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2003 CR Cummins coolant questions

GM Guy

GM Guy

Manual Trans. 2WD Enthusiast
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NW Kansas and SC Idaho
My employer has a 2003 3500 DRW Cummins 5.9L HPCR 6spd 4wd quad cab long bed, and he was having cooling issues. It tows a big 32' tandem dually GN, and hauls 1-2 decent sized tractors.

So today he replaced the: water pump, tensioner, coolant, and belt. with all new parts from Carquest. The problem I saw when i walked up was that the coolant he was using was Dex-Cool. He did completely empty the radiator, so there was minimal mixing, but i questioned his use of Dex.

He said that the parts guy said that there aren't many different coolants out there, and all red/pinks should mix no problem. I thought that there was a huge difference, but i am not sure.

So after rambling on, here are my questions:

1) What coolant came from the factory?

2) Should he stay factory-spec coolant, or should he go elsewhere?

3) Did he mess up putting dex cool in? If so, how soon does it need to come out? (making one trip tomorrow, don't wanna screw it up!

4) What is the exact coolant everyone recommends he should have in there?

any input appreciated, thanks!
 
As long as it's the extended life coolant that is meant for aluminum raditors it'll be fine.

I run Dex-cool in mine and have no issues at all.
 
Well, I went and looked on the Zerex page, as well as my boss' owners manual, and the manual calls for a coolant with HOAT. Zerex's G-05 stuff says that it is for chrysler, and how it has HOAT, and it is john deere approved, and how it has SCAs in it.

So, i am figuring that with the Dex-Cool there is no mixing issues with what was in the block, but as far as protection, he needs to do a complete flush and put G-05 back in. does everyone agree?
 
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In an 03, he'd be due for a coolant change.

The stuff says 5 years / 100K miles, but that's pushing it to me.

A coolant flush is cheap and easy.....a melted piston or damaged cylinder head isn't.
 
he already changed it, but put dex in. After research, he isn't harming engine, but isn't helping it either. needs to have Zerex G-05 in there..stuff actually diesel approved!
 
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