Coolant flush or drain/fill?

[Andyr9981]

All,

I had just stumbled across the coolant change recommended interval of 2000 hrs OR 2 years in my manual, and saw it mentioned doing a flush? I’d like anyone’s opinion on this with their experience… I’m no professional but I highly doubt that at 2 years old with not even 200 hours on my L2502 that the factory coolant should be degraded enough to flush? If I am mistaken please advise me. Give me your insights on staying with the Kubota coolant or an aftermarket name like the Prestone all makes and models coolant. Thank you all in advance!

 

[TheOldHokie]

All,

I had just stumbled across the coolant change recommended interval of 2000 hrs OR 2 years in my manual, and saw it mentioned doing a flush? I’d like anyone’s opinion on this with their experience… I’m no professional but I highly doubt that at 2 years old with not even 200 hours on my L2502 that the factory coolant should be degraded enough to flush? If I am mistaken please advise me. Give me your insights on staying with the Kubota coolant or an aftermarket name like the Prestone all makes and models coolant. Thank you all in advance!

This topic has beem beaten to death.

My L3901 manual is quite explicit:

"Service life of Kubota long life coolant is 2 years"

Thats their product so they should know.

If/when you change it use your favorite flavor/color of long life coolant and follow the coolant manufacturers recommended schedule.

Dan

 

[Bmyers]

I drained mine and then refilled. I did not flush the system. I used an aftermarket that merry the specs.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I drained mine and then refilled. I did not flush the system. I used an aftermarket that merry the specs.

Please elaborate - what are the specs?

Dan

 

[Bmyers]

It called for

Please elaborate - what are the specs?

Dan

Page 113 of the manual. Im on my phone, which i hate posting with, put i can't copy and paste on my phone.

My wife can do everything in the phone, I prefer my laptop.

 

[TheOldHokie]

It called for

Page 113 of the manual. Im on my phone, which i hate posting with, put i can't copy and paste on my phone.

My wife can do everything in the phone, I prefer my laptop.

I dont have the owner's manual but I do have the WSM. It says to use

"ethlyene glycol long life coolant"

and simply refers to it as antifreeze. That's not much of a specification and includes just about everything on the market.

Dan

 

[SDT]

All,

I had just stumbled across the coolant change recommended interval of 2000 hrs OR 2 years in my manual, and saw it mentioned doing a flush? I’d like anyone’s opinion on this with their experience… I’m no professional but I highly doubt that at 2 years old with not even 200 hours on my L2502 that the factory coolant should be degraded enough to flush? If I am mistaken please advise me. Give me your insights on staying with the Kubota coolant or an aftermarket name like the Prestone all makes and models coolant. Thank you all in advance!

I follow both equipment manufacturer's and coolant manufacturer's recommended service intervals.

Generally, the green stuff should be changed every two years, while the newer orange, etc., coolant usually has a longer life.

Not sure what you mean by "flush" but I strongly recommend against using commercial coolant system flush chemicals. When young, I routinely used such chemicals to flush cooling systems but finally tired of changing leaking water pumps shortly therafter and ceased using such products in the early 80s. Haven't changed a leaking water pump since.

If you use concentrated anti freeze, do not top off with municipal tap water. Use distilled water instead. I also use distilled water when flushing.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I follow both equipment manufacturer's and coolant manufacturer's recommended service intervals.

Generally, the green stuff should be changed every two years, while the newer orange, etc., coolant usually has a longer life.

Not sure what you mean by "flush" but I strongly recommend against using commercial coolant system flush chemicals. When young, I routinely used such chemicals to flush cooling systems but finally tired of changing leaking water pumps shortly therafter and ceased using such products in the early 80s. Haven't changed a leaking water pump since.

If you use concentrated anti freeze, do not top off with municipal tap water. Use distilled water instead. I also use distilled water when flushing.

Well if you follow the owner's manual Kubota recommends flushing with a commercial cooling system cleaner before refilling.

Dan

 

[SDT]

Well if you follow the owner's manual Kubota recommends flushing with a commercial cooling system cleaner before refilling.

Dan

View attachment 176543

As stated, I follow recommended service intervals.

Experience has taught me to avoid commercial coolant flush chemicals so I will continue to do so.

