which coolant for kubota engines?????

[namesray]

ok. a while ago here on tbn, I read about the concern of cavitation within a diesel engine cooling system if the proper coolant, or coolant additives, SCA's (supplemental coolant additives) are NOT used. since then, I have been doing a little further research and I would like some more help figuring this one out. I have been flushing my Kubota engines coolant every 2 years as op manual states. I have been using the prestone universal coolant that states safe for all metals (including aluminum). haven't noticed any ill effects for 6+ years (1200 hours), but what I hear about cavitation, I wouldn't until its too late. the Kubota book says to use fresh clean water and antifreeze. dealer says any antifreeze that states safe for all metals is fine. Kubota website only states fresh water and antifreeze. both say nothing about SCA's to prevent cavitation. the closest specific I can come up with is in the op manuel, it states coolant should refer to SAE J1034, more specifically SAEJ814c. the prestone I have been using states it meets astm d3306. (whatever all these sae and astm's mean??????) after looking around at local stores, I found this product, fleet charge

What's New!

states it comes with the proper initial amount of SCA's and don't even need to worry if distilled water is used or not for the 50/50 mix due to an anti scaling additive. fleet charge meets the sae j1034, but also the astm d3306. would this fleet charge product be the better choice over the prestone universal I have been using, or am I over thinking again. this fleet charge is the only coolant with the SCA's that is readily available in my area. most people I talk with around my area about SCA's and cavitation don't have a clue to what I am asking or talking about. the ones who do understand, have given me mixed answers. what do you all think. please help as I am trying to learn this. thanks.

 

[Locoweed]

Kubota Service Lubricant Maintenance

All Applications

Use a 50/50 mixture of clean water and Anti-Freeze. *

* Never mix different colors of antifreeze.

I'll be using the same stuff you have been using when I change mine.

 

[sixdogs]

Deere coolant works for me.

 

[smilinjak]

The coolant that meets the SAE spec is cheap insurance. The few dollars saved with the minimum quality product won't buy the label off the overhaul gasket set not to mention the hard parts and labor.
Smilinjak

 

[90cummins]

Diesel engines that have wet sleeves require special coolants (additives) to prevent cavitation or pitting of the cylinder liner. Wet sleeve diesel engines are particularly prone to cavitation is because the sleeves are machined perfectly round, true and smooth and they act like a bell when the clapper hits it.
In a diesel the clapper is the spontaneous combustion of the fuel which causes a very high pressure spike (diesel knock) that rings the bell (cylinder).
This causes liner to vibration which causes air bubbles to form & collapse on the surface of the cylinder liner. This process actually causes microscopic particles of metal to be torn away from the liner. Over time the pitting can perforate the liner allowing water into the combustion chamber, additives prevent this.
Cast in block cylinders are not as prone to vibrate or ring due to the irregularities of the casting and also because it is an integral cast part of the block.
Cavitation is also an issue with hydraulics.
Below is an article from (TheDieselStop.Com)
Cavitation is a localized low pressure zone that forms adjacent to the outer wall of the cylinder. It is caused by the flexing of the cylinder wall due to the high cylinder pressures experienced in diesel engine ignition. Gasoline engines don't typically get this failure mode due to lower cylinder pressures during ignition. Basically what happens is the cylinder wall quickly expands due to ignition then returns to its original geometry. This expansion of the cylinder wall is more pronounced as you increase the demand for power. Basically when you increase your demand for power you are pumping more fuel into the cylinder. If you have a turbo charged unit you are also increasing air charge. This increase in fuel and air causes a more violent ignition which further increases cylinder pressures and thus increases the flexing of the cylinder wall. This fast cylinder wall movement causes a low pressure zone to be created in the coolant adjacent to the cylinder wall. When this pressure zone drops below the vapor pressure point (temperature, coolant ratio, and additive dependent) a vapor bubble is formed. When this low pressure zone returns to a high pressure zone, the vapor bubble collapses, causing an implosion, or pitting phenomena on the cylinder wall (like hitting the surface with a microscopic ball peen hammer). If left unchecked, it will eventually eat all the way through the cylinder wall.
90cummins

 

[Patches]

Fleet Charge is what I use in my Kioti. I've never done a cost comparison with other (automotive) antifreeze but I'm sure the difference, if any, is not a deal breaker

 

[sixdogs]

Lots of wisdom in the quote below. Anti-freeze is equally important to oil changes and other maintenance items but sadly is often neglected.

