Loaded tires filled with....antifreeze?

[Bill_B]

The place I am buying my tractor from says that they load the rear tires with antifreeze. Is this okay or should I be telling them no? My last tractor I had tubes installed and had them filled with calcium chloride.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

No one really likes filling with calcium chloride anymore.

First, most importantly, where are you? How cold does it get there (specifically). Don't use "wind chill" numbers, but real ambient air temperature numbers. Tractors and fluids don't give 2 shizznits about "wind chill".

Depending on your ambient air winter temperatures, will drive which type of ballast you want to use.

We use Rimguard up here (brand name for beet juice extract) because we do see ambient air temps of -45F. And Rimguard will stay "slushy" at -45F.

 

[mrmikey]

if using actual engine antifreeze (as opposed to plumbing antifreeze) it's toxic. If you end up puncturing a tire and you or neighbours pets get into it, goodbye animals. I use WWAF, yes it's toxic but it evaporates fast and leaves no remnants. There's always plumbing antifreeze which is non-toxic, reason I didn't use it, there was a shortage when I loaded my tires or I would have

 

[AndyMA]

All of my tractors have RimGuard. Earlier I had calcium chloride which over time destroyed my rims

 

[Torvy]

Some use anti-freeze windshield wiper fluid. Less toxic than engine anti freeze. It is also mixed with water.

There are also density differences. CaCl was used because it was heavier than water...but corrosive to your wheels. Beet juice (from sugar beets) is basically syrup. Heavier than water, but can be messy.

 

[rScotty]

if using actual engine antifreeze (as opposed to plumbing antifreeze) it's toxic. If you end up puncturing a tire and you or neighbours pets get into it, goodbye animals. I use WWAF, yes it's toxic but it evaporates fast and leaves no remnants. There's always plumbing antifreeze which is non-toxic, reason I didn't use it, there was a shortage when I loaded my tires or I would have

That's good info. Both types of glycol antifreeze cost about the same. Either one will work to load a tire but neither one is as heavy per gallon as Rimgard....or as expensive.

Plumbing anti-freeze is also called RV or boat antifreeze is propylene glycol and harmless to people and animals. It is tasteless and usually dyed red or blue. In fact, it is used in a lot of foods.

Automotive antifreeze is ethylene glycol which is fatal in small doses. It is attractively sweet-tasting and there is no antidote. Convulsions and death for dogs, cats, livestock, and people. Usually dyed green.

Calcium Chloride is a bitter salt solution that will sterilize the ground if it leaks. Also rots everything metal it touches. Including the valve stem.

 

[Yander]

My dealer said they use a "fancy windshield washer fluid" his words. Don't know what that meant but not worried about it. He said they don't use beet juice because it is too messy. I'm in Ohio, if it is too cold for windshield washer fluid, I won't be on my tractor.

 

[MTGreen]

I learned recently that ethylene glycol antifreeze manufacturers now put a bitterant chemical in to make it less attractive to children/animals. Unclear if it's only some vs all manufacturers or if there's some sort of recent regulatory mandate

 

[Bill_B]

Thanks guys. I am familiar with the two types of glycol because of my 30 years working in HVAC. I am also hoping it is P glycol and not E glycol. My worry is that they are using this as a way to dispose of old antifreeze (E type) that they have drained out of tractors during service work.

 

[kozal01]

Ask for rim guard. I wouldn't put anything else in my tires, seen too many corroded rims from other methods to make it an easy choice for me. Even antifreeze can corrode after a while, especially if its mixed with water like you suspect may be the case.

 

[Jstpssng]

Thanks guys. I am familiar with the two types of glycol because of my 30 years working in HVAC. I am also hoping it is P glycol and not E glycol. My worry is that they are using this as a way to dispose of old antifreeze (E type) that they have drained out of tractors during service work.

I know that's just what they loaded the ties with, on my friend's son's Montana when he bought it new. I didn't trust his dealer anyways which is why I won't own an LS... he's one of those guys who if he shakes your hand, you'd better count your fingers afterwards to make sure you get them all back.

 

[CDBUG]

Beet Juice.....?

 

[mjonesnh]

Been running methanol and water mix in mid-tenn area since 2007 with good results . Never any frozen tires I am aware of. Very rare to have temps below zero in area

 

[Bill_B]

I know that's just what they loaded the ties with, on my friend's son's Montana when he bought it new. I didn't trust his dealer anyways which is why I won't own an LS... he's one of those guys who if he shakes your hand, you'd better count your fingers afterwards to make sure you get them all back.

That's interesting. I got turned off from LS for the same reason. The local salesman has no integrity. At least as far as my personal experience anyways. Years ago (before LS tractors were even being sold in my area) he had a camper for sale and I was looking for a camper at a reasonable price. I kept going to look at camper after camper and they all had water damage. I was trying to find one that did not. So I looked him straight in the eye and asked him if it had any issues and specifically if it had any mold or water damage. He said without hesitation "Nope it is dry and clean...really nice shape".
So I drive way out to his house to look at the camper. It was a total POS, had water damage, had mold issues, and looked like someone had been living in it.
I don't know if he was hoping I was an idiot or what but I wasn't paying top dollar for this. So I went back to his dealership, told him all the issues it had (as if he didn't know) and offered him what it was actually worth. He said "No way, someone will buy it for what I am asking" Yeah...some unsuspecting sucker. I knew what to look for and where to check. The next person may not have and that is what he was counting on. What a dirtbag.
Shortly after this he started selling LS compact tractors. In my mind I instantly made a connection of LS tractors being junk because of this guy so I never even considered them as an option.

 

[CaptPat]

Windshield washer fluid in my new tractor. Previously I had calcium chloride for 17 years without issue.

 

[SmallChange]

Windshield washer fluid in my new tractor.

Mine too, I think it was 6 years ago now. It was what the NH dealer offered.

 

[bsekf]

Other than toxic like anti-freeze, couldn't you use "used motor oil"?

 

[jwmorris]

Yeah, once you destroy a rim or two, antifreeze will make more sense to you.

I actually use “old“ antifreeze from a local shop that keeps it separate from oil and transmission fluid because they can’t get them picked up if there is antifreeze mixed with them.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Other than toxic like anti-freeze, couldn't you use "used motor oil"?

If you don't have rubber tires, yes you could.

 

[SmallChange]

couldn't you use "used motor oil"?

It dissolves rubber, or at least soaks into it and swells and weakens it.