Antifreeze in rear tire?

[sgoldste01]

I bought a used JD GT245 (2003 model year) last winter for what I think was a good price ($2100 including JD 10P dump cart and tow-behind fertilizer spreader). 500 hours on clock.

This spring, before using it for the first time, I was going through the normal tune-up procedures (sharpen blades, fluid/filter changes, grease fittings, air in tires, etc.). When I went to put air in one of the rear tires, I couldn't get air into it, and instead noticed a drop of what I assume is anti-freeze drip out of the air fitting (I assume this because of the bright green color that looks like anti-freeze).

It is my assumption that the previous owner filled one rear tire with anti-freeze to add weight to the rear of the tractor. Is this a common practice? Is it normal to only do this to one rear tire but not the other? Should I just leave this set-up alone even though none of the tasks I do with the tractor require extra weight in the rear?

 

[rayikeo2]

Instead of antifreeze it might be "Slime". Slime is green as you described and oozes out of the valve stem very slowly because it is thick. Slime seals leaks like nail holes, thorns holes and any other leak so you don't have to take the tire in for repair. I use it all the time in all 4 of my mower tires.

You can put air into the tire 2 ways, 1) use higher pressure. 2) remove the valve core and put in a new one. Since your tire is low, that is an indication you need to add another few ounces of slime to renew the leak mending process. Use a valve cap on that tire after filling with air. Slime saves you many trips to the tire store at $15 a pop. Slime can be bought at your tractor supply store and put into the tire by yourself. Instructions are included.
Always have the valve stem at the top of the wheel when adding air or slime, you can reuse the valve core by taking it out and wipeing the slime off with water and replace the core into the stem.

 

[sgoldste01]

Actually, I don't know that the tire pressure was low. Now that you mention it, I didn't see the green stuff drip from the valve stem when I tried to put air into the tire. I saw it drip from the valve stem when I tried to use my pressure gauge to get a pressure reading from the tire. I wasn't able to get a pressure reading, of course, and when I saw the green stuff dripping out, I thought it indicated that the tire was filled with anti-freeze.

As I recall, the green stiff was thin, not thick. So does that make you re-think that it's anti-freeze for weight rather than slime for plugging a leak?

 

[beppington]

Roll the tire so the valve stem is at the top & try to read the pressure again.

 

[rayikeo2]

Not al all..and you will probably find the slime in the other 3 tires too. When you let air out of the stem to check the pressure the slime is trying to plug the leak. It stops the air from coming out. I always check the pressure in my tires by putting my foot on the tire and pushing down, if it feels tight, the air is fine. I never check pounds with a guage.
Slime for a rear tire only requires about 8 oz depending on the tire size. It stays at the bottom as the tire rolls so it always covers the entire tread as it revolves. There fore if you do check the air do so with the valve up and the slime will not interfere as much.
Never have heard of putting in antifreeze to add weight.

 

[rayikeo2]

Go to this web site and it will tell you everything there is to know about slime, including the installation of it into your tires.

SLIME - Worldwide Leader in Tire Care - Repairing a flat tire? Slime Tire & Tube Sealant
Go to products page, then to tire sealant page, page down toward bottom for full informatiom.

It could be the only tire that developed a leak on your tractor was the one you checked, and the only one with the slime, but they probably all have it.

 

[beenthere]

Windshield washer fluid is quite commonly used for weight in tires, and cheaper than antifreeze.

Run some out in a clear plastic cup to see if you can decipher what it is.

Will be good to know what is there. Seems from what little is reported so far from the OP, we'd be jumping to conclusions to think it is slime.

 

[rayikeo2]

Windshield washer fluid is quite commonly used for weight in tires, and cheaper than antifreeze.

Run some out in a clear plastic cup to see if you can decipher what it is.

Will be good to know what is there. Seems from what little is reported so far from the OP, we'd be jumping to conclusions to think it is slime.

If it was any other fluid other than slime it would have squirted out a 1/2 cup or more when checking the pressure.

 

[SPYDERLK]

If it was any other fluid other than slime it would have squirted out a 1/2 cup or more when checking the pressure.

Only if a klutz was checking the pressure.
larry

 

[nwltruck]

I would try to figure out what it is. There is an old trick of puting antifreeze in truck tires to balence them, but the AF will damage the rubber in the long term. Not that big of a deal with lawn mower tires but on a truck it can cause a blowout. I could see using it for balast, cheeper than a name brand tire balast....
How mutch came out? Could it have been a small amount of water and cerosion from the brass in the valve.