Anyone install an oil cooler on a BX?

[aczlan]

So, how hot is your BX getting? Is the temp gauge actually getting into the red zone, or is it below the red?

Aaron Z

 

[carlcroom]

I agree that while an oil cooler might be beneficial for some situations, what's going on here is coolant temp. I have a 2000 BX2200 that is worked pretty hard mowing and tilling here in the Memphis area. In the hottest part of the summer, it gets to upper 90's and low 100's. I have almost never had the gauge above about halfway except for one time a couple of years ago. I checked everything but still had trouble. As a last ditch effort, took out the battery and screen and pressure-washed the radiator. Worked like a charm - no more problems. So if everything on yours is clean, it's got to be a bad thermostat, plugged radiator or something similar. Unlike what the shop guy said, they do not run hot.

 

[amg280]

I would make sure the temp guage is accurate before I start dumping time and money. These engines are pretty bullet proof.

 

[dodge man]

When I bought my Bx the dealer delivery guy said the will run up pretty high in the gauge. Mine doesn't get in the red, but it does get close. He didn't really say it out load but he was more or less saying don't worry about it. He said Kubota actually took one of those temp gauges that you point at parts of the engine and they found they aren't running hot. I think its just the way the gauges are calibrated.

 

[J_J]

Being in Houston, my little BX seems to run Hot during the summer mowing season.

I do all the normal suggestions, including making sure the radiator is clean by using an air compressor and a long air gun nozzle and frequently cleaning the screens.

It almost always runs right in the red during july/august. The local shop says run it that way, it is ok. Personally, I really hate to think I am taking a chance on it. Last summer, I ended up taking the cowling off and it helped get the temp down a little.

I was thinking that a oil cooler would be a simple way to fix it.

I have 200 hours on my BX and mow 2 acres of former pasture with it.

Do you not have a small hyd cooler in front of the radiator?

If you are serious about cooling the hydro fluid, then something like what the Power-Tracs use would be ideal. Some of our machines have a 20 gal reservoir, and an auto fan/cooler. The pump case drains is cooled by the cooler/radiator.Here is a picture of the cooler.

 

[radioman]

JJ- there are NO hydro rad in front of engine radiator on the BX's. On the BX's, the fan is designed to blow hot air from rad over the engine. The rad is by the steering column with reverse belt fan blowing away from operator. Many tractors have rad in the front by grill, not the case with the BX.

 

[J_J]

You could still do something like this. My hyd cooler/fan is on top of the engine cover. In the picture, the fan/hyd radiator is on the top, and just a fan on the side.

 

[Slice]

I am in Houston also, I would say something aint right with yours, my 08 bx has no issues with temp, it stays in the middle period, :thumbsup:

 

[tommu56]

I would pick up an IR temperature gauge and run the tractor and shoot the temp to see were temp is at compared to the dash gauge.

tom

 

[jimmer2880]

Nobody has mentioned anti-freeze percentages. I once had trouble in an old pickup. Worked on it for a while before I broke down & changed the coolant. This time, I bought the 50/50 pre-mix. That alone brought down the temps by 20 degrees.

Edit: The coolant that was in the truck was much more than 50/50 - probably closer to 80/20 or more.