L3400 draining coolant

[canoetrpr]

Just finished a whole big service on my L3400 including draining the coolant.

My manual claims that the capacity is ~6L. After draining completely several times (had the cooling system cleaner in there and then a few flushes with just water), it took only 3L each time to fill up to the top of the radiator cap.

That is not much more than 1/2 of the capacity!.

Can anyone else confirm how much they were able to drain / refill?

 

[LD1]

Just finished a whole big service on my L3400 including draining the coolant.

My manual claims that the capacity is ~6L. After draining completely several times (had the cooling system cleaner in there and then a few flushes with just water), it took only 3L each time to fill up to the top of the radiator cap.

That is not much more than 1/2 of the capacity!.

Can anyone else confirm how much they were able to drain / refill?

I havent done mine yet so I dont know for sure how much mine holds, but that doesn't sound like a lot.

The only thing I noticed is that the manual says that the radiator cap MUST be removed to get al of the coolant out. Did you do that?

I know on some autos, it is impossible to get all of the coolant out with the radiator drain. There is always some left in the block. But looking at the design of the L3400 and where the lower hose is, that shouldn't be the case.

Sorry I wasn't much help, but I too am curious to hear what others that have done it have to say.

 

[ritschner]

I have never been able to completely drain any of my vehicles, even those with a block drain. I always do the final flush with distilled water, then add one half of the coolant capacity in straight antifreeze and then top with distilled water. In your case, when it stops draining, add 3 liters on straight antifreeze and then top with distilled water.

 

[canoetrpr]

Wish I had bought the premixed stuff to take the guesswork out of this!

Here is what I did.
- Drained old coolant
- Added cleaner and distlled water, ran engine, drained.
- Added distiller water only, ran engine, drained.
- Added 2l of coolant, 1l of distilled water, ran engine, drained.
- Added 2l of coolant, 1l of distilled water and filled the recovery tank with water as the manual suggests.

You guys think I am ok with this? Or should I drain and add a larger % of coolant since it is only taking 3l? Would hate to damage my cylinders from frozen coolant. The coldest it has gotten here is -30 Celcius.

 

[Earl Ohl]

Wish I had bought the premixed stuff to take the guesswork out of this!

Here is what I did.
- Drained old coolant
- Added cleaner and distlled water, ran engine, drained.
- Added distiller water only, ran engine, drained.
- Added 2l of coolant, 1l of distilled water, ran engine, drained.
- Added 2l of coolant, 1l of distilled water and filled the recovery tank with water as the manual suggests.

You guys think I am ok with this? Or should I drain and add a larger % of coolant since it is only taking 3l? Would hate to damage my cylinders from frozen coolant. The coldest it has gotten here is -30 Celcius.

You need to get a cooling system tester & check the freeze level of the coolant mixture & go from there. Otherwise you're just guessing.

 

[thavil]

Just finished a whole big service on my L3400 including draining the coolant.

My manual claims that the capacity is ~6L. After draining completely several times (had the cooling system cleaner in there and then a few flushes with just water), it took only 3L each time to fill up to the top of the radiator cap.

That is not much more than 1/2 of the capacity!.

Can anyone else confirm how much they were able to drain / refill?

Not sure if this will help you or not but I had the same issue with my BX24. Ends up, not documented in the manual, the block had a drain plug and this allowed me to get most of the coolant drained. Here is a thread that describes my issue and on post #5, there is a link to another thread that has a picture of the block drain plug that may help you out http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ng/177267-bx-radiator-drain-plug-removal.html.

 

[beersngars]

I have never been able to completely drain any of my vehicles, even those with a block drain. I always do the final flush with distilled water, then add one half of the coolant capacity in straight antifreeze and then top with distilled water. In your case, when it stops draining, add 3 liters on straight antifreeze and then top with distilled water.

This method is 100% correct. The max effective mix for antifreeze and water is 50/50. Knowing the capacity is 6l, and it is drained and only has water left, you will be at 50/50 by adding 50% of the capacity with antifreeze and topping off with water.

Also as some one mentioned, a tester is a great tool and will give you peice of mind.

BTW....You can used compressed air (carefully) at the neck of the radiator to get more water out of the block. Just cup your hand around the neck and blow some air thru it.

 

[teg]

I pulled the bottom hose off the engine block (for me it was easier and more complete). I never measured what came out (or what I put back in) so I can't help you with the amounts. I flushed with plain water several times. I don't have photos with me here...

 

[Egon]

You should be able to determine the quantity of fluid left in the block by adding
and measuring how much 50/50 antifreeze mix it takes to fill up. After filling and running engine to circulate and mix the fluids check the freeze point. Then a ratio calculation should come up with the amount of retained fluid that will give you your present coolant degree of frost protection.

Uh-- I think.

 

[LD1]

I agree, Get a tester. Especially up in canada.

