Changing antifreeze on Cat 3208

[AllanS]

Hi, this is my first time attempting to change the antifreeze on my twin 3208’s. Can any suggest a procedure that works best. I know I need to heat them up first, but where does one drain them from, and what volumes are needed?
Thanks!

 

[The Bill Collector]

Oil change, yes warm up, but antifreeze not so much...

 

[370Dancer]

Youtube is your friend.......

 

[dtfeld]

For the Cat 3126, it depends on if you use CAT ELC or not. I would expect 3208 to be similar. A call to your local CAT dealer with your model and serial number would get you the correct procedure, and replacement fluids. CAT is pretty reasonable cost wise.

From CAT 3126 Service Manual.

If your running ELC, the procedure is to:

Drain (engine cool).
Flush to remove any debris
Refill with water and run until 120-150*. Let cool...Drain
Refill with new ELC.

If not ELC, there is a cleaner additive you add to the flush water above and you run it @180* for 30-90 minutes depending on how dirty/plugged up the system is, then cool, drain and refill.

There are other flush additives if you find oil or diesel in the coolant. (Of course now you have to find the source of that oil/diesel).

On 3126’s the drain is at the bottom of the J pipe, and is simply a plug.

hope this gets you going the right direction...

 

[AllanS]

Youtube is your friend.......

Nice video find...wish they would have shown where the drain plug was located. It looks to be very low on the engine.

 

[dtfeld]

Nice video find...wish they would have shown where the drain plug was located. It looks to be very low on the engine.

I would expect a plug on a pipe down low. Looks like they installed a valve to allow easier draining. You might want to consider doing the same, although the ELC is usually good for 5 years and can be extended if sampled and in good condition.

 

[dtfeld]

From BoatDiesel.com

There are two drain plugs on each side of the block below the exhaust manifold and above the oil pan.

 

[Strecker25]

For the Cat 3126, it depends on if you use CAT ELC or not. I would expect 3208 to be similar. A call to your local CAT dealer with your model and serial number would get you the correct procedure, and replacement fluids. CAT is pretty reasonable cost wise.

From CAT 3126 Service Manual.

If your running ELC, the procedure is to:

Drain (engine cool).
Flush to remove any debris
Refill with water and run until 120-150*. Let cool...Drain
Refill with new ELC.

If not ELC, there is a cleaner additive you add to the flush water above and you run it @180* for 30-90 minutes depending on how dirty/plugged up the system is, then cool, drain and refill.

There are other flush additives if you find oil or diesel in the coolant. (Of course now you have to find the source of that oil/diesel).

On 3126’s the drain is at the bottom of the J pipe, and is simply a plug.

hope this gets you going the right direction...

And that plug might as well be impossible to get to on the port side. I want to add one of those ez drains next time I have to drain the system