M.I.

1748”

SERVICE DEPARTMENT * ELECTRO-MOTIVEDIVISION - GENERALMOTORS - LAGRANGE,ILLINO~S

ENGINE COOLANT- EMD AND CDED ENGINES

DESCRIPTION
and 3 above. This will be discussed in
detail in the section on antifreezes.
Coolant is circulated t h r o u gh o ut the
It should be recognized that coolants which
engine to provide the means for heat
perform satisfactorily in other applica-
transfer from the engine components.
tions may not be satisfactory for use in
Water, corrosion inhibitor and, in some
EMD and former CDED engine cooling
applications, antifreeze are used in cool-
systems. Differences in coolant volume-
ant solutions.
to-cooling system surface area ratios,
Because the function of the coolant is so coolant velocities, temperatures, and the
necessary to the operating efficiency of types of materials employed make such
the engine, it is important that the selec- comparisons meaningless.
tion of a coolant solution be carefully
The formulation of “home made” inhibi-
considered.
tors and antifreezes is not recommended
since such processes are difficult to
COOLANT SOLUTIONS
monitor and control. The ready avail-
A coolant suitable for use in EMD and ability of suitable proprietary products
former CDED engine cooling systems makes these practices uneconomical and
must meet four basic requirements: impractical.

1. It must adequately transfer heat en- Water quality should be evaluated when-
ergy through the cooling system. ever a new water source is to be used, or
2. It must not form scale or sludge de- when changes in existing water sources
posits in the cooling system. occur. Likewise, quality of the coolant
3. It must not cause corrosion within the solution should be tested when a new
cooling system. engine is put into service, and at regular
4. It must not deteriorate any of the cool- intervals thereafter. The quality of cool-
ing system seal materials. ant should always be known and should be
maintained as required.
These requirements are normally satis-
fied by combining a suitable water with a
WATER
reliable corrosion inhibitor. Certain op-
erating conditions may dictate the use of When determining the suitability of water
antifreeze-coolant. In this case the basic for use in coolant, four characteristics
requirements can be satisfied with a must be examined. These are the con-
combination of suitable water and an centrations of chlorides, sulfates, total
ethylene glycol type antifreeze which con- dissolved solids, and total hardness in
tains an adequate corrosion inhibitor. the water. These materials are objec-
However, the use of antifreeze involves tionable for a number of reasons: Chlo-
special consideration regarding Items 1 rides and/or sulfates will promote

* This publication supersedes all information previously released regarding engine coolants

DE-LMPR May, 1966

M.I. 1748

corrosion, while hardness will cause the necessarily all, the materials which can
deposit of sludge and/or scale. Depending make up dissolved solids. Each of these
on its components, total dissolved solids three categories could account for none,
can cause scale deposits, sludge deposits, part, or all of the dissolved solids in a
corrosion, or combinations of these. given water. Miscellaneous substances
can account for substantial dissolved sol-
It should be recognized that chlorides, sul- ids concentrations; even though chlorides,
fates, and hardness are among, but not sulfates, and hardness are not present.

TABLE 1

PARTS PER GRAINS PER

MILLION GALLON
Chlorides (Maximum) 40 2.5
Sulfates (Maximum) 100 5.8
Total Dissolved Solids (Maximum) 340 20
Total Hardness (Maximum) 170 10
Refer to Table 2 for evaluation of water intended for use in
a coolant solution.

TABLE 2

Deter mine The Concentrations

Of Chlorides, Sulfates, And
Total Dissolved Solids
In The Water
I
I
Chlorides Under 40 ppm, Chlorides Over 40 ppm,
And Or
Sulfates Under 100 ppm. Sulfates Over 100 ppm,
And Or
Total Dissolved Solids Total Dissolved Solids
Under 340 ppm. Over 340 ppm
I I I ,
Determine Total ’ Distill, De-mineralize,
Hardness Of The Water Or De-ionize The Water
I I

I Soften 1

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 M.I. 1748

Water which does not exceed the limits CHROMATE TYPE

given in Table 1 is considered suitable
for the formulation of engine coolant. NOTE: Chromate type inhibitors should
not be used in cooling systems
For the purpose of coolant formulation,
containing ethylene glycol anti-
steam condensate can usually be consid-
freeze solutions.
ered equivalent to distilled water.
In some instances, water containing up to 1. Nalco 38 - Nalco Chemical Company
twice the recommended maximum amount
of sulfates or chlorides can be used in 2. Dearborn 517 - Dearborn Chemical
coolant, provided a higher than the normal Company
inhibitor dosage is used. Electra-Motive
Service personnel should be consulted if These products are marketed in the
there are questions regarding a specific dry pellet and/or pulverized form.
application. When the cooling system is first filled,
use either one of these products at a
CAUTION: Uninhibited water should never
concentration of 0.6 ounces per gallon
be used to fill a cooling system
of water. Thereafter, the inhibitor
because of the possibility of
concentration should be maintained at
rapid corrosion and rusting.
a minimum of 0.4 ounces per gallon,
This applies to all uninhibited
Make-up coolant should contain at
water but is especially true for
least 0.4 ounces per gallon.
distilled, de-ionized, or de-
mineralized waters, including
To avoid possible skin irritation, the usual
steam condensate. Prior to
safety and hygienic precautions should
application, the water should
be exercised when handling chromate type
be mixed with the inhibitor or
inhibitors.
inhibited antifreeze which is
to be used in the coolant.
BORATETYPE
INHIBITOR
1. Nalco 39 Pellet or Pulverized - Nalco
Chemical Company
Two basic types of inhibitors, chromate
and borate, are most commonly used in
2. Nalco 40 Pulverized - Nalco Chemi-
EMD engine cooling systems where non-
cal Company
antifreeze coolants are employed. Typical
products and information regarding their
3. Dearborn 527 - Dearborn Chemical
application are as follows:
Company
NOTE: The units of measure throughout
When the cooling system is first filled,
this publication are those com-
use any one of the above products at
monly used in the United States.
a concentration of 1 ounce per gallon
of water. Thereafter, the concentra-
Dry Measure:
tion should be maintained at a mini-
16 Ounces = 1 Pound
mum of 0.75 ounces per gallon. Makeup
Liquid Measure: coolant should contain the 0.75 ounce
32 Ounces = 1 Quart per gallon dosage. Pellet and pulver-
4 Quarts x 1 Gallon ized borate inhibitors are difficult to

