While the oil filter debate rages on for 2 pages, what are the thoughts about using any other coolant brand other than Kubotas in your Kubota engine?
Aftermarket Coolant vs. Kubota
- Thread starter Spam Bot
- Start date
I think it's ok if you use the right type. Of course, there are a lot of different types of coolant at different percentage mixes.
Kubota specifies an ethylene glycol based extended life coolant (ELC). Pick your favorite color.
Dan
I put Toyota red in ours. I'm switching everything to that as it does not contain 2eh that destroys plastic and rubber.
I read somewhere that mixing different types can cause gelling and clogging ... YMMV.
First the issue is not gelling. OAT formulations are compatible in that regard.
just like lubricants. mixing different chemistries can reduce the service life and effectiveness of the additives. More specifically, the addition of phosphate/silicates to phosphate/silicate free coolant formulations can lead to scale buildup and reduced heat transfer.
My Kubota owners manual is quite clear. It says to flush two to three times after draining the old coolant and refill with a 50/50 mix of Long Life Coolant and clean soft water.
Dan
Last edited:
Blue2Orange
Active member
Equipment
BX2380 with LA344S & QH05. SB1051. SG0554. BB1248. RB0560, Vassar dirt bucket
On the old NH first few coolant changes were with NH branded. Once out of warranty switched to IIRC a Shell/Rotella brand. Finally gave a Yanmar extended life coolant and increased the time period from annual to couple years between flush and replacement. Hours were ~100hr over a couple year period.
Like noted above. Flush, flush, flush and then refill with the proper ratio diluting conc. solution with distilled water. Simple.
Will stick with Kubota branded, recommended coolant until at least the end of the warranty period. One issue recently is no one is accepting used oil, hydraulic, and coolant fluids. You need to store and then sit in line, and pay a fee at the annual "toxic" waste disposal day. The regional Tractor Supply years ago use to. Now down to my Kubota dealer. Which is fine. There prices are very competitive with retailers and mail order.
Like noted above. Flush, flush, flush and then refill with the proper ratio diluting conc. solution with distilled water. Simple.
Will stick with Kubota branded, recommended coolant until at least the end of the warranty period. One issue recently is no one is accepting used oil, hydraulic, and coolant fluids. You need to store and then sit in line, and pay a fee at the annual "toxic" waste disposal day. The regional Tractor Supply years ago use to. Now down to my Kubota dealer. Which is fine. There prices are very competitive with retailers and mail order.
I have owned both pre and post ‘2013 Ram trucks….and the pre-‘13 used HOAT and the post ‘13 uses OAT….and the folks who have mixed the two …have experienced gelling and clogging of heater-cores…. sometimes requiring replacement…. (a Big deal as it requres deep surgery in the dashboard)
Even the coolant producers Warn : DO NOT MIX different types.
FORGET about identifying coolant-types using “color” as the identifier. There is NO Industry STANDARD for color and the colors have been switched-around EVEN WITHIN THE SAME BRAND in some cases.
Basic, Common, OAT ethylene-glycol coolant is what Kubotas use. (Prestone Universal, pre-mix is the Safest if you are coolant-challenged). If you are cost-conscious, believe it or not, WalMart’s “SuperTech” pre-mix is the same thing….and sells for $11 or less per gallon. (want to fool-around and take chances because you believe if you spend More you’ll get Better Stuff..?? Forget that. That’s Just Wrong.)
If you are the hard-headed type and want “concentrated” so you can supply your own water…be certain to use DISTILLED WATER. (I know. I know. You and your entire family has always used ordinary water out of the garden-hose. Stop that! Use distilled-water… sold in gallon jugs….cheap….at the grocery and WalMarts.… But you’ll still get that “I spent more than necessary so I can feel superior-to-everyone-else and my tractor will know it”…feeling.)
Even the coolant producers Warn : DO NOT MIX different types.
FORGET about identifying coolant-types using “color” as the identifier. There is NO Industry STANDARD for color and the colors have been switched-around EVEN WITHIN THE SAME BRAND in some cases.
Basic, Common, OAT ethylene-glycol coolant is what Kubotas use. (Prestone Universal, pre-mix is the Safest if you are coolant-challenged). If you are cost-conscious, believe it or not, WalMart’s “SuperTech” pre-mix is the same thing….and sells for $11 or less per gallon. (want to fool-around and take chances because you believe if you spend More you’ll get Better Stuff..?? Forget that. That’s Just Wrong.)
