Changing coolant yearly or lack thereof.

[mjw357]

Anyways, today I stumbled on my el cheapo coolant tester, so since it's in my hand, why not. Tested the coolant and found this:

View attachment 719822

Maybe I don’t understand how to read that tester, but looks to me like it’s good to -40? If they were all floating it would be ‘unsafe’?

 

[sixdogs]

It all depends on the application,
I'll have the radiator hoses off, if the tractor doesn't have a cab I'll pull the thermostat wrap a rag around my blow gun to fill the upper port
and let the air blow in and push much more water and sometimes a bunch of rust and sludge out.
On a cab tractor I'll blow out using the heater hose port to the lower radiator hose port.
Often on a tractor with alot of hours you will get a considerable amount of sludge out, I'll keep flushing with water and air till it stays clean.

That is very true on the accumulation of sludge in a cooling system. I have read a number articles that say that plugged coolings systems cause as many engine problems as gunky old oil. Restricted coolant passages cause unequal temps within the block and things can go downhill from there.

I've flushed sludge and rust from cooling systems on used tractors and some took as many as 6 or 7 flushes and still weren't clean.

 

[GeneV]

Maybe I don’t understand how to read that tester, but looks to me like it’s good to -40? If they were all floating it would be ‘unsafe’?

Yup, I totally hear ya, I'm also confused by the gradients on the tester. But really it's all about how many balls are floating vs sinking, the fewer the worse.

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

Yup, I totally hear ya, I'm also confused by the gradients on the tester. But really it's all about how many balls are floating vs sinking, the fewer the worse.

What were the instructions for yours? Normally the ball type float in 2 or three positions to give your freeze point, condition of fluid, and boil over point.

 

[Martin Roper]

So, found something interesting today. I changed coolant last year on my GC1710, used this stuff:

View attachment 719821

I had no intention of changing coolant this year, not as though the tractor is a daily driver or anything. Anyways, today I stumbled on my el cheapo coolant tester, so since it's in my hand, why not. Tested the coolant and found this:

View attachment 719822

I thought maybe there's a problem with the tester, so tested some of this same coolant leftover in the container, and got 3 balls floating from that (safe to -10 deg). So yeh, this is surprising, and looks like I'm changing coolant this year after all.

I have some sample jars, take some from each vehicle and machine each year, pop them into the freezer for 24 hours, that test is good enough for me.

 

[workinonit]

I love living in the south.

 

[GeneV]

What were the instructions for yours? Normally the ball type float in 2 or three positions to give your freeze point, condition of fluid, and boil over point.

 

[kf4uda]

Pretty much everyone has the perfect water for radiators, you just have to harvest it. The condensate from your AC evaporator unit is perfect water for anything that requires no mineral content. And it's free.

Would this be true for dehumidifiers as well?

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

View attachment 720257

Those are some interesting instructions, not much better than the floating pointer ones.

Were 2 balls floating or 4? would be my question based on those instructions.

If it were me, I'd either just replace the fluid with new or buy a magnetic heater pad if a block heater cant be added. Not sure the second one is any more trust worthy than the first, but you have a refractometer coming that measures the sugars, and as long as it is stored the right direction or you remember about the bubble, it will work well; and you can calibrate it!

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

Would this be true for dehumidifiers as well?

Not really, unless you are keeping the dirt out somehow.

Easiest way is the old way (used to do it this way for batteries), put an empty bowl in a pot. Put water around the bowl, put lid on and put the pot on medium-high or so. Steam condenses on the lid and collects in the bowl, all the minerals and dirt stay in the bottom.

Oh, dont boil it dry and break the bowl. Done that too.

Can use a tube on a kettle as well, as long as it does not melt.

 

[GeneV]

Those are some interesting instructions, not much better than the floating pointer ones.

Were 2 balls floating or 4? would be my question based on those instructions.

If it were me, I'd either just replace the fluid with new or buy a magnetic heater pad if a block heater cant be added. Not sure the second one is any more trust worthy than the first, but you have a refractometer coming that measures the sugars, and as long as it is stored the right direction or you remember about the bubble, it will work well; and you can calibrate it!

Naw, 4 were floating with the new tester, so I should be good to -25. I didn't order the refractometer.

 

[GeneV]

Not really, unless you are keeping the dirt out somehow.

Easiest way is the old way (used to do it this way for batteries), put an empty bowl in a pot. Put water around the bowl, put lid on and put the pot on medium-high or so. Steam condenses on the lid and collects in the bowl, all the minerals and dirt stay in the bottom.

Oh, dont boil it dry and break the bowl. Done that too.

Can use a tube on a kettle as well, as long as it does not melt.

Guys, it's only 1 buck for a gallon of distilled water at walmart, I mean come on.

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

Guys, it's only 1 buck for a gallon of distilled water at walmart, I mean come on.

Used to be 45min each way to town, would go once a week or two on auction day.

 

[GeneV]

Used to be 45min each way to town, would go once a week or two on auction day.

Ahh! Ok yeh, I see your point. We always have gallons of distilled water here, coz my stepson is on a ventilator and the machine needs that for humidified air.

 

[4570Man]

Used to be 45min each way to town, would go once a week or two on auction day.

When you go to town to buy the antifreeze buy it from Walmart and get the distilled water while you’re there.

 

[jyoutz]

Not really, unless you are keeping the dirt out somehow.

Easiest way is the old way (used to do it this way for batteries), put an empty bowl in a pot. Put water around the bowl, put lid on and put the pot on medium-high or so. Steam condenses on the lid and collects in the bowl, all the minerals and dirt stay in the bottom.

Oh, dont boil it dry and break the bowl. Done that too.

Can use a tube on a kettle as well, as long as it does not melt.

Why not just get a few gallon jugs of distilled water for 89 cents each?

 

[jyoutz]

Guys, it's only 1 buck for a gallon of distilled water at walmart, I mean come on.

89 cents at our Walmart

 

[GeneV]

89 cents at our Walmart

Chicago area, we get ripped off here.

 

[bmg88201]

I changed my antifreeze today with Preston brand Dex-Cool concentrate and distilled water. The distilled water was a buck at Dollar General store. I was wondering though, are all brands of Dex-Cool the same stuff ? Also, I can remember years way back before Dex-Cool was around seeing blue antifreeze that I think was a NAPA brand for Fords ?

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

Hahahaha, I just usually buy it from my petroleum supplier when I buy oil and hydraulic fluid. Usually some type of fleet stuff is around.

When buying something I need to trust, sure not buying it from Wallmart, it's not a toaster.