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Larry Jackson, a veteran U.S. Government fleet maintenance professional, has some problems with his coolants. “Our biggest issue is with our drivers, who don’t really care and aren’t paying attention,” he says. “They’re not educated about the differences (between coolants) and about the additives.
“Among our technicians, there’s confusion about why one type of coolant works better than another, and why we can’t consolidate to one coolant product,” he goes on. “It’s pretty clear the manufacturers are all using different additives in their coolants; do we need to know why?”
Jackson’s questions are all part of a bigger issue that we here at Fleet Maintenance hear about over and over again, year-in and year-out: Why are there so many different types of light-duty coolant products, and is it safe to use one universal product in every light-duty vehicle in the fleet, regardless of its make?
“This is a complex issue, because of the different recommendations and the different coolants,” says Stede Granger, OEM technical services manager, Shell Lubricants. “If you have a shop and you’re stocking multiple coolants in inventory, it’s much simpler to stock just one coolant, and also if you stock a different coolant for every vehicle then there’s always the chance that the wrong coolant will be put into the wrong vehicle.”
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
“When you look at municipalities, electrical contractors, people who run mixed fleets with heavy-duty and light-duty vehicles, they’re looking for a product that they can use in everything,” says Shawn Martinelli, southeast regional manager for Penray, Inc.
According to Martinelli, the old green automotive coolant has given way to two newer varieties: hybrid coolants and Dexcool-type extended-life coolants (ELC). Fleet managers looking to use only one product in all the fleet’s light-duty vehicles have to choose which one of these coolants best suits them.
Martinelli points out that all coolants are essentially 50 percent glycol and 50 percent water. The only real difference between coolants is the makeup of the corrosion inhibitor package.
