I have a Beta 60 (2403) engine with about 275 hours over two years. I am planning to replace the coolant this summer when I install the calorifier fittings.
Can the group recommend some specific brands of coolant that will work well with this engine? A Practical Sailor article last year alerted me to the issue of cavitation of coolants that can cause pitting in the cylinder liner and so I would like advice on the optimal coolant for this engine.
We recommend a coolant / anti freeze that is compatible with aluminium (Aluminum?). I believe that all major oil companies (Shell, Total, Chevron, Exon/Mobil etc) will have a compatible product.
As you are in the tropics, I recommend that you keep to a 40% coolant / 60% water mixture. This helps limit the anti freeze from coagulating in the cooling system.
Thank you Stanley for the advice. Although we are not yet in the tropics, we intend to be heading that way next year. Also, may I presume that the risks of pitting due to cavitation would not be an issue in an engine that does not use liners?
The Practical Sailor article mentioned the Cummins Fleetguard ES coolant as being probably the best heavy duty Diesel coolant and mentioned that it is made without Nitrite which is implicated in aluminum corrosion.
The full article (you may need a subscription to see what I see) is available here: http://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/37_46/features/Coolants-that-Fight-Corrosion_11523-1.html
