Coolant brand for 3GM30F

[dmksails]

Need some advice on what to use for coolant in my 3GM30F. I found a bulletin from Yanmar that indicated a number of different brands but I'm not able to find these by the numbers listed. For instance, I found a Prestone Extended Life coolant, but it did not show AF888 anywhere on the package.

What do I use in my engine? Is it acceptable to use any of the brands that say Dex-Cool?

FYI - Not sure what was used last time for coolant, but it's green.

[gamayun]

I use Chevron-brand Dex-Cool. It's pink. I think you want to use the pink but I can't remember why!

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by gamayun

I use Chevron-brand Dex-Cool. It's pink. I think you want to use the pink but I can't remember why!

We use pink, I did the research and then performed a ram dump after finding what we needed. My memory says something like the pink stuff is for engines with multi-metals in the coolant path, such as our boat engines, with cast iron, aluminum, and bronze.

[NYSail]

I use shell Rotella elc. Great stuff and highly recommended. Do a real good flush and replace all your hoses / thermostat at same time. I remove thermostat drain fill with water run engine drain... I repeat fill run drain till it comes out clean. Important to get all of the old stuff out. Your engine will thank you!

Good luck
Greg

[bratzcpa]

My 3gm30F is filled with green stuff - it was that way when I bought her a few years ago. I am planning a complete flush and refill this year. So, if I'm reading the above correctly, perhaps should 'super flush' it, and switch over to pink???

[NYSail]

Originally Posted by bratzcpa

My 3gm30F is filled with green stuff - it was that way when I bought her a few years ago. I am planning a complete flush and refill this year. So, if I'm reading the above correctly, perhaps should 'super flush' it, and switch over to pink???

Yes out with the green.... every last drop. As I said I did many flushes before it was adequately clean. Then in with the Shell Rotella elc or similar. The Rotella was recommended to me by Mike the Mechanic at Old Port Marine up in Newport, RI..... Yanmar specialist


Good Luck!!

Greg

[Lambretta]

I had an interesting chat with a Yanmar Service Manager two weeks ago. He recommended:
1. That you never mix coolant makes.... you must stick to one brand. From tests they did at Yanmar they found that by mixing some brands that the boiling point was reduced in the coolant to as low as 93 degrees C
2. He was not trying to push Yanmar coolant but did mention that one must avoid the known cheapies from discount auto stores etc.
3. Coolant most definitely has a lifespan . He recommended changing every two years.
4. If you have to add coolant and cant get the same brand, it is better to add water than another coolant until you can find the same brand or do a complete replacement

[George DuBose]

distilled water is best to mix with any antifreeze.

[NorthCoastJoe]

This seems like an odd issue. Almost all cars have multi metal engines, cast iron blocks, aluminum heads, brass or copper heater cores and various metals in smaller amounts throughout the cooling system.

I have a 3GM30F why would Yanmar need something special? Same reason Ford, Honda, Toyota, Volvo and all others do, marketing.

Any quality brand of coolant and distilled water should be fine. I would stick with the same brand, I have a 50/50 mix kept for topping up if needed.
They all control the freezing / boiling point, corrosion inhibitors and pump lubricants.

[transmitterdan]

Not all coolants are compatible with aluminum and cast iron. Some coolants are good for aluminum only. Those coolants will rust up a cast iron engine. At least that’s what a shade tree mechanic told me. The type of coolant most definitely matters.

[thinwater]

This is a wet sleeve diesel engine. For that reason, heavy duty (not auto) AF was used. If it was green it was not Dexcool, but the color alone does NOT tell you what it was, since there is no standard color code spec. Probably a nitrated HD coolant, but that is not certain.

Dexcool is suitable in smaller wet sleeve diesel engines but not truck-sized engines; it has good anti-cavitation properties, but not good enough for large engines.

Yes, there have been some protection problems when switching brands; they passivate the surface in a different way, and switching can leave blotches of poor protection for a limitied period of time (a few months, depending on use). With thin radiators this is an issue, with boats not so much. If you have no way of knowing what was originally in the engine, a good cleaning and switching to Dexcool is safe and widely available.