If you are the hard-headed type and want “concentrated” so you can supply your own water…be certain to use DISTILLED WATER. (I know. I know. You and your entire family has always used ordinary water out of the garden-hose. Stop that! Use distilled-water… sold in gallon jugs….cheap….at the grocery and WalMarts.… But you’ll still get that “I spent more than necessary so I can feel superior-to-everyone-else and my tractor will know it”…feeling.)
Last edited:
That’s disappointing to hear if that’s being rolled out at the chains nationwide. I always used to bring any fluid to AutoZone. I’ll be sure to call before I bring some old motor oil to them! Thanks for the heads up.
Where do you get your info?
Original Dexcool is a pure OAT and contains no phosphates, silicates, nitrides, or amines,. Internet says the newer purple Mopar coolant is a hybrid (HOAT).
Kubota branded coolant is a hybrid (HOAT) and contains phosphates but no silicates, amines, or nitrides
Kubota says to use soft tap water. Go figure...
Dan
I don’t know why you introduced Mopar coolant into the discussion. (but if you choose to do so, you should point out the Differences in the Different Mopar Part-Numbered coolants …some of which are oat and some are hoat)
A BIG difference exists between HOAT (which contains Silicates….and OAT which is a more modern coolant and do NOT contain Silicates.
Kubota Coolant ( 70040-0L014 (concentrate) or 77700-06325 pre-mix) contains NO SILICATEs …therefore is not an HOAT.
The internet is FULL of Misinformation. Many sites that promote some coolants refer to kubota “sleeve” engines. Those sites are not trustworthy because…. Kubota engines are not sleeved.
As for what kind of WATER to use: Kubota has NO KNOWLEDGE of YOUR water system. YOU may believe your garden hose or tap is “soft” water. You likely have No information about what other things are in Your Water.
So the SAFEST water…is Distilled water.
Caution: I’ve noticed that even Some Kubota dealers have posted bad information on this subject. Dealers may sell Kubota products….but are not Kubota.
( As an example: My Kubota dealer tried energetically to sell me ”universal” hydraulic fluid for my SUDT factory-equipped tractor. HE had pallets of some off-brand stuff priced very low. No, Thank You. He still tried. I had to tell him to Stop trying to sell me what I don’t want.)
<edited to correct my bad typo/spelling>
I believe this post is good advice but is based upon my own reading, research, past-experience as a mechanic, and owner. I’ve made some mistakes in my life. YMMV
Last edited:
OAT is generally meant to signify a carboxylic acid based formulation that is silicate, phosphate, amine, borate, and nitrite free. Dexcool in its many different incarnations today is the basis for just about all ELCs.
HOAT is not synonymous with silicates. It simply means its a hybrid formulation. There are many formulations that are silicate free but contain phosphates, amines, borates, and/or nitrites. Kubota coolant is a hybrid OAT that contains phosphates but is silicate, nitrate and amine free. Sometimes labeled as PHOAT and favored by Asian OEMs.
You might be surprised what I know about my well water. You would be better off questioning what Kubota's metric for "soft" water is. In the last 60 odd years I have nevet used distilled water to mix coolant for any vehicle I have owned. Just another anecdotal data point you can choose to ignore.
Dan
Last edited:
I replaced the coolant in both tractors a few months ago and used NAPA green ELC stuff. The local Kubota dealer sells NAPA coolant but it's not the ELC variety.
The owner's manuals recommend an extended life coolant along with flushing/replacing every two years, and since coolant is cheap, and it's so easy to exchange using the Schwaben coolant vacuum fill tool, I might do it once a year.
The owner's manuals recommend an extended life coolant along with flushing/replacing every two years, and since coolant is cheap, and it's so easy to exchange using the Schwaben coolant vacuum fill tool, I might do it once a year.
Last edited:
Its no wonder people get confused. NAPA cant even write a coherent description
NAPA Asian Vehicles Green 50/50 Prediluted Antifreeze & Coolant is specifically engineered for use in Asian vehicles requiring a GREEN phosphate enhanced organic acid technology (POAT) formula. It is free of phosphates and amines and will provide excellent..
Last edited:
I've never been able to bring myself to trust the All Makes All Colors All Models stuff. If it calls for DexCool I use DexCool if it calls for Asian formulation I use that, Although on my last drain, flush, fill I used this stuff PEAK® Fleet Charge 50/50 Antifreeze/Coolant - 1 Gallon at Menards® since from what I could read on the specs it was the same as Toyota Pink which the dealer said they recommend
A total pig in a poke but the label does say it contains the evil 2-EHA. So expect all the gaskets, plastic parts, and hoses to melt and turn the cooling system into a gelatinous goo.