Branson 3510 Coolant Leak - Head Gasket?

TrevorA · Apr 27, 2020

I appreciate the add. I have a Branson 3510i with just under 300 hours on it. I love the tractor and am the original owner. I have found that once the tractor gets to up to normal temp, that I have a coolant leak. I traced it to the head/gasket towards the back of the engine. I have attached some photos after it sat for a few days, but one photo you can see was while it was running. My initial thought was a Head Gasket, but hopeful it isn't a cracked head.
Not much for Branson resources around my area as a couple of the closer dealers have closed up over the years. Any help would be appreciated.

LouNY · Apr 27, 2020

Your fourth picture has me wondering.
I'd would recommend a good cleaning in that area and then monitor it to see were the leakage actually shows up first.
If it's seeping thru were the head gasket is or from orthru a casting.
good luck

oldnslo · Apr 27, 2020

Can you clean and dry the area real good and then sprinkle some baby powder or something like that on the area to show the area that gets wet first?.

agree with good luck on finding that. Hopefully not porous casting.

Asteral · Apr 27, 2020

check your engine oil too while your there, i've seen it to many times for leaking coolant to seep through a head gasket it will also sometimes slowly seep into the engine oil, if you engine oil is even slightly light brown or milky the gasket is definitely bad and knowing that it would warrant me to do a dye test on the head.

Slowpoke Slim · Apr 27, 2020

Do you have access to a coolant pressure test kit? Some auto stores will loan or rent them out if you don't have one. Maybe pressurize the coolant system and see if you can see where it's coming from under pressure?

Slowpoke Slim · Apr 27, 2020

And yes, as Asteral says, look for "chocolate milk" in the engine oil.

K5lwq · Apr 27, 2020

Like Lou said that forth picture is concerning. Almost looks like a crack that is leaking. I sure hope I am wrong.

Definitely follow the advice the others have given. Good luck and please keep us posted.

TrevorA · Apr 29, 2020

I did look at the oil when I took the pictures. It still looks normal and doesn't seem to have any coolant contamination.
I will see if I can clean things up a bit and get some additional pictures. Has anyone seen a head crack on these before? This really surprises me with the light usage and low hours of this tractor.

K5lwq · Apr 29, 2020

TrevorA said:
I did look at the oil when I took the pictures. It still looks normal and doesn't seem to have any coolant contamination.
I will see if I can clean things up a bit and get some additional pictures. Has anyone seen a head crack on these before? This really surprises me with the light usage and low hours of this tractor.

Has it ever ran hot? How old is it? Maybe covered under warranty?