Oil & Fuel Anti freeze leak when really cold

[rigrider08]

Morning guys,
It's unbearably cold this morning but the horses needed hay and the barn cleaning. Anyway, I have a tank heater on my rx6010 it's on a timer that kicks on at 3 am runs till 630 when I start the tractor but recently it's been leaking antifreeze when cold from every possible spot. The screw section where the dipstick screws into the block the upper head section, not a lot but enough to give the antifreeze wiff and see a few drops on the ground. Once the engine warms though it appears to stop. Anyone else seen issues like this. I want to attribute it to the cold but I can't test that theory for at least another 2 months when it warms up.

Also, on occasion the tractor will literally die, again when cold. The rpm will be at operating range then drop to almost stall. Quick step on the clutch and it returns to normal. Again I thought cold maybe gelled fuel. There is over a half tank and it's been treated for winter temps. It's driving me crazy. Dealer thinks it's just the cold but I have 2 other pieces of machinery that aren't performing the same way. Any input?

 

[TJP89]

Don't know much, but what comes to mind are bad gaskets that leak when cold, then expand and close the gap once the engine warms up. You also could have some fuel that gels in the line, causing the problem. Just some thoughts.

What is your tractor? Is it the new NX6010, or the RX6610? As far as I know there is no RX6010. If it's the NX, it may be that it is just not a cold weather tractor, as they are brand new.

 

[Coyote machine]

Your tractor should not be leaking any antifreeze, period. Where are you located? What temps are we talking about? Is the antifreeze level dropping? Is there evidence of antifreeze in the oil? Is the mix correct? What exact model tractor and how old? Your dealer is blowing smoke up your butt, your tractor should not leak coolant, and the symptoms sound like a head gasket, BUT you need to give us more and accurate details. How many hours on the tractor? Where is it stored, etc.
Please answer ALL questions posed.

 

[Billrog]

Mine was leaking antifreeze and it took me a few days to fine out where it was coming from a hose clamp on the right hand side facing the tractor was not tightened. But the anti freeze was showing up every where on the motor but there this also only happened when the tractor was cold.

 

[ritcheyvs]

It's really unlikely that it's leaking at multiple locations. Maybe you can isolate the actual leak. Also, ethylene glycol is toxic to anything with red blood so be careful your critters don't get into it. It tastes sweet so domestic and wild animals tend to lap it up.

 

[rigrider08]

I've been going around the **** thing tightening every hose clamp I can find and checking for any leakage around it. So far one possible culprit but will have to see. The tractor is in NH last nights high was 0 with a low including wind chill around -25. The leak isn't enough to drop the level drastically the expansion tank has it about an inch below full when cold. The tractor has 440 hours, one owner, it's a 2012 rx6010 clutch the original rx tractor 60hp. I did the last oil change at 400 hrs and saw no oil antifreeze mix the filter looked good no obvious signs of metal or fluids.

My real concern is the drop in rpm when under load and if that's all tied to leaking seals.

The attached picture is where my concern started its my oil stick housing and the antifreeze was bubbling in the cut out.

 

[Coyote machine]

Mine was leaking antifreeze and it took me a few days to fine out where it was coming from a hose clamp on the right hand side facing the tractor was not tightened. But the anti freeze was showing up every where on the motor but there this also only happened when the tractor was cold.

The coolant was getting blown by the radiator fan when the engine was running. It would likely stop leaking when the engine heated up enough to swell the hose against the clamp, and the engine against the hose interior.

 

[Coyote machine]

I've been going around the **** thing tightening every hose clamp I can find and checking for any leakage around it. So far one possible culprit but will have to see. The tractor is in NH last nights high was 0 with a low including wind chill around -25. The leak isn't enough to drop the level drastically the expansion tank has it about an inch below full when cold. The tractor has 440 hours, one owner, it's a 2012 rx6010 clutch the original rx tractor 60hp. I did the last oil change at 400 hrs and saw no oil antifreeze mix the filter looked good no obvious signs of metal or fluids.

My real concern is the drop in rpm when under load and if that's all tied to leaking seals.

The attached picture is where my concern started its my oil stick housing and the antifreeze was bubbling in the cut out.

What do you mean by 'cutout'? I think you need to determine where the coolant leak is. Meantime, what is you coolant mixed at? Rated to -? Try cleaning the area around the dipstick tube and then try to block air from the radiator fan from reaching the area by duct taping some cardboard above and in front of the dipstick tube, but keep the 'bubbling' area free so you can see if it's coming out the dipstick hole. Run the engine and see if you can see the site of the leak. If coolant is leaking out of the dipstick tube you need to stop using the tractor and find the cause. Coolant in the oil, if that is what is occurring, can and will eventually destroy the engine.
Don't panic yet, just find the orig of the leak for now.

Define the RPM drop and 'under load' condition further. Are you saying, for instance that it is moving forward with a load in the bucket, and the RPMs drop off on their own, with consistent throttle applied by you? If so, do the RPMs recover on their own or do you have to do something for the engine to recover? Is this something new? Does it vary when the engine is cold, warm?

 

[rigrider08]

What do you mean by 'cutout'? Define the RPM drop and 'under load' condition further. Are you saying, for instance that it is moving forward with a load in the bucket, and the RPMs drop off on their own, with consistent throttle applied by you? If so, do the RPMs recover on their own or do you have to do something for the engine to recover? Is this something new? Does it vary when the engine is cold, warm?

Coyote machine, carrying a load of manure in the fel heading toward the dump throttle preset to 2000 rpm with the throttle lever, just chugging along the rpm needle will drop to 900-1000 rpm. Step on the clutch and the rpm comes rights back to set point if you don't then the tractor sometimes recovers and sometimes stalls. I thought maybe a bad fuel filter so that got changed, no water in the fuel water drain, and it's flowing so I don't think the fuels gelled. I'm pretty religious with the treatment. We have 2 diesel vehicles, a 60' man lift and 9t forklift. The 2 construction vehicles are all getting there fuel from the same tank with the same treatment and have been running like champs.

 

[Coyote machine]

So it seems a random drop in RPMs that sometimes can recover on it's own, and sometimes, unless you drop the clutch, she stalls.
It could still be fuel related. I would try changing the fuel filter out again, and see if that changes anything. It does help to know the same fuel in the other diesels seems to be working fine.

I can't tell from the pic what you're trying to show us? I can see what looks like coolant in front of the black metal shield; is that the 'cutout' you're referring to? If so, where is the dipstick tube? Is it outside the pic area?

And the area above where the coolant is visible, looks like coolant has been running down that area for some time.