I need to change the coolant/anti-freeze for the first time in my L3301. Do you use the Kubota brand concentrate for $30 a gallon or is there a less expensive alternate that is OK?
Antifreeze for L3301.
- Thread starter TxTom
- Start date
I would think good old conventional green coolant would be fine.
My L2501 has it as well as yours.
Don't over think it!
Others will disagree!
Good Luck!
My L2501 has it as well as yours.
Don't over think it!
Others will disagree!
Good Luck!
The factory fill is dyed green but its not conventional. Its a long life coolant as specified in your owners manual.
Dan
I was at Menards a week ago and noticed they had 50/50 antifreeze for $4.99 a gallon. I needed a garage door spring, a storm was a brewing, so I didn't grab any.
I exchanged the coolant in both tractors a few months ago and used premixed NAPA Extended Life Coolant at around $10/gallon. The local Kubota dealership doesn't sell Kubota branded coolant, only NAPA coolant but it's not the EL stuff.
Conventional NAPA green coolant is what the local Kubota dealer sells. For me, it's more important to change it once a year or at least every other year than to obsess about extended life vs. conventional, but since the premixed ELC is cheap and available, it made sense to me to use it.
Zerex Asian "red" or "Green" meet Kubota requirements. It may or may not be cheaper than the K coolant, but it is often available closer to you. Last time I bought it at $21/ gallon.
The only "requirement" in my manual is an ELC. Pick your favorite color/recipe.
Dan
U dont know what manual you have. This is from the L2501 operators manual - any LLC.
I agree.
But instead of changing fluid due to OCD... You can always buy coolant test strips.
also coolant additives if need be.
You can get test strips for the corrosion inhibitors? And corrosion protection additives? Would you have any links to products / web shops? Those things have died out in Europe...
I could, but it's easy to drain and refill with the aid of the Schwaben tool so I'd rather not mess with other preventative maintenance methods. A yearly drain and fill is what I'll be doing. Our tractors sit a lot and it's the sitting that causes problems due to stagnation of the coolant.
When I lived in Hawaii, I'd run the heater every few weeks when heading home from work at night so as to get the coolant mixed in the system. Failed heater cores are a fairly common problem in Hawaii since many don't ever run the heater. They can be a bear to change out so my approach was to run the heater (with the windows down) going over the Likelike Hwy at night where the temperature might plummet to 60°F.
Russell King
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L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
Here is one link to a company that touts test strips. I have no experience with any type of strips but these do have an expiration date involved so seems like you would need to share them out to beat that date unless you are running a business or have a lot of vehicles to maintain.
Have to say, My BX is a 2017 model .... I never touched the coolant.
It's still nice & green and tastes sweet.... I'd say I'm good.
It's still nice & green and tastes sweet.... I'd say I'm good.
I would just use the Kubota long life coolant. For coolant and filters I always do OEM on vehicles. I have the same mentality with the tractor. Do I need to, probably not, but good to have a bit of piece of mind that I’m getting stuff designed specifically for the machine or vehicle. Also - read below my l2501 manual contradicts itself - yours very well may do the same.
Make sure to read the service instructions in the manual for coolant. In no less than three different places in my L2501 manual it says 50/50 of fresh clean soft water and antifreeze (pgs 19, 74, and 99) But on page 100, it specifies to always use a 50/50 mix of long life coolant and clean soft water. If you just go off the capacities and intro to the service steps, it doesnt specify to use a long life coolant and to flush with clean water and do NOT use coolant system cleaner.
Make sure to read the service instructions in the manual for coolant. In no less than three different places in my L2501 manual it says 50/50 of fresh clean soft water and antifreeze (pgs 19, 74, and 99) But on page 100, it specifies to always use a 50/50 mix of long life coolant and clean soft water. If you just go off the capacities and intro to the service steps, it doesnt specify to use a long life coolant and to flush with clean water and do NOT use coolant system cleaner.