Diesel engines that have wet sleeves require special coolants (additives) to prevent cavitation or pitting of the cylinder liner. Wet sleeve diesel engines are particularly prone to cavitation is because the sleeves are machined perfectly round, true and smooth and they act like a bell when the clapper hits it.
In a diesel the clapper is the spontaneous combustion of the fuel which causes a very high pressure spike (diesel knock) that rings the bell (cylinder).
This causes liner to vibration which causes air bubbles to form & collapse on the surface of the cylinder liner. This process actually causes microscopic particles of metal to be torn away from the liner. Over time the pitting can perforate the liner allowing water into the combustion chamber, additives prevent this.
Cast in block cylinders as prone to vibrate or ring due to the irregularities of the casting and also because it is an integral cast part of the block.
Cavitation is also an issue with hydraulics.
Below is an article from (TheDieselStop.Com)
Cavitation is a localized low pressure zone that forms adjacent to the outer wall of the cylinder. It is caused by the flexing of the cylinder wall due to the high cylinder pressures experienced in diesel engine ignition. Gasoline engines don't typically get this failure mode due to lower cylinder pressures during ignition. Basically what happens is the cylinder wall quickly expands due to ignition then returns to its original geometry. This expansion of the cylinder wall is more pronounced as you increase the demand for power. Basically when you increase your demand for power you are pumping more fuel into the cylinder. If you have a turbo charged unit you are also increasing air charge. This increase in fuel and air causes a more violent ignition which further increases cylinder pressures and thus increases the flexing of the cylinder wall. This fast cylinder wall movement causes a low pressure zone to be created in the coolant adjacent to the cylinder wall. When this pressure zone drops below the vapor pressure point (temperature, coolant ratio, and additive dependent) a vapor bubble is formed. When this low pressure zone returns to a high pressure zone, the vapor bubble collapses, causing an implosion, or pitting phenomena on the cylinder wall (like hitting the surface with a microscopic ball peen hammer). If left unchecked, it will eventually eat all the way through the cylinder wall.
90cummins

 

[namesray]

ok great explanation of cavitation above. so does anyone know if the Kubota engines (specifically v 1505's on b7800 and b3200 and d902 on rtv) are they wet sleeved or dry sleeved? still kind of confused here because like locoweed post said, the Kubota website just says clean water and antifreeze for all applications. does that mean the Kubota engines might be dry sleeved? and would I be better off using the fleet charge with the sca's anyway? I am going to do my 2 year flush on the b7800 soon and that would be when I would switch from prestone to the fleet charge if I do switch so no mixing of the 2 different coolants. would the fleet charge harm the engine at all? never saw anything about the fleet charge saying anything about being safe for all metals including aluminum. what's everyone's opinion on switching to the fleet charge (specs in my first post if anyone wants to see them.) thanks everyone for the help this far. keep the info coming.

 

[timswi]

The Kubota dealer told me to get the automotive green stuff for my BX...They said they don't even stock Kubota anti-freeze for that reason.

 

[number two]

Conventional green coolant is what you want for your tractors.Your Kubota tractors are parent bore engines i.e. no sleeves.Almost a little hard to find at times because automobiles have not used this coolant for over ten years.Don't overthink this-it's still the old days as far Kubota coolant.Get some regular ethelyene glycol green stuff and mix 50/50 with distilled water,change every two years.Good Luck!