Cleaning spilled dried coolant

[Rosohatica]

Hi everyone,

I recently purchased a used L3200 with low hours, and since winter is here, I decided to change the coolant. I drained and cleaned the radiator and began adding fresh coolant. I have the original tractor manual, which states the radiator capacity is 6 liters. Using a funnel, I started pouring it in, planning to slow down as I approached the end of the bottle.

However, to my surprise, the radiator filled up after only about 4 liters. Since I was using a funnel, the excess coolant spilled over, making quite a mess. Ironically, I bought the funnel to avoid spills, but due to what seems like incorrect capacity information in the manual, it ended up causing a major spill instead!

Now, I’m concerned about the dried coolant on the exterior of the radiator. I've read online that fresh coolant should be washed off with water to prevent potential damage. However, I hesitated to do so because one side of the radiator is near the battery (I don’t want to risk getting it wet), and the other side is close to the engine (where I’m worried about causing rust by introducing moisture).

I’d really appreciate your advice. Should I just leave it as it is, or does the dried coolant pose a risk of corrosion? If it contains anti-rust agents for the inside of the radiator, why would it cause rust on the outside? Is the presence of air the key difference? I’m curious about the theory behind this and would love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks in advance!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Hose it down, wash it off. Battery can get wet, not a problem, same for engine.
You can 'blow dry' if you want, either compressed air, leaf blower or hair dryer, your choice.

As for the 'rust'.. To change steel into rust, you need oxygen. In a closed loop system like engine + rad, there's very little 'free' oxygen, so very little rust can be formed.

 

[lmichael]

Capacity is not "incorrect". Remember the capacity in the manual is starting with a totally "dry" system. Also you would be surprised at the amount of coolant more you can fit in after the system "burps" (bleeds out all the trapped air) You might fit another liter in there

 

[Rosohatica]

I assumed the system was "dry" after draining it? How can I bleed out all the trapped air?

Capacity is not "incorrect". Remember the capacity in the manual is starting with a totally "dry" system. Also you would be surprised at the amount of coolant more you can fit in after the system "burps" (bleeds out all the trapped air) You might fit another liter in there

 

[Rosohatica]

I guess you are saying that getting everything wet is less of a problem than having radiator covered in dried coolant? Too bad I didn`t wash it before it dried then.

Hose it down, wash it off. Battery can get wet, not a problem, same for engine.
You can 'blow dry' if you want, either compressed air, leaf blower or hair dryer, your choice.

As for the 'rust'.. To change steel into rust, you need oxygen. In a closed loop system like engine + rad, there's very little 'free' oxygen, so very little rust can be formed.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

'technically' you now have a layer of dried 'material' on the cooling fins ,so 'technically' the rad won't transfer the heat as well as it used to. whether or not you can actually see a difference in performance is unknown.

 

[jimh406]

I agree just wash the area. Do watch your pets while it is drying. Ethylene Glycol is poisonous and unfortunately is sweet. Adding some soap may help prevent animals from drinking/licking it.

 

[Tractor Gal]

As I understand it, if the coolant was drained from the radiator only and wasn't also drained from the block, then the tractor would not need the full 6 liters.

Tractor Gal

 

[DustyRusty]

I agree just wash the area. Do watch your pets while it is drying. Ethylene Glycol is poisonous and unfortunately is sweet. Adding some soap may help prevent animals from drinking/licking it.

Modern coolant has a bittering agent from the factory however, I have no idea if this is universal or only in the United States.

 

[jimh406]

Modern coolant has a bittering agent from the factory however, I have no idea if this is universal or only in the United States.

I'm not sure what you are calling modern. Note: this is just one source.

Ethylene glycol poisoning: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Ethylene glycol is a colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting chemical. It is poisonous if swallowed.

medlineplus.gov

Ethylene glycol poisoning

Ethylene glycol is a colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting chemical. It is poisonous if swallowed.

 

[Mark_BX25D]

I'm not sure what you are calling modern. Note: this is just one source.

