How often i check fluids - - don't lie!
- Thread starter RCW
- Start date
I was always taught that you check the oil before you use a piece of equipment and that's how we still try to do things. Sometimes it is forgotten but not often. The fluids are cheap compared to the loss of our time and money on a rebuild on a motor or tranny.
al m
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Equipment
Kubota b1750,60" mm,48" argo trend snowblower,5' grader blade
I spent every summer through high school and college working on my Bils cash crop farm, 2000 acres in rotation,,always about 500 in fallow and 500 in hay,rest in various grains and beans,no chemicals,using two 100 hp tractors. Long and short that was a lot of hours,50-60 in the spring and fall. He would not let me start a machine until the engine and rear end dip sticks had been pulled,and common spindles had been given one pump of grease. That was every day
AFAIC the coolant is the most important, and a lot of folks don't check it. I believe coolant loss is probably more common then engine oil loss, you need to lose a lot of engine oil before the pump is starved. Coolant loss can happen very quickly as well, and once it gets low the engine can overheat without it showing on the gauge. I'd like to find some figures about engine seizures and the reasons for them, I would think overheat due to coolant loss would be well up there.
So my 2 cents worth, check your coolant every day you use your machine, and not just by looking in the overflow bottle, remove the radiator cap and ensure its full without air space. YMMV
So my 2 cents worth, check your coolant every day you use your machine, and not just by looking in the overflow bottle, remove the radiator cap and ensure its full without air space. YMMV
al m
New member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
Kubota b1750,60" mm,48" argo trend snowblower,5' grader blade
Interesting and valid comment. You brought back some memories,although coolent level was not a daily check,it was done regularly,what was daily was the rad screens,when working fields,especially later,past spring,the screens can plug up really quick,haying being a good example. Spent a ton of time on a old Jd That pulled the air in through screens on the side,during haying,especially raking,the windrow side had to be checked hourly
Whilst coolant expansion tanks/reservoirs are great when they work correctly, people get used to looking at the level in the bottle and think all is good with the coolant system because there is fluid in the tank.
When they function as desired and the coolant system is completely sealed, they have low fluid level when cold, high fluid level when hot, and low fluid level again when the engine cools down. If you don't watch to ensure the level is changing as noted above, you can be lulled into a false sense of security.
If your coolant system develops a leak, it pushes fluid out the leak/hole when heated, and draws air back in when cool, instead of drawing fluid in via the reservoir (because the system is not sealed). Then the level in the bottle doesn't change. And each time it is heated, more fluid is expelled, more air replaces it and the engine can overheat and seize without the temperature sender showing it.
The leak may be small, and only expel fluid when the engine is operated when temp and pressure goes up (out and about in the field etc), so it is not seen as a leak on the floor under the tractor when you park it up for the day.
When they function as desired and the coolant system is completely sealed, they have low fluid level when cold, high fluid level when hot, and low fluid level again when the engine cools down. If you don't watch to ensure the level is changing as noted above, you can be lulled into a false sense of security.
If your coolant system develops a leak, it pushes fluid out the leak/hole when heated, and draws air back in when cool, instead of drawing fluid in via the reservoir (because the system is not sealed). Then the level in the bottle doesn't change. And each time it is heated, more fluid is expelled, more air replaces it and the engine can overheat and seize without the temperature sender showing it.
The leak may be small, and only expel fluid when the engine is operated when temp and pressure goes up (out and about in the field etc), so it is not seen as a leak on the floor under the tractor when you park it up for the day.
NoJacketRequired
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Equipment
B7510 & LA302 FEL & B2782 blower, B7510 & B2781 blower, B2410 & B2550 blower
As a pilot I learned the discipline of the "walk around" or "pre-flight" inspection. I do that with every piece of equipment I own, every time I use it. So far doing this little one minute check has saved my bacon several times, including detecting a broken axle casting which would have been reaaaaaaly ugly the next time a load was lifted with the loader.