february2021 - 20

BUY ONCE. BUY RIGHT.

BUY A MOHAWK!

TP-16-3SA

TWO POST LIFTS

»Using the right coolant, inspection, and preventive maintenance can
keep a cooling system operating effectively for many years.
175412062 | kenneth-cheung | Getty Images

MP-18

MOBILE COLUMN LIFTS

TR-25

FOUR POST RUNWAY LIFTS

PARALLELOGRAM LIFTS

VERTICAL RISE LIFTS
FleetMaintenance.com/Inquire

www.mohawklifts.com

1-800-833-2006

" The coolant we use is typically a 50/50 mixture of
ethylene glycol and water, " says Stede Granger, OEM
technical services manager for Shell Lubricants.
" The ethylene glycol helps prevent freezing and raises the boiling point. Water is necessary because it
is much more effective at heat transfer. By keeping
it 50/50, we get a combination of good heat transfer and effective freeze protection down to roughly
minus 34 degrees Fahrenheit. "
With today's engines, coolant cross-contamination
has become another potential danger to watch out for.
That is why Granger says the third coolant ingredient,
the additive that prevents corrosion, has become the
most important ingredient.
After a 42-year career, Granger recently retired at
the end of 2020. He says that most modern heavy
duty trucks now have aluminum heat exchangers.
It is also common to see aluminum heater cores.
Historically, diesel engines were almost entirely cast
iron with copper brass radiators and heat exchangers. Thus, aluminum-nitrite corrosion had not been
a concern - until now.
" We are now making changes in our coolant recommendations, " Granger says. " In the past, we used
nitrite in heavy duty coolants to protect cylinder
liners from pitting. Now with all of the aluminum
components, we're seeing more aluminum-nitrite
reactions. We now encourage fleets to use extended-life coolants with additive technology, such as
Shell Rotella ELC NF that can protect cylinder liners
without the use of nitrites. "
Granger says a handful of OEMs are still using coolants with nitrites for factory fill. However, it's only a
matter of time before they also switch to a nitrite-free,
extended-life coolant.
Granger's shoes at Shell Lubricants are being
filled by Brad Jordan, a 26-year industry veteran
himself. Jordan says it is not ideal for a fleet to stock
more than one type of coolant. Similar to stocking multiple engine oils, multiple coolants add

" Different extendedlife coolants often
use different additive
chemistries. If you
mix two coolants
together, you are
diluting the additive
chemistry - likely to
the point that it is no
longer as effective as
you need it to be. "
Brad Jordan, Shell Lubricants

complexity and cost to a fleet maintenance operation. Fleets need more storage and dispensing tools,
additional labeling, and more technician training
and oversight.
Stocking multiple coolants can be even riskier
than stocking multiple engine oils. With engine
oil, the product is completely drained and replaced.
That is not the case with coolants. With coolants, a
technician or driver is usually topping off whatever
is already in the system. The chances for cross-contamination are greater.
" Whenever you're stocking more than one coolant,
there is always the chance for a mix-up, " Jordan says.
" Different extended-life coolants often use different
additive chemistries. If you mix two coolants together,

http://www.mohawklifts.com http://www.FleetMaintenance.com/Inquire

february2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of february2021