Ethylene glycol poisoning: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Ethylene glycol is a colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting chemical. It is poisonous if swallowed.

medlineplus.gov

Ethylene glycol poisoning

Ethylene glycol is a colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting chemical. It is poisonous if swallowed.

That source is talking about ethylene glycol. It is not talking about commercially available engine coolant.

Have you ever heard of something called an, "additive"?

Might have something to do with the color of antifreeze, come to think of it.

 

[DustyRusty]

Published on January 30, 2013
Antifreeze manufacturers agree to bittering agent addition

This past December, the Consumer Specialty Products Association and Humane Society Legislative Fund announced antifreeze and engine coolant manufacturers had voluntarily agreed to add a bitter flavoring agent to their products sold nationwide.

Antifreeze and engine coolant are made with ethylene glycol, a highly toxic compound with a sweet taste that appeals to animals and children. The Humane Society Legislative Fund, an advocacy organization working to pass animal protection laws, estimates at least 10,000 animals are poisoned as a result of ingesting these products each year.

Seventeen states currently require adding a bittering agent to ethylene glycol, usually denatonium benzoate. Multiple attempts at making it a federal requirement have been unsuccessful, however.

HSLF Executive Director Sara Amundson hailed the agreement, announced Dec. 12, 2012. “After years of battling over legislation addressing this important issue, the manufacturers of antifreeze and engine coolant have been working with animal advocates to pass state laws with mutually agreed-on language,” Amundson said.

 

[jimh406]

So, you are saying coolant isn’t ethylene glycol. I said ethylene glycol was poisonous.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Just wash it off, if you wet the dried coolant it's no long dry and will wash off, and as stated earlier your not going to hurt the battery, electrical, radiator, or the engine and any lingering moisture will be gone in nothing flat when you run it.
You run the engine to burp any air out of it.

 

[Rosohatica]

Hi, I haven`t noticed manual mentioning draining block. Is it possible and how?
If not, that means that you are always left with cca 20% of old coolant in the mixture...

As I understand it, if the coolant was drained from the radiator only and wasn't also drained from the block, then the tractor would not need the full 6 liters.

Tractor Gal

 

[Rosohatica]

OK, thanks.

Just wash it off, if you wet the dried coolant it's no long dry and will wash off, and as stated earlier your not going to hurt the battery, electrical, radiator, or the engine and any lingering moisture will be gone in nothing flat when you run it.
You run the engine to burp any air out of it.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Hi, I haven`t noticed manual mentioning draining block. Is it possible and how?
If not, that means that you are always left with cca 20% of old coolant in the mixture...

Yes you will always be left with Coolant, Motor oil, Hydraulic fluid, it's normal, and this is why on filling you always use the dip stick / Sight glass to set levels, and not the Book valves.

 

[Rosohatica]

Ok, I washed it and it seems ok now. I ran tractor for an hour afterwards to warm everything up. I talked to the neighbor asking him about how to drain old coolant left inside block. He said why don`t I run tractor for a short time with radiator draining plug open. Does that sound like a good idea?

Just wash it off, if you wet the dried coolant it's no long dry and will wash off, and as stated earlier your not going to hurt the battery, electrical, radiator, or the engine and any lingering moisture will be gone in nothing flat when you run it.
You run the engine to burp any air out of it.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Ok, I washed it and it seems ok now. I ran tractor for an hour afterwards to warm everything up. I talked to the neighbor asking him about how to drain old coolant left inside block. He said why don`t I run tractor for a short time with radiator draining plug open. Does that sound like a good idea?

NO, that's a really bad idea, you can easily cause damage doing that.

The amount of coolant left in the block is not going to negatively impact it.
If the coolant was contaminated you would flush out the system with water.
Get a coolant tester if your worried about it, as it will tell you what strength it's at.

 

[Rosohatica]

OK, thanks for the warning

NO, that's a really bad idea, you can easily cause damage doing that.

The amount of coolant left in the block is not going to negatively impact it.
If the coolant was contaminated you would flush out the system with water.
Get a coolant tester if your worried about it, as it will tell you what strength it's at.