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M.I. 1’748

dissolve. Therefore, it is suggested ethylene glycol products makes the form-

that these products be pre-mixed into ulation of “home made” antifreezes both
a water slurry prior to preparation of uneconomical and impractical. Antifreeze
the coolant solution. brands which have been frequently and
successfully used in EMD and former
4. Nalco 39 Liquid - Nalco Chemical CDED engine cooling systems include:
Company
1. Ambitrol CN - The Dow Chemical
When the cooling system is first filled,
Company
use at a concentration of 3 fluid
ounces per gallon of water. Thereafter, 2. Ambitrol FL - The Dow Chemical
the concentration should be maintained Company
at a minimum of 2 fluid ounces per
gallon. Make-up coolant should con- Ambitrol CN is an inhibited ethylene
tain at least 2 fluid ounces per gallon. glycol antifreeze concentrate while
Ambitrol FL is a completely formu-
For your convenience, EMD can supply lated coolant. containing inhibited ethy-
some of the inhibitors mentioned above. lene glycol concentrate and de-ionized
Quantities and part numbers are as water. The FL product is designed for
follows: use in areas where water suitable for
coolant formulation is not available.
Nalco 39 Liquid 5 Gallons 8241520
Nalco 39 Pulverized 75 Ounces 8224785 Both Ambitrol products can be re-
50 Pounds 8256673 inhibited with Ambitrol inhibitor when
Nalco 38 Pellets 40 Ounces 8253607 the original inhibitor charge becomes
50 Pounds 8253581 depleted.

Test kits for evaluating Nalco and Dear- 3. Prestone - Union Carbide Corporation
born inhibitor concentrations may be pur-
chased from Nalco Chemical Company and The Prestone inhibitor system includes
Dearborn Chemical Company respectively. a polar oil that is not soluble ineither
Inhibitor concentrations should not be water or ethylene glycol. Coolants
determined by the color of the coolant. containing Prestone must be well agi-
Experience has shown that this practice tated immediately preceding applica-
can give very inaccurate indications. tion to a cooling system in order to
ensure thorough dispersion of the
The use of soluble oil type inhibitors or polar oil. Immediately after adding
vapor phase type cooling system preserva- Prestone coolant to a cooling system,
tive is not recommended. it would be desirable to operate the
engine to ensure that the polar oil
ANTIFREEZE is distributed throughout the system.
This will minimize any tendency of
With certain qualifications, ethylene glycol the polar oil to agglomerate.
type antifreezes can be employed suc-
cessfully in EMD and former CDED engine 4. Zerex - E.I.duPontdeNemours& Co.
cooling systems. Alcohol type antifreezes
are not recommended. Fig. 1 depicts the freezing points of typi-
cal ethylene glycol antifreeze and water
As mentioned previously, the ready avail- solutions. The freezing points of specific
ability of suitable proprietary brands of brands may vary slightly from prints

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 M.I. 1748

shown on the graph. However, the graph seen in Fig. 1, the freezing point actually
is sufficiently accurate for use in esti- occurs at higher temperatures as anti-
mating antifreeze requirements, regard- freeze concentration is increased over
less of brands. the 60% level.

Proprietary brands of antifreeze should Although the use of antifreeze is accept-

be used at no less than 30% and no more able within the 30 to 60% range, it is not
than 60% in the coolant solution. Solutions desirable to use more than necessary
of less than 30% do not provide sufficient within that range. For example: if a 40%
corrosion inhibitor protection for EMD solution will provide the required freez-
and former CDED engine cooling systems. ing protection, then nothing more than a
On the other hand, there is nothing to be 40% solution should be used. Aside from
gained by using antifreeze concentrations the fact that this is good economics, we
of over approximately 60%. As can be recommend against the use of excessive

0 20 40 60 80 100

ANTIFREEZE - % BY VOLUME
1388)
Fig. 1 - Freezing Points Of Aqueous Solutions Of Ethylene Glycol Antifreezes

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M.I. 1748

concentrations of antifreeze because of to comment as to the suitability of the

the adverse effects on heat transfer within proposed application.
the cooling system. As the antifreeze
1. The proposed antifreeze brand name,
concentration in the coolant is increased,
if the antifreeze is of United Staks
the thermal conductivity of the coolant
manufacture.
decreases.
2. A two quart sample of the proposed
In some instances a supplemental corro- antifreeze, if it is not manufactured
sion inhibitor may be required; even in in the United States.
new coolants containing over 30Y0 anti-
3. An analysis of the water which is
freeze. The decision to use a supplemental
proposed for use in the coolant. This
inhibitor would be influenced by factors
should i n c 1u d e the characteristics
such as water quality and antifreeze
noted in Table 2.
brands. It is suggested, that where the use
of antifreeze is contemplated, an Electro- 4. The expected high and low ambient
Motive representative be supplied with the temperatures which the.equipment will
following information. He will then be able encounter.

litho in U.S.A.

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