(many years on ASTM engine coolant committees, many years formulating coolants)


And BTW, although AF has a lifespan, that is NOT the limit in marine engines. You change it sooner (2 years) because of the risk of saltwater contamination, which is worse than ANY of the riskd mentioned above. These engines are not designed for seacool and are very vulnerable to salt.

[sailcrazy]

There's a Yanmar bulletin from a few years ago that specifies acceptable antifreezes. Basically, anything that's red/reddish in color is OK. A Yanmar-trained mechanic in Puerto Rico explained that Prestone Dexcool....with the orange cap....is acceptable, although not called out in the Yanmar bulletin. I've found the orange-capped Prestone Dexcool in lots of auto stores, and it's what I'm running in our Yanmar.

[blubaju]

IMHO, the pink, the blue (wurth) are fine, both are clear, I hate the green sludge containing solids. I use the blue since 1990.

[AA3JY]

Originally Posted by sailcrazy

There's a Yanmar bulletin from a few years ago that specifies acceptable antifreezes. Basically, anything that's red/reddish in color is OK. A Yanmar-trained mechanic in Puerto Rico explained that Prestone Dexcool....with the orange cap....is acceptable, although not called out in the Yanmar bulletin. I've found the orange-capped Prestone Dexcool in lots of auto stores, and it's what I'm running in our Yanmar.

===========•==============================
TO: MARINE DISTRIBUTERS COOLANT ADDITIVES
After testing some popular coolant/anti-freeze solutions, we have reached the following recommendations. It was not possible to test all brands on the market, so there may be some solutions that are acceptable but have not been tested. However, caution is advised if using other than approved brands.
Regardless of the recommendation of the coolant/antifreeze manufacturers it is YANMAR'S requirement that the solution is changed every 500 hours (On the YANMAR Model 6LP 250 hours) or once a year whichever comes first.
We do not recommend any other additives be added to the cooling system. Purified or distilled water mixed with the approved coolant/anti-freeze is the only protection approved by YANMAR. Concentrations of the Enix-ture should follow the recommendations of the manufacturer. The coolant/anti-freeze must be compatible with aluminum.
Advantages of this type of coolant:
• Improved water pump life due to reduced water pump seal wear resulting from fewer abrasive dissolved solids.
• Reduces hard water scale.
• Offers excellent protection against pitting corrosion caused by cylinder liner cavitation. Better
heat transfer than conventional coolants with regular SCALE additions.
• No silicate gel formation during use or storage.
• Outstanding hot surface aluminum protection.
• Superior protection in high operating temperature conditions.
• Effective, long-term corrosion protection for aluminum, brass, cast iron, steel, solder and copper alloys.
The coolant/anti-freezes that have been tested and approved are shown below:
• Texaco Long Life Coolant Anti-Freeze both regular and pre-mixed Product codes 7991 and 7998. This product is available in gallon containers, drums and bulk. It is recommended that the cooling system be drained and flushed before filling. Only Texaco Long Life Coolant should be used for top-off. This product has a much longer shelf life than conventional coolants provided the integrity of the container is maintained. For additional information and availability contact Texaco at 1-800-782-7852.
• Havoline Extended Life Anti-Freeze/Coolant. Product code 7994. This product is available through Texaco gas stations, Procedures are the same as with Texaco Long Life Coolant Anti- Freeze.
• Dex-Cool Long Life Coolant. This product is available through GM service centers worldwide.
• Prestone Extended Life Coolant. Product code AF888. If the above coolants are not readily
available, Prestone Extended life coolant is satisfactory.

=========================================
Mack Boring & Parts Company Headquarters: 2365 RT.22 Union, NJ 07083 PH 908-964-8475, FAX 908-964-8475, WEB Mack Boring & Parts Company – The Power To Go There

[masonc]

Shell Rotella ELC Extended Life Coolant/Anti-Freeze has Been

Proven, With Over 100 Million miles of Fleet Testing, to

Provide Complete Protection of all Cooling System

Components. The Inhibitors in ROTELLA ELC, due to Their

Special Chemistry, are Designed to go 600,000 miles on-

Road or 12,000 Hours off-Road With Only one Shell Rotella

ELC Extender Addition at 300,000 miles or 6,000 Hours.

After 600,000 miles or 12,000 Hours it is Recommended That

the Coolant be Tested for Continued use.