BX2380 Draining and Replacing Coolant

[JesseM]

I have a BX2380 and I'm planning to drain and replace the coolant for the first time. I was looking through the manual as well as trying to find videos online and I think I have a pretty good idea of what I need to do, however, on a BX2380 is there a bleeder valve anywhere to bleed the air out once I start filling it with coolant?

Also, any recommendations on what to use to get a 50/50 mix of distilled water and antifreeze? Large measuring cups or pitchers for example?

Any other things I should keep in mind while draining and refilling?

Thanks in advance!

 

[PoTreeBoy]

I have a BX2380 and I'm planning to drain and replace the coolant for the first time. I was looking through the manual as well as trying to find videos online and I think I have a pretty good idea of what I need to do, however, on a BX2380 is there a bleeder valve anywhere to bleed the air out once I start filling it with coolant?

Also, any recommendations on what to use to get a 50/50 mix of distilled water and antifreeze? Large measuring cups or pitchers for example?

Any other things I should keep in mind while draining and refilling?

Thanks in advance!

Just follow the owner's manual. Use a heavy duty diesel 50/50 pre-mix. Saves you the trouble of buying distilled water and measuring.

After you finish, keep a closer eye on the temperature gauge for a few days, and top off the radiator before you start it the next few times.

We have a Ford 3930 that requires an additive. It has dry liners, and I don't understand the cavitation issue. Next time I change it, I'll probably just use the diesel pre-mix, now that it's available. There's a company that sells the additives and test kits to maintain the required levels, if you're so inclined, but I think that's a bit overboard for a small engine.

 

[DustyRusty]

If he has a cab with a heater he is going to need one of those new suckers that creates a vacuum to fill the coolant and not create an air bubble in the heater core.

 

[lynnmor]

Also, any recommendations on what to use to get a 50/50 mix of distilled water and antifreeze? Large measuring cups or pitchers for example?

I simply get a gallon of distilled water and a gallon of antifreeze and pour them together into a DEF jug. That way I have two gallons of coolant for only a little more than the 50/50 scam.

 

[GeoHorn]

Pour half a gallon of Prestone….then half a gallon of distilled water…. repeat…etc. until full.
Keep cap off until up to operating temperature…so as to observe any “drop” in coolant level…. Top it off when the coolant circulates/level-drops….

If you don’t have a coolant-recovery-reservoir… add one.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016V2BIB0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[JesseM]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I was able to find the Kubota brand 50/50 prediluted coolant mix so will use that.

I have a recovery reservoir on already and no heated cab. (With the NY winters and front mounted snow blower I have I wish I had a heated cab. Lol)

 

[JesseM]

I've encountered another issue. This is the first time I've attempted to take the drain plug off the engine block but apparently Kubota torqued it on so much that I can't break it free without almost stripping the head.

Any suggestions how to get the plug out?

 

[DustyRusty]

Put some heat from a torch on it and hope for the best. Use good tools like Snap-On or Mac so you don't round off the flats of the drain. Drain plugs usually have left-hand threads to open them, but right-hand threads if you are trying to remove the entire drain plug unit.

 

[RCW]

Right or wrong, I just drain from the lower radiator hose with radiator cap off.

 

[D2Cat]

Right or wrong, I just drain from the lower radiator hose with radiator cap off.

Save the grief of something breaking, remove a clamp!

 

[RCW]

Save the grief of something breaking, remove a clamp!

That was my theory.

The radiator has a wonky plastic drain too, but I chose not to go there either....

Too many opportunities for failures.

Hose clamp, not so much.