Tractor Cool Down Question

[DustyRusty]

Seems that everyone has an opinion on how long to warm up the tractor, but how many people do a cooldown of the engine after a day of hard work?

 

[GreensvilleJay]

run lil above idle until gauge reads 'normal', then 2-3 minutes more.after awhile you figure out it's about 5-7 minutes, go do 'somethin else' like check emails,grab a drink....

 

[RCW]

I do briefly with the BX. Pull throttle back to idle and run maybe 10-15 seconds or so.

I think much more important with a turbocharged engine?

 

[jimh406]

I don't have a turbo, but if I did, I'd consider cooling it down.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Seems that everyonas an opinion on how long to warm up the tractor, but how many people do a cooldown of the engine after a day of hard work?

I use the same procedure I use on my thoroughbreds. Especially don't overwater which can cause the tractor to founder....

Dan

Seems that everyone has an opinion on how long to warm up the tractor, but how many people do a cooldown of the engine after a day of hard work?

No.

Dan

 

[Magicman]

My turbo engine instructions says; two minute warmup and two minute cool down, both at idle speed.

There are no such instructions on any of my non-turbo engines.

 

[RalphVa]

Had turbo. Never did. Our Isuzu generator does have a cool down built into its shutdown. Non turbo.

 

[NCL4701]

Important to idle a few minutes if you have a turbo. Not so much if you don’t. If temp is running toward the hot side of acceptable, let it idle a few minutes until it cools back to more in the middle of normal. If you have to travel from the work area back to port, taking it easy on the drive back usually takes care of the cooldown.

Mine doesn’t have a turbo and it’s rare it’s running on the hot side of normal, so I usually idle for maybe 10 seconds prior to shutdown.

 

[mcfarmall]

M5660 turbotractor gets to idle while I use a leaf blower to clean debris off the tractor and rotary cutter after use. If I'm shutting down for breaktime, it gets a few minutes. I do the same for my lawn tractor. Nobody likes to get rode hard and put away wet!

 

[OrangeKrush]

No turbo but I usually let my tractor and lawn tractor idle a couple minutes after higher RPMs. I figure it helps stabilize the fluids in the systems if nothing else!

Good question Rusty.. I sometimes wonder but I listen to what the pro's on ott say.

 

[retired farmer]

A waste of fuel if not overheated or turbo, shut down like car/truck.

 

[William1]

Most of my cool down is done in the same manner as my warm up. Slow, easy ride back to the shed.. Park, idle, unload and tools,shut off.

 

[ctfjr]

This ^

 

[hodge]

Cool down is for turbo charged engines- the process is for the benefit of the turbo, not the engine.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Cool down is for turbo charged engines- the process is for the benefit of the turbo, not the engine.

Turbos only need cool down if they are running full tilt for extended periods. Even then cool down time is measured in seconds. My twin turbo BMWs are smart enough to keep turbo oil/coolant flowing if turbo temps are high enough to merit it.

Dan

 

[Mark_BX25D]

I do briefly with the BX. Pull throttle back to idle and run maybe 10-15 seconds or so.

I think much more important with a turbocharged engine?

I do the same, but more like 30 seconds.

The deal with a turbocharged engine is that you are waiting for the turbo to stop spinning completely. This is because, once the engine stops, it's not pumping oil to the turbo's bearings. If it's still spinning with no oil pressure, it's not happy.

 

[rc51stierhoff]

I’d sure like to hear MikeMoto17 chime in…I saw him on a L2501 thread and sounds like he naught be the Prophet for this topic? You out there Mr Moto?

 

[TheOldHokie]

I do the same, but more like 30 seconds.

The deal with a turbocharged engine is that you are waiting for the turbo to stop spinning completely. This is because, once the engine stops, it's not pumping oil to the turbo's bearings. If it's still spinning with no oil pressure, it's not happy.

The turbo spins the entire time the engine is running - slower at idle but still quite fast. Historically the issue with turbo shutdown is latent heat in the assembly can raise the bearing oil temperature enough to oxidize (coke) the oil. That is bad for oil life and bad for the bearing that is the recipient of the coked oil. Modern turbos are commonly water cooled and turbo engine oils are very oxidation resistant. As long as you bring the engine to idle before shutting it off those improvements have essentially eliminated issues with oil oxidation. But like most things old ideas die hard.

Dan

 

[Mark_BX25D]

The turbo spins the entire time the engine is running - slower at idle but still quite fast.

Depends on the turbine. Old school vs. new. Older turbines were bigger, and didn't start spinning until you got some RPMs up. Hence the famous turbo lag. It was especially bad on large truck engines. They could take a full minute to spin down to a complete stop.

These days it's not such an issue, but the lore remains.

 

[RalphVa]

Had a turbo for nearly 7 years. Never ever let it sit and idle before shutting it down.