buy the right anti-freeze

[Hambone]

One reason is there are more than one type. You can't mix.
The expense is another.
If you have a $125,000 truck on the road and gets low on coolant, driver pulls in truck stop, gets gallon of anti-freeze and adds to it.... you end up with a big mess, big mess.
Same if your neighbor or brother ect uses your tractor, oh by the way I noticed you were a little low on coolant so I added some from you. Thats okay I had some in my truck, didn't want to use yours up....

If mixed sometimes will form this god awful goo that you can flush and flush. After removing radiator and heater core...

But, if you had all new equipment from one manufacture.....

With the extended life people/ shops tend to neglect the cooling sys. Forget about maintaining.

 

[gsxr1100]

I agree with Bird on this one.

I use Fleetrite antifreeze in my BX22, Suzuki-gsxr1100, Lexus and my wife's Mercedes-Benz. I used it in my Ford-350 Powerstroke diesel (5-years) and it worked great. My Motorcyle rad is clean as the first day using Fleetguard (Fleetright), 10 years old now! . It is $1.50 more per gallon then the yellow junk but worth the money when it comes down to performance.

oh, the old Ford diesel (international) had sleeve problems because Ford left the SCA section out of the manual so my old service guy said. !!!!

 

[Hambone]

Forgot one other thing, they recommended using ionized water forst, then distilled.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

I'd rather pay a little more and buy Case-IH antifeeze from the dealer. That way, I am sure I bought the right stuff.

 

[fivestring]

Bird,
I was told by the dealer to use regular antifreeze. That's what they put in it.
I probably will switch to Fleetguard when I change, though. How often should antifreeze be changed?
I've only got 25 hours on this antifreeze.

 

[pruntyc]

I'm afraid I don't always do it, but most say ever couple of years. I generally leave mine in 3 or 4. I have heard of some people never changeing it. I don't think that is wise, its probably better to change it every year of two. It don't cost enough to not change it. So I know I should also.

 

[cowboydoc]

We always change every 2 years or 500 hours. Maintenance is the cheapest insurance you can buy.

 

[Bird]

Gary, I don't know enough about antifreeze to say for sure how long it's good. Many, many years ago, I changed the antifreeze in my cars annually, but in more recent years, I've even forgotten about it for up to 4 years in a car and haven't had a problem. However, just my opinion agrees with Cowboydoc; two years, and that's what I did with my tractor.

 

[fivestring]

Thanks, Bird.
I might go ahead and change out this winter.
This will be the second winter project...
I bought a small trickle charger and quick disconnect that I will wire up to the battery and the workshop. I hate dead batteries.
Doc, it would take me 8-10 years to get 500 hours!!! You sure get to play a lot!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

Well I'm not sure if play is the right word but I do put alot of hours on my tractors. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif