Winter Fronts on Tractors

[coobie]

No winterfront.

 

[JSharp]

I thought so too.

It depends on the tractor. Mine has a 1/2"+ ID hose for a coolant bypass around the thermostat. In cold conditions that provides enough coolant flow even with the thermostat closed to overcool the engine when it's not under a heavy load. The only way to get the engine up to normal operating temp under those conditions is to restrict the airflow through the radiator.

 

[radioman]

Well let me rephrase - Do the little BX's needs to be blocked ifyou have a cab heater ? I dont know since the kubota BX's design has the fan blowing heat OVER the engine , not out. I doubt it needs to be blocked since the engine gets some of heat back from fan blowing direction. This is esp true ifyou just need to clear driveway but it doesnt takeyou long and i dont want my tractor running a little cool. If i block mine, then the tractor wouldnt get any of that heat. anyone concur ?

 

[JSharp]

If it gets to normal operating temp, thermostat cycling, then it obviously doesn't need anything.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Did a little experiment this past weekend....I had to move the tractor out of the garage to get at some stuff and it was wicked cold out....block heater ran for 20 mins, started tractor, let it run for 10 mins in the garage (when I say garage, I mean one of those temporary "tarp garages") then took it out...changed all 4 tires on her car and when I got back in the cab, the coolant was still too cool...the air blowing from the heater was slightly warmed at best.
I'm thinking that between the Cab heater and the radiator, she's cooling too much....granted i wasnt loading it...but still, you would think after 30 mins of running she'd be blowing hot air like in your car...SOOO I blocked off the rad 1/2 way with a piece of cardboard and we'll see what happens.

One difference between your car & a tractor in the radiator is the cooling fan...Most cars have electic fans that turn off/on along with the t-stat. Tractor fan runs ALL The time.

 

[KennyV]

Tractor intake is wide open all the time, LOTS of cold air going through the engine ALL the time.
It is actually an internal air cooling system.
Unless you are working a diesel engine hard the injectors are not delivering enough fuel to heat things up.
Block it all the way, it dose not need the air flow across the rad, especially if you are not loading it with real work. KennyV.

 

[John861]

If thats truly the case...why does every Diesel truck running in a cold weather area come with FACTORY (GM/Ford/Peterbilt/Kenworth/etc) winter front? I know all my buddies with Duramax trucks all got winter fronts with their trucks... In the wintertime around here the only trucks without em are out of state trucks and trucks headed south...

Keep in mind that on the smaller diesel trucks (3/4 and 1 tons), the winter front is for snow ingestion only. Those thinks suck up snow like a hoover, especially when plowing. If then engine isn't hot enough to melt the snow in the air cleaner, it will stall out. The end result is the same - warmer engine, underhood temps, and faster warm-up, but it isn't necessary if you don't operate in snow.
Anyway, it shouldn't be a problem on a tractor.

 

[jsboening]

I know with my duramax if I don't use the winter cover at least on the grill I don't get good heat in the winter. The windows take forever to defrost and the wife complains. With the winter cover on I get good heat and the engine gets up to temperature quicker, which is a good thing in my opinion.