50:50 Coolant Mix Dilemma

[MossRoad]

Merged two identical threads into one in the Kubota forums. Please avoid creating duplicate threads in multiple forums. Thanks, and please continue the discussion.

 

[RalphVa]

I don't know why you're flushing with water. I just drain and refill, catching as much of the old fluid as possible. On my tractor engines and also on our 240D Benz diesel and on an old Tacoma, they have had vents on the thermostat to assist in draining and refilling. My 4010 tractor engine would not do ANYTHING unless that vent was removed. Of course, also open your engine and radiator dump plugs or drains. On the 240D, the radiator drain was the lower radiator hose. Went 25 years on the 240D before finally getting tired of it and selling it even though it looked like new inside and out. For the first couple of coolant changes, I flushed with gobs of water but finally decided that I was polluting the environment and then went to simply draining and refilling. That's all I ever did on the 4010. On most cars and SUVs and pickups now, its 10 year coolant changes. Finally changed the coolant on our newer Tacoma at a little over 10 years. Have put a coolant collector on my generator to keep air out of its system to run the 10 years on it. Certainly won't flush it with water at that time because the generator sits right in my vegetable garden. Will collect old coolant and refill.

Ralph

 

[Egon]

Do a read up on Antifreeze and how to use it?

There are different types of antifreeze and there are different cooling system designs for their use. Some don't mix.

 

[Ford850]

See this thread for tips to find the block drain:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/389954-every-kubota-bx-owner-needs.html
If you can drain the block along with the radiator, you'll be fine adding 50/50 to the little bit of water that might be left.

 

[Tx Jim]

With cavitation/electrolysis of engine blocks/liners so prevalent this day & age there is no way I'd put tap water from hydrant & antifreeze in an engine that I planned on keeping very long. I suggest to use ""distilled water"" for mixing with antifreeze more especially in a diesel powered engine.

 

[ovrszd]

I can't believe we are 15 posts in and nobody has asked about pre mix antifreeze??? Can someone please explain the logic??? And if you are going to try to explain it, quote the price of a gallon of pure versus a gallon of mix please. :confused3:

As to getting the right amount..... Why not check the manual for the capacity of the cooling system and add half that amount of pure anti-freeze then top off. But then that's going to require a trip back to town to purchase some pure anti-freeze.

Here's my findings in regards to prices. I just don't get it......

https://www.oreillyauto.com/shop/brands/antifreeze-coolant-716/o-reilly-2762

 

[Deere Dude]

Re: 50:50 Coolant Dilemma

I am using a 50:50 premix coolant for my BX2230. If I flush with water and drain and then fill radiator with the 50:50 mix, I will not have the proper cooling mixture because of the residual water in the engine block. How do others deal with this dilemma? My local kubota dealer sell the 50:50 mix. I know using full strength coolant would solve the problem but I bought 2 gallons of the 50:50 stuff. Can I flush with water first, then flush with the 50:50 mix a few times?

I live in central California and have a BX2230.

Living in California may not be as important as being from way up north as far as an accurate mix is concerned for freezing value. I run into the same problem. It doesn't seem as though it accepts as much pre mix antifreeze as you flushed out which causes a lower boiling point temperature,

I would flush as prescribed, pour in roughly a half gallon of pure antifreeze and top of with pre mixed. If you find out the antifreeze mix is to weak just open a plug and drain a quart or half gallon and put in more pure antifreeze. You might waste a little bit, but oh well.

 

[Blondie70]

You could flush with water until clear and you are satisfied the system is clean. Fill with clean water and run to make sure tractor is full of water. When it's cooled off, drain the water but catch it to measure. Compare what you caught to how much coolant the manual sez it holds. Then you know how much clean water is left in the block...........add that amount of concentrated antifreeze to the radiator.........then continue filling with a 50/50 mix..........viola !!!!!! completely full of 50/50. Not much work or bother at all.
Good Luck, Pete

 

[Oldoak]

After reading all this about a simple anti-freeze flush and change, I could just imagine what a person would go through to try to change 100% of the hydraulic oil in their tractor plus the FEL and BH is so equipped.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Around here the temperatures are not that extreme. Get the mixture close to 50/50 and you are good to go. Last week Advance Auto in Conover had their Peak pre charged full strength on close out for $8.35 per gallon for a case. I stocked up.