Coolant change to Volvo Coolant VCS

Fredrik Grop
Team Leader, Engine Auxiliary Systems
Volvo CE Components AB
2005 11 09
 Volvo Construction Equipment

Why using coolant when water in the ditch is free?

• Primarily the coolant has 3 functions

1. Heat transfer from hot zones (engine, transmission, etc) to
radiator
» Water is excellent in transferring heat
2. Frost and boiling protection
» Pure water at sea level freezes at 0 ºC and boils at 100 ºC
» 50% water/50% at sea level glychol freezes at -38 ºC and
boils at 108 ºC
3. Protection of engine and cooling components,
» Inhibitor package added to glychol ensures protection of
metals, plastics, elastomers.

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Materials found in a cooling system

Metals and alloys :
Aluminum Engine / radiator
Copper/brass Thermostat / radiator
Cast iron Engine The coolant has to ensure protection
Solder (contains lead) Radiator
Steel Coolant pipes of each material individually and
Stainless steel Oil coolers all conjunctions of materials present
Elastomers
EPDM Coolant hoses / seals Environment in the cooling system
Silicone Gaskets/seals / hoses •Temp range -40 to 110 degC
Nitrile Seals
•Heat flow 100-200 W/cm2
Viton Seals
•Flow ~3 m/s
Plastics •Vibrations
Polypropen Expansion tank •Gases
Polyamid (Nylon) Expansion tank / radiator tank
•TIME

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Cooling system related problems are

common on vehicles

Car Problems (source cg car garantie 1996)

safety system cooling system

gas installation others
steering
22%
powertrain

brakes
ransmission

fuel circuit electrical circuits

15% 19%

engine
19%

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Why using the original coolant?

• There is no coolant standard which can ensure that a coolant fulfilling

the standard gives full protection in 100% of the cases

• Coolants are verified in chemical lab tests, engine test rigs as well as
extensive field tests. Field tests are carried out with the engines and
coolant systems concerned

• In order to avoid jeopardizing coolant system failures such as

• Corrosion
• Pitting
• Leakages
• Deposits
• Overheating
always use the coolant proposed by the engine manufacturer

For new Volvo CE products, use Volvo Coolant VCS!

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Why does Volvo CE change coolant now?

• The coolant is a construction part just as any construction part

Like any construction part, it develops over time in order to
meet new requirements

• Due to more stringent emission levels, demands on engine

parameters which raise the standards for the coolant have
increased (peak cylinder pressure, injection pressure, heat).
Current Volvo Original Coolant has been found not fulfilling all
these requirements

• Request for extended service intervalls

• Co-ordination with other Volvo products (Volvo Trucks/Bus)

Volvo CE are moving towards factory fill with Volvo Coolant

VCS after ~20 years with the old Volvo Original Coolant
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How to tell if it is old ”Volvo Original Coolant” or

the new Volvo Coolant VCS in the machine ?
Coolant color

Today's Volvo New Volvo Coolant VCS

Original Coolant

Changes on machine

Label put on Change of color

expansion tank of pressure cap

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Benefits with Volvo Coolant VCS

• VCS is based on monoethylenglycol ( same as Volvo Original Coolant)
but with a different type of inhibitor system – Organic Acid Technology
(OAT). The characteristics for this system, is improved performance and
much less “consumption” over time – called “long life coolant“, meaning
an increased change interval without need of inhibitor maintenance.

• No need for SCA´s

• No need for a coolant filter

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How does OAT-technology work?

Volvo Original
Volvo Coolant VCS
Coolant
ELECTROLYTE ELECTROLYTE
Inh +
H
Chemisorbed protective layer: Inh Inh H2
Insoluble metal-inhibitor salts +
H

e- Q Q e- Q
Anodic Q
Sitee- Anodic e-
e- e-
Cathodic Site
Cathodic
METAL area METAL area

(Q = Heat)

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Extended change intervall

• Due to the long-life technology, Volvo CE will increase change

intervalls for all engines filled with Volvo Coolant VCS

Old Volvo Original Coolant

Coolant change intervall : 2000h/3000h/ 2years

Coolant filter change intervall : 1000 h

New Volvo Coolant VCS

Coolant change intervall : 6000 h/ 4 years

No coolant filter

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Requirement for a proper coolant

• Use Volvo Coolant VCS between 40-60% depending on what freeze
protection is needed

• Blend with a water which has chemical properties equal or better to

following requrirements (Volvo STD 1285,1)

• If water quality is unknown, or worse than these conditions, use ready-

mix coolant, which can be bought through the Volvo organization
• No need for service, except eventuall tip filling
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Freeze protection as function of concentration

-13 °C
Temperature °C

-20
Freezing protection up to -20°C
ca. 33% vol Engine Coolant

-40

-60

Max. protection
at eutecticum : -69°C
-80
0 20 40 60 80 100
Solutions of formulated coolant, % volume

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Is Volvo the only one having requirements on water??

Volvo Requirements

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Restrictions when using Volvo Coolant VCS

Volvo Coolant VCS is a different type of coolant compared to Volvo Original
Coolant, and that has unfortunately some restrictions:
1. Not possible to mix Volvo Coolant VCS and old Volvo Original Coolant. When
mixing, the inhibitors gives a chemical reaction, and the mixture can be
aggressive (corrosive) for materials like aluminum. Consequences:
• If the machine is filled with Volvo Coolant VCS ”yellow”, continue to fill
Volvo Coolant VCS
• If the machine is filled with Volvo Original Coolant, ”green”, continue to fill
Volvo Original Coolant + filter accordingly
• Booth Volvo Coolant VCS and Volvo Original Coolant have to be handled
by CST
2. The coolant filter can not be used together with VCS. Since the filter contains
the same inhibitors as Volvo Original Coolant, the mixture can be, as
mentioned above, harmful for the engine. Consequences:
• Coolant filters will be deleted for future machines filled with Volvo Coolant
VCS
• Older machines filled with Volvo Original Coolant continue to be serviced
with coolant filter

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Restrictions when using Volvo Coolant VCS (cont.)

3. Volvo Coolant VCS can not be used for all old engines. It has been
found that some rubber compositions will be affected by Volvo Coolant
VCS. Today all engines are updated with compatible rubber materials.
In order not to jeopardize the quality of the engine, following basic
principle should be followed:

Machines factory filled with green coolant, continue with green coolant
+ filter accordingly

Machines factory filled with yellow coolant, continue with yellow coolant

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Introduction of Volvo Coolant VCS

• Today Volvo Coolant VCS is introduced into 1 specification,

namely EC700

• GPPE machines will all have Volvo Coolant VCs introduced

latest end 2006

• COE may have a somewhat later introduction, latest

introduction end 2007 but probably earlier

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Summary

• New engine development for more stringent emission levels

forces the coolant specification at Volvo to be updated
• Through extensive testing, Volvo Coolant VCS is known to
meet these higher requirements on Volvo´s engine/machine
cooling systems
• Volvo Coolant VCS will prolong the service of the cooling
system to 6000 hours/ 4 years without using filter
• Mix the coolant with a proper water or use ready-mix
• Do not mix Volvo Coolant VCS ”yellow” with Volvo Original
Coolant ”green”
• Do not use a filter when using Volvo Coolant VCS

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