Changing coolant yearly or lack thereof.

[arits74]

i checked the antifreeze in my 17 model ls tractor today.it still looks new and was good for 40 below.i also checked the antifreeze in my honda foreman and the stuff in it is some kind of color blue i have never seen

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

Some OEM and special types use the other colors. As it is in an atv it might be high aluminum content antifreeze, had to use that stuff in mine.

 

[GeneV]

There are charts you could find online, tell you what vehicles tend to use which coolants, and what all the different colors signify.

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

There are charts you could find online, tell you what vehicles tend to use which coolants, and what all the different colors signify.

There is no general industry specification other than Vehicles use yellow or green and that non-toxic RV is pink or red. Additives can be any color (redline is flourecent pink/orangeish), as can the cooling oil stuff.

kind of guessing the EPA and FDA/DEA defined those colors so they could identify spills and poisonings.

I know once upon a time the two different types were different colors to try and prevent people mixing them together.

European and Japanese spec do have assigned colors I belive.

It is pretty common to see blue windshield fluid these days, maybe too many people were mixing up windshield fluid with antifreeze?

Attached one of those charts for reference

 

[not2old]

89 cents at our Walmart

$1.97 here for 4 litres. I use it in my GC 2610 and my CTS-V. All my older stuff gets tap water.

 

[jyoutz]

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. View attachment 720323

Walmart sells name brand coolant. They also have super-tec store branded fluids that are highly rated.

 

[ljjhouser]

I only trust a refractometer anymore,not those hydrometers.
For the Kubota's I mix green coolant 50/50 with distilled water.

I got my refractometer today. That is cool and a great way to check temp and amount of water mixed. I opted for one that cost a little more. But is reads in F not C. REALLY well built. I think I will be a lifetime tool if kept clean.
Thanks.

 

[tomplum]

I got my refractometer today. That is cool and a great way to check temp and amount of water mixed. I opted for one that cost a little more. But is reads in F not C. REALLY well built. I think I will be a lifetime tool if kept clean.
Thanks.
View attachment 720531

And you can use it for important things like checking the brix of your grapes...

 

[hube2]

Dam, I just realize that the one I got only has C. Oh well, guess I'll need to convert.

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

Dam, I just realize that the one I got only has C. Oh well, guess I'll need to convert.

.... in this case is it really that important? water freezes at 0C and -30F and -30C are roughly the same.

 

[hube2]

.... in this case is it really that important? water freezes at 0C and -30F and -30C are roughly the same.

Probably not
-40C = -40F.
50/50 mix on antifreeze is supposed to be good to -34F (which is the record low here) which is about -36C, so pretty close. All I really care about is "is it good or do I need to change it"

 

[ljjhouser]

.... in this case is it really that important? water freezes at 0C and -30F and -30C are roughly the same.

Nope, probably not. Just a little bit convenient. I do like the feature that tells the precentage of antifreeze and water. But that could be looked up on a %/Temp table.

 

[Pixguy]

What do you guys do with your old antifreeze? My transfer station no longer takes it

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

What do you guys do with your old antifreeze? My transfer station no longer takes it

Whispers: drop it off at an oil change place

 

[Pixguy]

Whispers: drop it off at an oil change place

Isn't it hazmat that they have to pay to dispose of?

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

Isn't it hazmat that they have to pay to dispose of?

Unsure they pay to get rid of it or if they are paid for it. I know the shop gets paid for used oil.

 

[hube2]

What do you guys do with your old antifreeze? My transfer station no longer takes it

The place where I take my oil, the county dump, collects it separate. Antifreeze can be recycled.

 

[Smokeydog]

What do you guys do with your old antifreeze? My transfer station no longer takes it

Ethylene glycol is great herbicide. Use responsibly. It also kills wood rot. Wood has a great affinity for glycol. One of the more expensive ingredients in paint.

Used antifreeze, boric acid and 20 mule team borax to make our own BoraCare to treat our log cabin and barn Timbers from termites. Glycol will carry the borate to the center of the log. Bugs and termites will never build immunity to borate. Glycol kills fungi.

So used ethylene glycol has many uses on the farm. Most auto parts will take it too.

 

[RalphVa]

Plan to change out the coolant next year on the Isuzu diesel generator, its 10th year.

 

[GeneV]

Ethylene glycol is great herbicide. Use responsibly. It also kills wood rot. Wood has a great affinity for glycol. One of the more expensive ingredients in paint.

Used antifreeze, boric acid and 20 mule team borax to make our own BoraCare to treat our log cabin and barn Timbers from termites. Glycol will carry the borate to the center of the log. Bugs and termites will never build immunity to borate. Glycol kills fungi.

So used ethylene glycol has many uses on the farm. Most auto parts will take it too.

Not around here, they won't. Didn't know about all those other uses though, thx!