?? About Antifreze

[MORRISONSTEEL]

Fully formulated coolants typically do not require a conditioner additive (assuming you use the appropriate one). Conditioner additives are added once you have checked glycol level, inhibiter level, and pH. You can do this with test strips that "most" ag dealers should have. Blindly adding conditioner/inhibitors w/ out testing may lead to coolant gelation. This would typically be something that you would test once a year or so and add as dictated by the test strips. Will still use a refractometer for freeze point testing. The additives have lots of names, conditioner, inhibiter, extender, etc. If you are concerned I would get some test strips and check it out, they will tell you if you need to add anything to it. Good Luck

 

[TractorTech]

Fully formulated coolants typically do not require a conditioner additive (assuming you use the appropriate one). Conditioner additives are added once you have checked glycol level, inhibiter level, and pH. You can do this with test strips that "most" ag dealers should have. Blindly adding conditioner/inhibitors w/ out testing may lead to coolant gelation. This would typically be something that you would test once a year or so and add as dictated by the test strips. Will still use a refractometer for freeze point testing. The additives have lots of names, conditioner, inhibiter, extender, etc. If you are concerned I would get some test strips and check it out, they will tell you if you need to add anything to it. Good Luck

Very true if it is a "fully formulated coolant", but the dealer said "any good quality antifreeze", which would imply to most people Napa or Walmart or Prestone standard antifreeze/coolant. If that is what is utilized, then an additive is necessary. And yes there is a whole procedure of testing, etc. once you go down that road. But it is an alternative as a fresh start, standard antifreeze with conditioner (read fhe labels, do your research) would have been a route as the manual was stating. It does tell you what ratios to start with and what quantity to top off with to keep it up. Risking gelling is better than none at all.
Bottom line, just as in the motor oil, make sure the coolant is formulated for your diesel engine if you are going to buy it, then you don't need the additive conditioner.
I think everyone has contributed to this conversation as to the importance of quality products in your tractor and that a person shouldn't just assume all coolants are the same.

 

[JRobyn]

Before I changed my Kubota coolant a few years ago, I had several recommendations for NAPA "Fleet Charge" as a Diesel-spec antifreeze with the appropriate additive package for diesel engines. It's been in there for at least 3 years with no issues so far! I was very particular about getting all the old (original OEM) stuff out and flushing with plenty of clean, clear water before refill, just to be sure there weren't any compatibility issues.

- Jay