like the $500 dollar solution the best.
On the top of the firewall is the reservoir with a little bulb type window. I assume that's how to check if there's enough coolant in the system but the manual doesn't say how?

[allan5oh]

You should definitely change the whole thing. Don't just "start" with 2 gallons, that's a complete waste.

Also, get some coolant test strips.

[bob h]

You should definitely change the whole thing. Don't just "start" with 2 gallons, that's a complete waste.

Also, get some coolant test strips.

Without exception... shooting in the dark is a waste of time and money.

You should try and get your mind wrapped around the fact that the cooling system does a lot more than cool and resist freezing... MAJOR expense results in lack of cooling system maintenance. Being a S60 owner, you are even more susceptible than others... don't learn this the hard way (the hard way would be defined as ; a service technician explaining the fundamentals of cooling system protection as he cuts new counterbores in your cylinder block during an in-frame overhaul).

[solo379]

Just curious! So, what did you do, Steve?

[Rev.Vassago]

Just curious! So, what did you do, Steve?

$10 says he put the 2 gallons in. :wink:

Just curious! So, what did you do, Steve?

Didn't do anything. I bought some test strips and it's good for -35. I guess my 30 year old hydrometer doesn't work too well.

[solo379]

Cooling system, is the most negleted system in a trucks, and the reason, for the a lot of engine failure. There is a lot more to it, than just a freezing point.
I don't know about DD, but CAT, recomends "flush and fill" servise, every 2 years, or 200,000 miles, with the regular antifreeze.

You drain it, fill with the water, and a cleaning compound, run for couple hours, drain again, put a hose in a radiator, with the runnig water, start the egine, and run it, with water coming thru, till you could drink, that water!
Than you fill it with the fresh mix.
I believe , that Landline, has an article about that....

[allan5oh]

Steve, listen to the guys here. Antifreeze is cheap vs. an engine rebuild.

My dad has a 92 freightliner, a couple years ago he noticed coolant in the oil. Sure enough, a liner had corroded to the point it was totally through! If he or the previous owner had changed the coolant more often, it would still be good!

I still firmly believe his engine would still be running now with over 2 million miles if the coolant had been serviced regularly.

The whole system was flushed 2 months ago.

[ken_o]

alot of guys drain and flush the radiator forgetting about all the coolant still in the engine
or have you ever seen a driver take regular antifreeze and mix it with cat extended life.

[thejunkman]

Steve you need the coolant test strips that measure SCA mix in the coolant. The Supplimental Coolant Additive provides a barrier against air bubbles hitting your cylinder liners and leading to cavatation. Which is like mentioned a hole in the cylinder liner. Its best to monitor that regularly so that once the level of SCA breaks down, you can add more.

SCA is available in coolant, such as Fleet Charge and Final Charge. Its available in a bottle(I have seen Luberfiners bottles a lot) and also in a time release coolant filter. Some coolant filters are made without the additive, some are made with the additive.

[bob h]

The whole system was flushed 2 months ago.

...obviously it was done improperly, or you wouldn't be adjusting the freeze point now.

You didn't read my previous posts.

[bob h]

You didn't read my previous posts.

Yes I did...

You didn't read my previous posts.

Yes I did...

I thought these previous 2 posts were clear as a bell. THERE IS NO PROBLEM!!!


Didn't do anything. I bought some test strips and it's good for -35. I guess my 30 year old hydrometer doesn't work too well.

The whole system was flushed 2 months ago.

[bob h]

You didn't read my previous posts.

Yes I did...

I thought these previous 2 posts were clear as a bell. THERE IS NO PROBLEM!!!


Didn't do anything. I bought some test strips and it's good for -35. I guess my 30 year old hydrometer doesn't work too well.

The whole system was flushed 2 months ago.

sorry, I just don't have a great deal of faith in mechanics...



...because it was flushed 2 months ago does not rule out that problem for me (that don't mean it's right... or that he's right ;0).