Cummins says it has resolved concerns about gasket leakage and Texaco Extended Life Coolant
and now recommends the product for factory fills in new Cummins ISB, ISBe, and B series engines, ISC and C series engines, and ISL series engines.
Cummins has also approved the one-time addition of silicate to factory fills of Texaco Extended Life Coolant/Anti-Freeze in N14 and N14 Plus engines; ISX and Signature engines; and ISM engines. The coolant also can be used in all Cummins engines in aftermarket or service-fill applications-both drain and refill-as well as in off-road engines.
The use of silicates is a preventive maintenance recommendation for the ISM and ISX engines. The engine maker says TELC may be used in all Cummins engines in aftermarket (service fill) applications (drain and refill) without the addition of silicate.
In July 1999, it became apparent that there was a problem with "long life" or "extended life" coolants used in Cummins engines. The "carboxylate" organic acids in these coolants were damaging the silicone seals used in Cummins cooling systems. The coolant and its derivatives were marketed not only as Texaco Extended Life Coolant, but also by Caterpillar as Cat Extended Life Coolant, by Shell as Rotella Extended Life Coolant, and by Detroit Diesel as Power Cool Plus. In August 1999, Cummins Cummins recommended against factory fills of extended-life coolants in its engines until a solution to a seal problem could be found. Equilon said in a September 1999 press conference that the extent of the problem had been exaggerated.