Wow it's cold!

[Motorboatin]

Wednesday Chicago could break the coldest temperature -27F ever recorded there!

Chicago’s record for coldest temperature ever could fall as polar vortex has city ‘in the crosshairs’ - Chicago Tribune

I went around the basement this morning and closed all the valves to our water spigots. I added ball valves years ago when I bypassed the water softer. Haven't thought about the valves for close to 20 years until I watched the news this morning

 

[CMV]

I did the same.. The hydraulics work better when cold. Kubota fluid in a Kioti? You bet. Hey, they are both orange.

That's why I was really concerned with tiogajoe using JD fluid....figured it was just like antifreeze - orange to orange ok, green to orange no good!



Glad a fluid change sorted you out. How is the JD HyGard vs SUDT2 in price - about same? SUDT2 is ~$21/gal here & only pennies different per gal in 1gal vs 5 gal sizes.

 

[k0ua]

Yeah, the only thing I know is bad about the SUDT2 is the price

 

[THEPARTYHOUND]

I have spent a fair bit of time researching lubricants. Would you believe there are forums dedicated to lubricants that have nearly the same traffic as TBN? Anyhow, the used tractor I bought last year came loaded with fluids by a company called Lubrication Engineers. They have been around for a long time...since the 40s or 50s if memory serves. However they are not a brand who is readily recognizable by the average person as they do not market ot sell their product in the retail market. They generally sell directly to large industrial mines, logging outfits, trucking companies, etc. You can look them up and contact the rep that lives in and serves your region. I can't speak for all of them, but my rep was VERY knowledgable. Some of their products are pretty amazing! They have long drain engine oil that lasts 100k miles in an over the road big rig! Similar hydraulic fluids. All of the lubricants in my tractor are their products. These fluids will likely never need to be changed again for the remainder of the tractors days. Just a periodical filter change and a fluid sample taken and sent in for analysis. FWIW, my hydraulics work fine in cold weather, no unusual pump noises, full strength lifting abilities, etc

 

[fried1765]

If for some idiotic reason I'm out there in the cold with the tractor - I let it warm until I see the temp needle move. Then I'm off and running at about 1800 RPM. No load, no strain on the tractor. It just gets up to operating temps quicker by simply driving it to where I'll be working.

And, Yes, the hydraulics are slow when the tractor isn't yet warmed up.

I use the recommended plain old dino-oil. Both for the engine and hydraulics.

Still just fine after ten years. Dino oils/fluids worked just fine on my previous tractor for the 27 years I had it.

I use Dino oils/fluids too.
Maybe it is because we are both old guys (I am just a bit older).

 

[tiogajoe]

That's why I was really concerned with tiogajoe using JD fluid....figured it was just like antifreeze - orange to orange ok, green to orange no good!



Glad a fluid change sorted you out. How is the JD HyGard vs SUDT2 in price - about same? SUDT2 is ~$21/gal here & only pennies different per gal in 1gal vs 5 gal sizes.

I might of saved $30?? I went with the JD fluid for the ease of being much closer to where I live and it has almost the same specs as the duratran xl that Kioti has in the owner's manual? I know it probably wouldn't matter but I thought if there was a problem under warranty I could show I was trying?

 

[XSKIER]

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.

All of my tier 4 final diesels seem to stay warm at idle in cold weather. They warm up faster too. It probably has to do with the electronic throttle body and EGR. But, the tier 3 and older need to be floored to stay warm. It probably has to do with the unthrottled supply of cold air.