[hankvc]

This afternoon, I drained the cooling system on my 330. What came out was green stuff with a glycol smell. I measured how much I drained from the block and radiator, and got something slightly over 2 quarts. TM1591 is specific that the cooling system capacity on the 322, 330, and 332 is 3 quarts. Even allowing for the amounts spilled, I did not get as much as 2-1/4 quarts.

With the block drain open and the radiator drain closed, I ran water through the system until it ran clear. After allowing the block to drain completely, I measured 2 quarts to fill the radiator. Then, I drove the tractor around until it was up to operating temperature. Rechecked the coolant level and it had not gone down at all.

I'm a bit nonplussed at this point. First off, I'd expect to have drained a measurable 2-3/4 quarts from a 3 quart system, and what I got was at least a pint less. Secondly, I've refilled hundreds of automotive cooling systems after a complete drain, and almost invariably have had to burp the system by running the engine until the thermostat opens, after which I expect to add considerably more coolant. Does this system have a significant quantity of non-drainable coolant?

I have a gallon of Cool-Guard II concentrate, which I'll have to mix with water to the needed strength. This tractor will be stored in an open shed, so will be subjected to outside temperatures as it sits. That means protection to -40 (C or F, same temp at that point) minimum. That suggests a mix of 55-60% coolant. The tool I have available is a Prestone hydrometer. I'll have to check its calibration at 50% and 60%, but the Prestone ratios appear to the same as the Cool-Guard. It appears that I can't just premix a 60% solution and just dump it in and call it good.

Tomorrow, I'll do another complete drain and refill with water, and measure what comes out of both the block and radiator again. After that, I'll run the engine and monitor the coolant temp in the top tank to make sure the thermostat is present and functional. I have a suitable thermometer for that.

Any comments on this? I'm new to the liquid cooled small engine world, so am proceeding slowly with this.

Hank

 

[minisub]

Hank,
I've never removed anywhere near the stated capacity of coolant in engines large or small. I usually run a few cold/ hot cycles of water after the initial drain. Then, put in the amount of coolant based on stated capacity for the mix I want and top off with water.

I find the same is true with oil. Even with a good dipstick level no where near the amount of a full fill comes out, and there can't be that much imbeded in the filter....mysteries...

 

[coalminer16]

You need to do what Tom said. Unless everything is taken apart, turned around and around to shake all the fluid out and things are left a while to dry-you will never pull the same out that the system holds. A radiator rebuilder told me the same thing-put the coolant in the system first on what is needed for the % and then top off with water. Careful not to run too long on water. Diesels can harm the cylinder sleeves without the proper coolant from the diesel igniting and it isn't good on the water pumps either.

 

[KB]

I just changed It in my 430. I was a little low, but drained 3 quarts and refilled with a gallon. The capacity is stated at 1 gallon.

 

[hankvc]

Just to close the loop on this one, here is what I did.

I mixed 50/50 and 60/40 ratios of Cool-Guard and water, and calibrated my Prestone hydrometer by measuring them. As expected, the hydrometer did not settle on the Prestone calibrations, but did settle on two substantially different places. Since my objective was to fill the system with over 50% and under 60% Cool-Guard, just knowing those two points was sufficient for a go/no-go measurement of what was in the cooling system.

I premixed 2 quarts of coolant at 60%, and put that into the system. That put the coolant over the radiator tubes, but low in the tank. Started the engine, and ran it a few minutes to mix it with anything non-drainable in the system. A hydrometer check put it at around 55% (estimated).
Mixed another pint at 60%, which was enough to fill the tank about 3/4 full, and called that good.

In actuality, I used 20 oz/quart of coolant, slightly over 60%. Total coolant was 50 oz. That's only 2 oz. more than 50% of 3 quarts.
Clear to me that my tractor's system won't use a full 3 quarts of coolant, including any that was non-drainable, as the final measurement was closer to 60% effective.

Two reasons for using the concentrate vs. the premix:
1. local dealer price for the concentrate was not that much higher than for the premix. No point in paying for water in a jug.
2. I wanted over 50%, as lowest anticipated temps the tractor will see where I store it are -40 or a bit below. I wanted a bit more safety factor than the -37C protection given by a 50% solution.

Hank