Operator`s manual

42 Cooling System
Water Specification
CAUTION
Volvo Trucks North America, Inc. does
not recommend using plain water in the
cooling system. Water alone is corrosive
at engine operating temperatures and does
not provide adequate boiling protection.
The engine may develop corrosion
and cavitation problems in engine and
radiator, and the boiling point of the
coolant is lowered compared with a
proper antifreeze/water mixture. The
warranty is not valid when using only
water in the cooling system.
Use clean water in the coolant mixture.
DO NOT use hard tap water or salt softened
tap water in the cooling system. If clean
water is not available, using distilled water is
ideal. Water specification should be:
Parts per
Million
Grains per
Gallon
pH Value
Chlorides, maximum 40 2.34
Sulfates, maximum 100 5.8
Silica, maximum 20 1.17
Iron, maximum 0.10 0.0058
Manganese, maximum 0.05 0.0029
Total dissolved solids, maximum 340 20
Total hardness, maximum 170 10
Water base/acid level 5.5 to 9
If you are not sure of the quality of the water
in your area, contact your Volvo Truck dealer,
your local water department, agricultural
agent or an independent laboratory to
analyze the water.