03-21-2026, 08:32 AM
I finally found a hard-sided kiddie pool :-( … Now I’m back to the dilemma of red or green coolant - I don’t want to have to use SCA strips and check the coolant all the time… I would like to stay green but the Detroit stuff is $$$$$; I found some RED locally at the Freighliner place - they can get green but it has to come from Carolina and is only the 50/50 mix not concentrate so costs a bunch more… can someone give me exactly what I should buy? I’m an idiot and what AI says does not really line up with what you guys said… I definitely believe your opinions more…
I did drain out the fluid in a kiddie pool and only got about 15 gallons out into 5-gallon buckets…
I will loosen the lower hoses as Richard suggested and try to get more out of the engine circuit.
Here is what Grok says about the PowerGard (about $150 for 12 gallons concentrate):
The PowerGard antifreeze/coolant (concentrate, full strength, must add water) you have is a heavy duty extended life product, often in red/orange color based on similar formulations. It meets ASTM D-3306 (light duty) and ASTM D-6210 (heavy duty) specs, and is marketed as compatible with various heavy duty applications, including some listings for Detroit Diesel.
For a 1998 Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine (a wet-sleeve diesel), the key requirements from Detroit Diesel (now under DTNA) guidelines include:
• Coolant must provide corrosion protection, cavitation erosion resistance (critical for wet liners), scale/sludge prevention, and freeze/boil protection.
• Older Series 60 engines (pre-EPA07 era, like your 1998) typically used conventional fully formulated coolants with Supplemental Coolant Additives (SCAs) like nitrites for liner pitting protection, often green and requiring SCA monitoring/maintenance (e.g., via test strips or filters) every 25,000–50,000 miles or 1 year, with full changes every 2 years/150,000–300,000 miles depending on type.
• Detroit Diesel approved coolants under spec DFS 93K217 (or similar legacy specs), with preferred options like their Power Cool (conventional SCA pre-charged) or later Power Cool Plus (OAT/ELC, nitrite-free extended life).
• Extended life OAT (Organic Acid Technology) coolants like red/yellow nitrite-free ELC types became more common/recommended in later years for reduced maintenance (no SCA additions needed, longer intervals like 1,000,000 miles), but for a 1998 model, the original recommendation leaned toward SCA-based for proven liner protection.
Your PowerGard is an extended life formula (claims 300,000 miles/3 years for heavy duty, no SCA additions needed), likely OAT-based (phosphate-free, low-silicate, nitrite-free in similar products). It lists broad approvals including Detroit Diesel in some marketing, but it does not appear on official Detroit Fluids Specification 93K217 approved lists (which include Detroit’s own Power Cool series, Shell Rotella ELC, Chevron Delo, etc.).
I did drain out the fluid in a kiddie pool and only got about 15 gallons out into 5-gallon buckets…
I will loosen the lower hoses as Richard suggested and try to get more out of the engine circuit.
Here is what Grok says about the PowerGard (about $150 for 12 gallons concentrate):
The PowerGard antifreeze/coolant (concentrate, full strength, must add water) you have is a heavy duty extended life product, often in red/orange color based on similar formulations. It meets ASTM D-3306 (light duty) and ASTM D-6210 (heavy duty) specs, and is marketed as compatible with various heavy duty applications, including some listings for Detroit Diesel.
For a 1998 Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine (a wet-sleeve diesel), the key requirements from Detroit Diesel (now under DTNA) guidelines include:
• Coolant must provide corrosion protection, cavitation erosion resistance (critical for wet liners), scale/sludge prevention, and freeze/boil protection.
• Older Series 60 engines (pre-EPA07 era, like your 1998) typically used conventional fully formulated coolants with Supplemental Coolant Additives (SCAs) like nitrites for liner pitting protection, often green and requiring SCA monitoring/maintenance (e.g., via test strips or filters) every 25,000–50,000 miles or 1 year, with full changes every 2 years/150,000–300,000 miles depending on type.
• Detroit Diesel approved coolants under spec DFS 93K217 (or similar legacy specs), with preferred options like their Power Cool (conventional SCA pre-charged) or later Power Cool Plus (OAT/ELC, nitrite-free extended life).
• Extended life OAT (Organic Acid Technology) coolants like red/yellow nitrite-free ELC types became more common/recommended in later years for reduced maintenance (no SCA additions needed, longer intervals like 1,000,000 miles), but for a 1998 model, the original recommendation leaned toward SCA-based for proven liner protection.
Your PowerGard is an extended life formula (claims 300,000 miles/3 years for heavy duty, no SCA additions needed), likely OAT-based (phosphate-free, low-silicate, nitrite-free in similar products). It lists broad approvals including Detroit Diesel in some marketing, but it does not appear on official Detroit Fluids Specification 93K217 approved lists (which include Detroit’s own Power Cool series, Shell Rotella ELC, Chevron Delo, etc.).
Karen & Adrian Abshire
1998 2 slide 45' Newell Coach
Prior: 1985 Foretravel ORED 35, 1988 38' Foretravel U280, 2000 Foretravel 42' U320, 1990 Bluebird Wanderlodge WB40