And on a side note, the MAX effective ratio of antifreeze and water is NOT 50/50.

50/50 only gives a -34 F protection. The "experts" reccomend between 40% and 70% antifreeze. With 70% offering the best protection @ -84 F.

Sorry, you will have to do the conversion to C.

More than 70% and the freezing point starts warming back up.

Another note, pure 100% ehtelene glycol based antifreeze will freeze solid at +8 degrees F. And Propylene based will NOT freeze at all. But it is still not recomended to run it at more than 70% because antifreeze isn't as good of a conductor of heat as water.

 

[canoetrpr]

Ok I'm having a minor heart attack here. Stopped by my shop to go over the manual once more before heading out to purchase a tester.

Manual clearly tells you to fill the recovery tank with water only after filling the rad with coolant water mix. I questioned this but followed the manual. Ran the engine for 15 min last night. Today it is about -10 C / ~20 some F. The recovery tank only has water in it and is frozen solid!

How much trouble I in and what would you guys recommend?

Also, this time around I bought the coolant formulated for diesel engines. I realize this engine should not require it but figured I am doing no harm. Is that correct.

FWIW, the manual only points to the drain plug on the rad.

 

[LD1]

Ok I'm having a minor heart attack here. Stopped by my shop to go over the manual once more before heading out to purchase a tester.

Manual clearly tells you to fill the recovery tank with water only after filling the rad with coolant water mix. I questioned this but followed the manual. Ran the engine for 15 min last night. Today it is about -10 C / ~20 some F. The recovery tank only has water in it and is frozen solid!

How much trouble I in and what would you guys recommend?

Also, this time around I bought the coolant formulated for diesel engines. I realize this engine should not require it but figured I am doing no harm. Is that correct.

FWIW, the manual only points to the drain plug on the rad.

I don't have my manual in front of me but I do remember reading that very same thing. But Didn't really pay it any attention because I have a GST and NO recovery tank.

Did you run the tractor at all after topping it off??? I'll assume kubotas logic is that the coolant would intermix after running a bit. But it could have been just a simple error.

I wouldn't worry too much about the engine and radiator cause it has mixed fluid in it. Hopefully the recovery tank hasn't cracked. I would get it into a heated shop for awhile and let it thaw. Then either run it a good bit so it mixes or drain the recovery tank and top off with a 50/50 mix

 

[canoetrpr]

I ran it for about 15 min. Recovery tank does not seem cracked. Fortunately this am it is only half full so once I get it thawed, I'm going to get antifreeze in there.

I don't know what the mechanics of circulation are with the recovery tank buy it is not enough to get the motor running. The manual should really suggest using a mix for the tank.

 

[thavil]

Ok I'm having a minor heart attack here. Stopped by my shop to go over the manual once more before heading out to purchase a tester.

Manual clearly tells you to fill the recovery tank with water only after filling the rad with coolant water mix. I questioned this but followed the manual. Ran the engine for 15 min last night. Today it is about -10 C / ~20 some F. The recovery tank only has water in it and is frozen solid!

How much trouble I in and what would you guys recommend?

Also, this time around I bought the coolant formulated for diesel engines. I realize this engine should not require it but figured I am doing no harm. Is that correct.

FWIW, the manual only points to the drain plug on the rad.

Again, not sure if I am helping here since I have a BX but my manual says to fill the recovery tank with a 50/50 mix and not just distilled water.

From what I have read on TBN, you can't go wrong with using coolant formulated for diesel engines. This is what I used after reading many posts about this subject.

One question I have wondered about after changing my coolant out is whether the coolant in the recovery tank actually mixes with the coolant in the block/radiator. When I dumped my coolant out through the lower radiator hose and block plug, all the coolant in the recovery tank was still there. Per the manual, I drained and filled the recovery tank separately since it wasn't drained/filled while servicing the radiator.

As for your frozen recovery tank, if you put straight coolant in and overfill it a little, it may thaw the ice and then you can drain out the overfilled fluid.

 

[canoetrpr]

Nothing like having a heater in the shop when the recovery tank freezes!

Got it all thawed and mixed with coolant. Coolant tester was a whole $4.99. It said the freeze point was about -30. I added a little bit more to give me some more room just incase.

Thanks for all the help.

In other news, I went to wrap up my service with some greasing only to find out that the battery on my Lincoln grease gun needs to be replaced. I suspect leaving it out in the cold shop in the winter - albeit in the charger, is a habit I will have to change.

 

[jonyyuma]

My 2003 L3000 does not have a coolant recovery tank. But it does have a square drain plug, right below the Fuel injector pump. I took this plug out to remove the rest of the coolant water, and gunk from the block. Try to take a look, it might let you see about the rest of the coolant in your engine too.??Mine held a full gallon of coolant and then several quarts of distilled water???3 cylinder--32 hp . jy