JD4300 manual sez 50/50 mix of antifreeze&H2O?

[samhudson3]

Hi all, it's time to change the antifreeze in my JD 4300 (HST/diesel) and the manual calls for a mix of 50% antifreeze / 50% mix of water. Just wondering why that is?

 

[dusty3030]

That's the mix for most everything.
If you buy straight coolant, you mix it 50/50 with water. Or you can buy premixed that is already 50/50 and just pour it in.
Straight coolant is cheaper than pre mix. Keep that in mind, a gallon of concentrate makes two gallons of finshed product once you mix it with water.

Straight coolant doesn't cool the engine as well and the engine is not intended to run with it. 50/50 mix is good for freeze protection well below zero and cools the engine the best as well.

 

[jonyyuma]

As Dusty said, Plus, Straight anti freeze does NOT work, and it can burn...65% was the maximum on most stuff, in extreme areas?

 

[samhudson3]

Thanks for the explanation, gentlemen. My mechanical know-how is somewhat limited (my dad could barely make coffee) and I lean pretty hard on the TBN community! :thumbsup:

 

[greg_g]

As Dusty said, Plus, Straight anti freeze does NOT work, and it can burn...65% was the maximum on most stuff, in extreme areas?

These days, perhaps. I still remember 70/30 from my Minnesota years. It was so cold one morning, I opened my hood to find out why the starter solenoid wouldn't even click. Found a burst battery. -35F froze the battery, but 70% anti-freeze at least saved me from a split heat exchanger or a pushed out freeze plug.

That said, I'm sure anti-freeze/coolant formulations have improved considerably since those days.

//greg//

 

[pat32rf]

Just how cold does it get in NC...? We use 50/50 up here, good for -40F...

 

[Willl]

and it can burn...

Burn ?, burn what ?

 

[samhudson3]

We've had a mild winter here in the Piedmont of NC. I've got a pear tree that's started blooming and spring peepers have been singing. We're now zone 7b on the new USDA map, lowest temp down to 15F.

Gotta cold front moving in tomorrow, down to 23F with winds of 30-35 in the forecast, coldest weather of the season. Wood rack loaded, so no worries.

 

[pat32rf]

1F here at 10am, spring is coming, getting warmer..

 

[Egon]

Remember that Diesel may require a special antifreeze. For water try and use only demineralized water.