Antifreeze System Help

[T-190]

Howdy, I'm new to the forum. I picked up a 2000 T-190 last year because we are building a new house on a hill and I want to do all the land scaping myself. I was working with the T-190 last week and noticed that engine coolant is blowing out the sides where the radiator fan blows out. It is a very small leak somewhere under the radiator, but I can't seem to find it. Looks like I can lift the top cover, lift up on the oil cooler, and then see the radiator. It all seems to look normal. I think that my next step is to pull the radiator and have it checked out. As long as the system is drained, I plan on switching to a less expensive Ethylene Glycol versus Propylene Glycol. Any adivce on where or how to find this leak? Any advice on switching to Ethylene? Thanks!

 

[Blaine]

Clean everything up. Then go to your local Autozone and borrow a cooling system pressure tester. Pressurize the system. This will help you to find the leak.

 

[bobbie-g]

Clean everything up. Then go to your local Autozone and borrow a cooling system pressure tester. Pressurize the system. This will help you to find the leak.

T-190, I sure don't know the real reason to use propylene glycol, but Bobcat recommends it. I stayed with it in my 751. Flushed the system, replaced the thermostat and refilled with the premixed propylene glycol. Yes, it was $7 a gallon for the premixed stuff (half strength), but it only took 3 gallons, and I only have to do that every 3 or 4 years, so it's worth it to me if it keeps the corrosion down. Also, I wasn't sure at all how I would get all the old stuff flushed out if I were gonna switch. This way I don't much care. Just my ideas. As for the leak, the standard fix in a car with ethylene glycol is to just dump in some leak stop stuff (Bars Leaks or equivalent), but I don't know how that would interact with the propylene glycol, although the leak-stop container should say. Then again, maybe that's a good reason to switch to ethylene glycol. --- Bob

 

[Tazza]

T-190, I sure don't know the real reason to use propylene glycol, but Bobcat recommends it. I stayed with it in my 751. Flushed the system, replaced the thermostat and refilled with the premixed propylene glycol. Yes, it was $7 a gallon for the premixed stuff (half strength), but it only took 3 gallons, and I only have to do that every 3 or 4 years, so it's worth it to me if it keeps the corrosion down. Also, I wasn't sure at all how I would get all the old stuff flushed out if I were gonna switch. This way I don't much care. Just my ideas. As for the leak, the standard fix in a car with ethylene glycol is to just dump in some leak stop stuff (Bars Leaks or equivalent), but I don't know how that would interact with the propylene glycol, although the leak-stop container should say. Then again, maybe that's a good reason to switch to ethylene glycol. --- Bob

Once you fnd the leak, i suggest you flush the system. Buy the same brand cooling system flush as the anti-freeze/anti-boil you will be using. Follow the instructions on the bottle. When you re-fill the system make sure the engine is NOT hot, if it is, you may crack the head. Let it cool for say 1/2 hr and you should be fine.

 

[sterlclan]

Once you fnd the leak, i suggest you flush the system. Buy the same brand cooling system flush as the anti-freeze/anti-boil you will be using. Follow the instructions on the bottle. When you re-fill the system make sure the engine is NOT hot, if it is, you may crack the head. Let it cool for say 1/2 hr and you should be fine.

orange plus green equals slush if you cant/dont get all the orange anti freeze out the green will make slushy stuff could plug a port or the radiator as bad as it is I would stick to the orange. napa sells some not pre mixed we use it for all of ours that need orange and add water not too bad as far as cost just my 2 cents worth Jeff

 

[skidsteer.ca]

orange plus green equals slush if you cant/dont get all the orange anti freeze out the green will make slushy stuff could plug a port or the radiator as bad as it is I would stick to the orange. napa sells some not pre mixed we use it for all of ours that need orange and add water not too bad as far as cost just my 2 cents worth Jeff

You need to get your hands on a pressure tester for cooling systems, usually just a fancy rad cap you put on and a hand pump. You pump a few psi into the sytem and look/listen for the leak. Engine stays off. You could improvise with a air compressor and a pressure regulaor. I believe the cooant drain cock on the kubota engine is just common 1/4" pipe thread. Remove it by unscrewing it from the block and hook the air regualtor into there, connect to your compressor and set regualtor at 4 or 5 psi (must be below pressure rating of rad cap) listen for the leak. Good uck Ken