CONE-BEARING 1F0883 - Caterpillar

May 2003
CAT® ELC™ (EXTENDED LIFE COOLANT) DILUTION TEST KITS ? PART NUMBER 223-9116
The Cat Filter & Fluids Group announces the release of the new ELC Dilution Test Kit. The old ELC Test Kit - 172-8851 ? has been cancelled, as the kit and chemicals were no longer available. Caterpillar worked with a new chemical supplier to develop the ELC kit that detects contamination in Caterpillar® ELC. This kit is now available for order.
Caterpillar ELC can become over-diluted by the addition of water or conventional coolants. While over-dilution will not cause an immediate engine failure, it will impair the performance and long life capabilities of Cat ELC, as well as affect the performance and life of the cooling system components. This kit can be used if there is concern that a possible over-dilution has occurred.
The old kit contained material and chemicals for one test only, but the new test kit contains enough supplies for 10 separate tests. Contents of the kit are as follows:
? 1 Sample Container
? 1 Coolant Extraction Tool
o Syringe & Tube
? 10 Orange Cap - Low RA Vials
? 10 Clear Cap ? High RA Vials
? Test Strips
? Color Match Card
? Instruction Sheets
The Test Kit is simple to use with step-by-step instructions: 1. Collect Sample. Using the syringe and tube, extract a sample from the coolant reservoir. Place the sample into the sample container.
2. Determine RA (Reserve Alkalinity). Dip an RA test strip into the coolant sample for 2 seconds. Remove the test strip and shake once briskly to remove any excess sample from the strip. Wait 30 seconds. Match the color to the closest RA color spot on the color chart. If the RA level is low (orange-red or brownish-orange), use the orange-capped Low RA vial in step 3. If the RA is high (greenish to green), use the clear-capped High RA vial in step 3.
3. Determine Contamination Level. Fill the syringe exactly to the 5 ml line with coolant from the sample container and transfer the sample to the appropriate vial as determined in Step 2. Recap the vial and shake for a full 15 seconds. Uncap the vial and dip a contamination test strip into the coolant sample for 2 seconds. Remove the test strip and shake once briskly. After 60 seconds, match the color on the test strip to the contamination color spot closest to the strip pad color.
4. Pass/Fail Analysis.
? PASS - Your system has no excessive contamination. No action needed.
? FAIL - An unsafe level of contamination is indicated. A Level 2 coolant sample should be sent to your Caterpillar Dealer lab for an SOSSM analysis.
Pamela Rothbart
Filter & Fluids Group
AC6214 ? (309) 578-8713