L3200 mystery coolant leak

[Fordtech86]

Past 3-4 times I have used the tractor I have been smelling antifreeze when it gets warmed up. Overflow jug slowly going down. Radiator staying full. Ran it with the radiator cap off and it’s not bubbling up like a head gasket. It has 220 hrs on it and has never ran hot or had any white smoke from exhaust. Only thing that I can see is maybe signs of seepage at the upper hose at the thermostat housing. Do these things have issues with the housings corroding and leaking through there?

Also if I do pull it off and clean it up and get new hoses should I replace those 2 wire clamps with regular hose clamps?

This is all I see.

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[Dave_eng]

Past 3-4 times I have used the tractor I have been smelling antifreeze when it gets warmed up. Overflow jug slowly going down. Radiator staying full. Ran it with the radiator cap off and it’s not bubbling up like a head gasket. It has 220 hrs on it and has never ran hot or had any white smoke from exhaust. Only thing that I can see is maybe signs of seepage at the upper hose at the thermostat housing. Do these things have issues with the housings corroding and leaking through there?

Also if I do pull it off and clean it up and get new hoses should I replace those 2 wire clamps with regular hose clamps?

This is all I see.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Overflow is doing its job and keeping the rad topped up. However, as you smell, you are loosing fluid.

I think the hose clamp at your thermostat housing is too far up..... maybe I am wrong as I do not know your tractor.

I suggest you lower and re tighten the clamp and then see what happens.

With your low hours the hoses should be fine and there is nothing wrong with the clamp if that is the style it came with as new. They tend to loosen less as the thread on the adjusting screw is a much finer pitch than gear type clamps.

Dave

 

[Jim L.]

I would change both upper and lower hose. The clamps are personal choice, either style will work.

Afterwards monitor smell, expansion tank, and radiator fill.

 

[200mph]

I'd consider tightening the clamps a bit to see if the problem is alleviated.

Most automotive manufactures have moved away from these type of clamps in favor of the constant load type. It's not uncommon for the clamp load to reduce as the rubber relaxes (compression set) and thus additional tightening required.

Hope it is something this simple.

 

[SRG]

Gear/worm clamps can chew up rubber hose, both the actual gear as it rotates to loosen/tighten, and the slots in the band, as it squeezes down on the hose, will pull the rubber into the slots and cut it. I don't care for them, even tho they are very convenient.
I'd rotate that hose clamp 180* and retighten, then monitor it.

 

[Fordtech86]

Overflow is doing its job and keeping the rad topped up. However, as you smell, you are loosing fluid.

I think the hose clamp at your thermostat housing is too far up..... maybe I am wrong as I do not know your tractor.

I suggest you lower and re tighten the clamp and then see what happens.

With your low hours the hoses should be fine and there is nothing wrong with the clamp if that is the style it came with as new. They tend to loosen less as the thread on the adjusting screw is a much finer pitch than gear type clamps.

Dave

I agree the clamp is pretty high, but that’s how it was built, it’s right at the flare on the thermostat housing

 

[Bulldog]

Just curious, when is the last time you drained and flushed the system? Needs to be done every two years.

 

[Fordtech86]

I'd consider tightening the clamps a bit to see if the problem is alleviated.

Most automotive manufactures have moved away from these type of clamps in favor of the constant load type. It's not uncommon for the clamp load to reduce as the rubber relaxes (compression set) and thus additional tightening required.

Hope it is something this simple.

I thought about the constant load clamps as I can get them easily at work. Those and the spring style clamp were pretty trouble free. Now they are using quick connect hoses with o-rings in the auto world and they have been less then impressive. Keeps me busy though lol

 

[Fordtech86]

Just curious, when is the last time you drained and flushed the system? Needs to be done every two years.

No comment! Lol. I know better as I deal with this everyday but it has never been changed. It’s fixing to get changed tomorrow, it’s loaded up to take to work as I have a better place to work on it there.

 

[whitetiger]

Just tighten the hose clamps on both hoses, top off the coolant. I see this same leak a couple of times a week. The hose clamps should be checked at least once a year.