Cold running Kubota

[Stomper]

I was out playing on my Kubota L2501 today in -18c weather and I noticed that the engine temp gauge was still in the cold range. I felt the rad hoses and the the one was barely warm and the other was actually cool to the touch. I know this isn't a big engine by no means but is this normal to run this cool in winter. I typicaly only run it in the 1500-1800 rpm range could this be why. What should I be running it at, I'm new to this tractor thing. The pto is running 540rpm when the engine is idling at 2000 rpm.

 

[Rock Crawler]

You may want to put cardboard in front of the radiator like we all used to do in the coldest parts of winter on trucks and cars up here in the salt belt. Some engine/radiator combinations just do not create enough engine heat to get the water hot as fast as the radiator sheds heat off.

You can also try replacing the thermostat in case it is stuck open, but you may have to cardboard it a bit.

 

[LD1]

A gear tractor......yes they run that cold. Just not burning enough fuel.

A gallon per hour or less fuel being burn isnt many BTUS to keep all that iron, block, radiator with fan blowing....just not enough to keep all that warm when that cold out.

HST would have a better chance.....but thats still real cold.

 

[CobyRupert]

I typicaly only run it in the 1500-1800 rpm range could this be why. What should I be running it at, I'm new to this tractor thing. The pto is running 540rpm when the engine is idling at 2000 rpm.

Not familiar with the L2501, but:
"Idling" at 2000 rpm? Operating at 1500-1800 rpm is probably normal, Running 540 pto rpm at 2000 engine rpm sounds normal.

Like others have said, check thermostat. Engine should come up to temp, eventually, at these rpms, regardless of the fan/radiator if the thermostat is closed when it's suppose to be. Also check that the temp gauge/temp sensor is accurate.

 

[Soldier415]

Not familiar with the L2501, but:
"Idling" at 2000 rpm? Operating at 1500-1800 rpm is probably normal, Running 540 pto rpm at 2000 engine rpm sounds normal.

I have to run around 2600 RPM to get 540 PTO in my L3430

 

[ericm979]

The 2501 is a detuned higher HP Kubota engine. It runs at a low rpm because of the tuning and the PTO is geared to accomodate.

 

[rScotty]

Stomper posted: " I noticed that the engine temp gauge was still in the cold range..."

It doesn't sound like a gauge that reports "Cold" is giving us much useful information. Does anyone know what "cold & hot" on the Kubota temperature guage corresponds to in degrees? That would be a good place to start. Better yet, are there optional readouts?
rScotty

 

[jdom84]

I think the question is... how long were you out playing? Also the radiator hose will only get warm when the fluid flows once the thermostat reaches temp. So the next question after determined how long its been running for, where is the sensor located?

 

[Stomper]

I was out using the tractor off and on for a couple hours with some idle time in there also. Here is a picture of my temperature gauge, it is cold in the picture because it is sitting in my shop but when it was running it was sitting around the red mark that I very poorly drew on there in paint.

 

[Jerry/MT]

I was out playing on my Kubota L2501 today in -18c weather and I noticed that the engine temp gauge was still in the cold range. I felt the rad hoses and the the one was barely warm and the other was actually cool to the touch. I know this isn't a big engine by no means but is this normal to run this cool in winter. I typicaly only run it in the 1500-1800 rpm range could this be why. What should I be running it at, I'm new to this tractor thing. The pto is running 540rpm when the engine is idling at 2000 rpm.

Unlike a spark ignition engine, a diesel won't warm up very quickly at idle. A gas engine has relatively constant peak gas temperatures so it will warm up at idle. With a diesel You have to put load on it to increase the peak gas temperature in the cylinders. Once you get it started, let the idle speed stabilize so it isn't clattering and clunking. Then put it under some load and it will warm up.

 

[jdom84]

I was out using the tractor off and on for a couple hours with some idle time in there also. Here is a picture of my temperature gauge, it is cold in the picture because it is sitting in my shop but when it was running it was sitting around the red mark that I very poorly drew on there in paint.

View attachment 531086

thats about where my tractor sets after letting warm up for 10 minutes in sub 20 degree f weather. If Im putting it to work, it gets warmer but not much. My last tractor was a Mitsubishi with 4 cylinder diesel and the temp gauge only started above 120 degrees f. In the cold of winter I could use it for hours and not burn my self on the exhaust pipe, it was only "warm".

 

[Stomper]

That sounds about right with what mine does. Maybe that's just normal.

 

[laurencen]

check the thermostat, cover 2/3 of the radiator with cardboard,

 

[MHarryE]

It was -13C this morning and I was using both my RTV900XT and L6060. After an hour, mostly idling, the RTV temp gauge was barely in the operating range even with the engine buried underneath. My L6060 was being worked most of the time and can was cozy warm, gauge near middle of operating range. I think its a combination of working harder plus the small engine has so much block area cooling at these temperatures.

 

[Phillip w]

My mf won't start under 20 f. From 20-30 degrees f you have to let it run 20-30 minutes at a fast idle (1000-1200 rpm) to get it warmed up. It is a really sad piece a work for a tractor. My allis I've had it running at -10 below zero f and you got to let them warm up. Usually with a diesel your operating on its time schedule. If you don't let them warm up they sputter and and can even stall out. When it is that cold I start the allis, set it at a fast idle ( 1000-1200 rpms) and go have a cup of coffee. Just let it run 30 minute or so. It is not good to put the throttle to a cold diesel engine, just a fast idle and just let it warm up. Somebody mentioned the size of the block? The old allis is 2-3 the amount of block and most of it is exposed. It is just that you got to let them warm up. I don't cardboard the radiator on the allis, but I don't have a cab. So I'm cold no matter what.

 

[mguitas]

My 1423 doesn't have a gauge on it. when it warms up,I reach in from the top an feel the radiator. always warm to the touch.

 

[redman135]

In the photo the op posted the hand drawn red line is in the white (normal) zone so the engine is getting up to operating temperature.

 

[Phillip w]

In the photo the op posted the hand drawn red line is in the white (normal) zone so the engine is getting up to operating temperature.

That Mau be true, but it is still on the "cool side" of normal. One would think and most motorized pieces of equipment (cars, trucks, tractors) get a little warmer than that. That almost indicates a thermostat stuck open or op didn't allow it to warm up good and or didn't operate the tractor long enough to warm it up good.

 

[jdom84]

I think you are forgetting these small tractors have fans which runs continuously and there isnt a DPF or other emissions aids creating hotter exhaust to burn the soot, so the exhaust temp are very low. Cars and trucks have Clutched fans and electric fans. Here in the frozen north when its cold out (around single digits F) and the thermostat opens I can actually watch the temp gauge drop because much colder coolant from the radiator is entering the engine. Its even more evident on my Ram w/cummins and its digital temp gauge.

 

[sixdogs]

Same thing my small Kubotas do. Once I changed the anti-freeze in my L4300 and decided to flush the system. It took me an hour just to get the radiator slightly warm nd it never got all the way warm. That's just the way Kubotas are.