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Message started by justin_o_guy2 on 08/30/21 at 20:38:20

Title: Antifreeze question
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/30/21 at 20:38:20

I'm finally getting the backhoe back together. Since I drained the old antifreeze I am going back with fresh. I have some for modern engines, which is meant for engines with different types of metal that the water jacket runs through.
Can I toss just any kinda antifreeze in a 35 year old cast iron block?
Should I pull the thermostat and run water through the block?

Title: Re: Antifreeze question
Post by Ruttly on 08/30/21 at 21:15:48

A tractor that new most likely came with a green coolant , maybe the red. Replace by color is the easiest way. Don’t mix colors , some will gel up. Put in what ya take out , that’s hard to screw up.

Title: Re: Antifreeze question
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/30/21 at 23:34:37

Well, crap,, I bought the antifreeze for a car,it's gone, the backhoe is from, 1985?ish?radiator is out and empty, but the block is holding some water,,
I don't need trouble though,, I was thinking about popping the thermostat and flushing the block before the radiator goes back..
If I do that, then would it be okay?

Title: Re: Antifreeze question
Post by Ruttly on 08/31/21 at 17:07:54

Oh yeah

Title: Re: Antifreeze question
Post by ohiomoto on 08/31/21 at 19:58:04

A 35 year old backhoe is 100 year old technology. You could piss in that thing and top it off with moonshine and will run another 35 years! ;)

Title: Re: Antifreeze question
Post by Eegore on 08/31/21 at 20:53:25

A 35 year old backhoe is 100 year old technology. You could piss in that thing and top it off with moonshine and will run another 35 years!

Agreed.

I remember firing up old tractors on the farm growing up and we did use antifreeze with SCA's (supplemental cooling additives) for diesel engines. DCA (diesel coolant additive) is another one, and if I recall it's going to be red. If I remember right these are to reduce potential for cavitation. We definitely used a different antifreeze on the diesel.

I imagine if you have a completely flushed system any would work though. What make/model is it?

Title: Re: Antifreeze question
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/01/21 at 06:20:56

Well, it's a Ford, around1985 vintage, because, IIRC, that was the date on a rear tire which was a match for the other side.
I decided not to pull the thermostat and mess with flushing. I checked the antifreeze I drained. It Showed safe to under twenty below, so I'm thinking I dodged that bullet.
I bought some O'Reilly s ,full strength, it's the green stuff,like what came out. It doesn't get run hard or very long. When the oil pressure drops below twenty at idle, i parking it,unless I'm digging a hole and have it up off idle and holding good oil pressure. It's never been one to overheat, well, not after I dropped the new radiator in twelve ish years ago.

It's either a 545 or 555, the guys who sell and work on them can't figure it out and whoever painted it managed to remove the transmission tag..It Says 555,but the guy who delivered it told me it's wrong and it's a 545,
30 HP,three cylinder, 13,000 ish pounds. 18 second fifty yard dash.

Title: Re: Antifreeze question
Post by Ruttly on 09/03/21 at 11:57:26

I would love to have a small Ford tractor for a project
Drive it in the Christmas parade that kinda stuff

Title: Re: Antifreeze question
Post by Ruttly on 09/03/21 at 12:00:01

Maybe a International tractor too

Title: Re: Antifreeze question
Post by Dave on 09/04/21 at 03:45:34

527574746C79000 wrote:

Maybe a International tractor too

No.....You need a Rumely Oil Pull!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDs_P-Oz4GY
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDs_P-Oz4GY[/media]

Title: Re: Antifreeze question
Post by ohiomoto on 09/04/21 at 05:53:42

Okay, on to the elephant in the room.

What OIL are running in that old Ford? :o

Title: Re: Antifreeze question
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/04/21 at 10:38:11

Uhh, Rotella,, natcherly..
15-40, IF you must know..

Now, I Think the antifreeze that was in the block was good down to the temperature we got to when we had The Big Freeze.. I'm not seeing any signs of water in the oil, and I put a piece of plastic over the inlet for the water pump and didn't See any signs of compression in the water jacket, but the fan was blowing on it.

Crap,, I probably scorched the water pump,,
I guess I'll find out soon enough. Every test run before I took the belt off.
CrapRumba

Title: Re: Antifreeze question
Post by zipidachimp on 09/06/21 at 23:58:31

Never had to add AF to my bike, but I do have a gallon of STP AF in the closet! :D