 

[BergyPatty37]

@Andyr9981 I would suggest flushing if you are changing coolant types/manufacturers, or if you do not know what is currently in there. Otherwise if you have had tractor since new and are using Kubota recommended coolant I would think you would be ok just doing a drain in fill after 2 years.
I just picked up a used tractor and will be doing a flush since I do not know what specific type of coolant the previous owner used, and some coolants do not mix well and can actually coagulate and block passages.

 

[lmichael]

When I first got my G2160, I'm sure if it had ever been changed the last time was a very long time previous. When I opened the petcock it would not even drain. I had to take it out and drain out clean out all the debris and rust clogging it up. The petcock worked fine after so, I then did a flush on the system finishing up running with distilled water and multiple drain/fills until it was clear.
Then did a final drain. At that point I had some leftover MOPAR green LL coolant concentrate back from when my late friend and I ran our repair business (yes we worked primarily on then Daimler/Chrysler stuff. Mostly specialized in mini vans). Anyway by then DC had changed it's formula to a LL type coolant. I had a gallon of it so I used it. Ran it for one season. Following season I did a drain, plain distilled water flush until clear. By then I'd gone to the dealer to buy more. He was out of stock. He saw my Toyota. Asked if I had coolant for it. Told me if I did to simply use that as their understanding was Kubota was using basically the formulation of Toyota Pink. I've simply done a drain fill of that every season. Since the system is nice and clean no need for flush now. Last season I used a LL Heavy Duty Diesel coolant made by Fleet Charge. No issues. Haven't had time to do my annual drain fill on it. But once heat wave clears I will do so.
After it's gone I'll likely just use Toyota Asian ELL Pink again. It's a touch easier to get

 

[GeoHorn]

IF you want to REPLACE YOUR WATER PUMP…. All you have to do…. is use an aggressive “Cooling System Flush”…. I promise!

Shortly thereafter your water pump seal will begin leaking.

If you MUST flush it…use ordinary water… Then drain it again and install common ethylene-glycol such as Prestone or SuperTech according to directions on the bottle.

Kubota’s instructions to use a commercial “Flush“ chemical…..will help them SELL YO(U and NEW WATER PUMP.

BTDT*

By the way, my M4700DT made and first sold in 1996 … I believe had it’s factory-coolant drained for the FIRST TIME …. LAST YEAR!

I personally did it. I “flushed” it with water straight from my garden hose …(water well supply)….. then I installed Yellow/Green, common Prestone. It’s still doing just fine.

Don’t over-think this.

*I’m in my late ‘70’s and thru the decades I have changed coolant in a dozen or so vehicles. When I used common, over-the-counter ”cooling system flush” chemicals….. without FAIL…. I had to replace the leaking water pump shortly thereafter.
About 40 years ago I QUIT using that stuff…and have not replaced a water pump since. (Except for the ‘92 Cherokee that suffered a front-end collision that forced me due to physical damage….. and the ‘87 J.D. Compactor-Roller that I bought “used” and have no idea of it’s history.)

 

[John T]

Almost 500 hours and 9 years and mine still tests fine.
nice and green and tastes sweet....

much to do about nothing I say....

 

[BergyPatty37]

agree with geohorn, flush with water. drain whatever is in there, fill it up with water, run it for a few minutes, then drain again.

 

[lmichael]

When I did the flush that first time, I used a mild flush. Just a touch of dishwasher detergent like maybe 2 teaspoons. Flushed it out with plenty of water first couple times with my hose water then, a few gallons of distilled water. Then the coolant

 

[Andyr9981]

@Andyr9981 I would suggest flushing if you are changing coolant types/manufacturers, or if you do not know what is currently in there. Otherwise if you have had tractor since new and are using Kubota recommended coolant I would think you would be ok just doing a drain in fill after 2 years.
I just picked up a used tractor and will be doing a flush since I do not know what specific type of coolant the previous owner used, and some coolants do not mix well and can actually coagulate and block passages.

That’s the answer I was looking for and thank you. I don’t believe for one second after 2 years that the system needs a flush. It’s green colored coolant, and will stick with the Kubota coolant as well.

 

[lmichael]

Last time I was at the dealer getting filters I noted they had K branded coolant in stock and it was sort of a purplish hue. I know I know the color doesn't mean the formula