Evans Cooling Systems announced an important milestone that demonstrates the durability and long-life performance of its waterless engine coolant. Joe Umstead, an independent owner operator, has put one million miles on the 1990 Freightliner that he bought new. At the time of purchase, he converted its Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine to using an experimental waterless coolant provided by Evans. Twenty-three years and a million miles later, Umstead has never changed or topped off his coolant, or used any supplemental coolant additives.
"The coolant performs like the day I had it installed, and I haven't lost a drop," says Umstead. "And I drive all 48 states and in plenty of hot weather conditions." The waterless coolant has a boiling point of 375 F and at operating temperatures has a very low vapor pressure. The low pressure has reduced the stress on cooling system components and the hoses for Umstead's engine are the original ones. The metals in his engine have not suffered the effects of corrosion, electrolysis or cavitation erosion.
"It performs as advertised," adds Umstead, "and I never think about hot climates or altitude, except when I'm passing someone going up a steep grade. That's when I'm reminded that operating with Evans has a performance advantage." The engine is from the pre-EGR cooler era and the fan clutch is actuated by a "fan-stat." The actuation temperature is elevated to reduce fan-on time for fuel economy. Umstead has been averaging about 7.5 mpg over the past 23 years.
At the Mid America Truck Show, held at Louisville, KY in late March, Umstead spent time at the Evans booth sharing his experience with hundreds of owner operators. When one curious attendee asked Joe about the cost of coolant, Umstead simply replied, "I have no idea how much coolant costs these days - I haven't had to buy any for 23 years!"
Heavy-duty truck engines have changed a lot since 1990 and so have Evans waterless coolants. Today's offerings provide better heat transfer and lower viscosity than the experimental coolants of 1990, but the basic feature of a huge separation between operating temperature and boiling point remains. It is that separation that keeps vapor out of the cooling system, vapor that makes an insulating barrier between hot metal and liquid coolant, the barrier that makes hot spots and that brings premature death to EGR coolers.
