Wow it's cold!
- Thread starter tiogajoe
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wiskioti
Member
Hello TBN'ers -
As the thread title indicates, it's cold out! Well, I wanted to use the tractor this past weekend when it was about 10 degrees. I cycled the glow plugs, fired up the tractor and left it warm up for about 10 minutes. When I hopped on the tractor, I noticed the temp gauge really hadn't moved yet. So, I took it easy driving to where I was going and noticed that not long into my short trip, the temp started coming up. As I started using the FEL, within minutes, the temp gauge showed about normal operating temperature. Well, I needed to get my log splitter fired up (which was much more grumpy at starting than the tractor was). After getting it running, I returned to the tractor to notice that the temp gauge had returned to the bottom (zero?). After starting to use the tractor - lightly at first, it started to climb again to normal operating temperature. Even when I got off the tractor the next time, I turned up the RPMs so it idled at ~1800 instead of the normal ~1100, it still returned to reading zero after 10ish minutes running.
Should I be concerned about the tractor not maintaining temp and/or the gauge returning to 0?
As always, thanks for the info!
As the thread title indicates, it's cold out! Well, I wanted to use the tractor this past weekend when it was about 10 degrees. I cycled the glow plugs, fired up the tractor and left it warm up for about 10 minutes. When I hopped on the tractor, I noticed the temp gauge really hadn't moved yet. So, I took it easy driving to where I was going and noticed that not long into my short trip, the temp started coming up. As I started using the FEL, within minutes, the temp gauge showed about normal operating temperature. Well, I needed to get my log splitter fired up (which was much more grumpy at starting than the tractor was). After getting it running, I returned to the tractor to notice that the temp gauge had returned to the bottom (zero?). After starting to use the tractor - lightly at first, it started to climb again to normal operating temperature. Even when I got off the tractor the next time, I turned up the RPMs so it idled at ~1800 instead of the normal ~1100, it still returned to reading zero after 10ish minutes running.
Should I be concerned about the tractor not maintaining temp and/or the gauge returning to 0?
As always, thanks for the info!
Oaktree
Super Member
I put a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator that covers ~3/4 of it for winter use. Seems to help.
Amvcane
Platinum Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2013
- Messages
- 661
- Location
- NEPA
- Tractor
- 2012 Kioti CK35hst tlb; 1988 JD 420; 1990 JD 322; 1987 JD 332; 1985 JD 318; 2010 JD ProGator 2030A;
I would just stay with what you have till next fall. The past couple of days was unusually cold, temps we see maybe twice a year. If you were operating with temps in the 20’s you probably would have not seen the symptions you had.
When I had that J20C fluid in my Kioti I warmed up the tractor with the pto engaged. This spun a couple of gears in the fluid and maybe helped a little. Once the engine was ready to go, maybe 10 mins, I operated in low range for maybe 20 min, then felt it was warm enough to run in medium. I also had to cycle the loader cylinders every now and then to get that cold fluid back to the resivor.
VictorW
Veteran Member
Diesel engines will cool down when not being worked in really cold weather and the rpm setting doesn't seem to matter. The cylinders are always taking in a full amount of air. Really cold air. The throttle just adjusts the amount of fuel added to the full cylinder of air which differs from a gas engine where both air and fuel are regulated. Maybe if I was in the negative temps all the time, I may cover some of the radiator but you mentioned it climbs back to normal operating temp when using it again. So nothing to worry about. That's the nature of diesel engines.
Ya,that's probably what I'll do. I got the Chevron fluid from a Kioti dealer in NY. Never really had a problem even in the upper teens. Hate to drain fluid that is otherwise fine. Over thinking things is one of my faults. I will be going to a synthetic fluid at the next service. Chevron does make an all weather fluid but it seems to be only sold in 55 gal. drums?? Looks like Kubota fluid next time around.
marchanna
Gold Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2017
- Messages
- 491
- Location
- Pictou County, NS, Canada
- Tractor
- Kioti DS4110, Kubota GR2120
Kubota SUDT2 is an excellent full synthetic and around here it is a good price (Nova Scotia). I put Klondike full syn in mine as it had a little better cold flow properties, but I doubt you would really tell the difference. Either, in cold climates it’s good to use a multi-grade full syn motor oil and utf. While I do think that full syns over better protection, the primary reason to use them is for the multi-grade spread that you simple can’t get with dino oil. I use Amsoil 5w40 for my motor oil.
Even on a cold start at -20c (-4f) my loader runs nice and fast right on start up. Maybe not as fast as in the summer, but I can hardly tell the difference.
Even on a cold start at -20c (-4f) my loader runs nice and fast right on start up. Maybe not as fast as in the summer, but I can hardly tell the difference.
jabelding
Gold Member
I wouldn't worry about it, here in Maine we regularly see 0 and below F and have never had a problem just need to take it slow until things warm up. On my shuttle Kioti I usually start it and let it run for a few mins then put the high low lever in neutral then shift the gear selector in 4th gear and up the rpm to 1200 and let it run that way for 15 min that warms the fluid and engine nicely. On my hydro dear I shift the High low to neutral and again run the hydro at 1/2 speed and bring up the rpms a little also warms the fluid and engine nicely.
Sawyer Rob
Super Member
My loader tractor has 15w 40 Rotella in the diesel, and CIH HYtran in the rest of it.
It goes below zero F here, but my tractor starts right up... I just let it, "fast idle" for a while, before loading it in any way and I've been doing it that way with all of my tractors for MANY years, without any problems at all.
I wouldn't be worried about yours in any way...
SR
It goes below zero F here, but my tractor starts right up... I just let it, "fast idle" for a while, before loading it in any way and I've been doing it that way with all of my tractors for MANY years, without any problems at all.
I wouldn't be worried about yours in any way...
SR
