Cold weather running temp

[Scrounger]

Has anyone covered part of the BX 2230 radiator to help get the tractors temp up a bit. During the summer the gauge barely moves and in the winter it never moved for me. I was thinking of taping some cardboard over the radiator screen. Thanks guys.

 

[Fredex]

Summer temp barely registers?? May have a thermostat stuck open.

 

[Stef]

I think the same as Fredex. Don't cover the radiator.

 

[Scrounger]

How do I check to see if the thermostat is actually bad? Probably not a major thing to pop out and put a new one in.

 

[digger2]

If it is actually the rad screen and not the rad. itself you are talking about,i dont think it would hurt anything,just slow the air thru the rad,raising the temp. a little.Course i'd keep a close eye on the temp gauge while i was runnin it.I have a B7610,and my brother has a BX,and neither one gets very warm during the winter months,just enough to make the needle move a slight amount.In the summer though,it does come up about halfway and stays there.Maybe you do have a stuck thermostat.

 

[digger2]

Also,probably a long shot,but theres always the possibility that your gauge
is wrong!!! good luck......digger2

 

[cp1969]

I think cold running temps are a Kubota characteristic. My L3000 will barely--barely--come off the stop in the summer and I've read many other posts saying the same thing.

In winter, I replace the screen in front of the radiator with a piece of cardboard that has a 6" diameter circle cut out of the center. If you're going to block the radiator, don't block it completely.

 

[jimainiac]

I'd try a new thermostat, they're pretty cheap. I wonder if you could get an idea of the operating temp by putting a thermometer, like a candy thermometer, in the top of radiator. It sure seems like if the thermostat is doing it's job, you should warm up to operating temp, even in extreme cold weather.

 

[AceDeuce]

I wouldn't worry about the temp gage only rising a little during the summer. Mine does the same thing and so does the neighbor's. In all likelyhood your T-stat is probably just fine.

 

[herringchoker]

I'm with AceDeuce and cp1969 on this one. Kubota engines seem to run cold. My B7800 barely gets above the "C" on the temp gauge in the summer. In the winter, I replace the rad screen with a sheet of corrugated plastic with a 6" x 6" hole cut in the centre of it.

 

[Stef]

My B3030 runs about... let's say the first quarter of the gauge in winter, and near the half in summer. That's at rated rpm of course (2600, mmm and snowblower).

As I think of my former BX23, the temperature readings were probably normal because I don't remember giving it any special attention.

 

[RobJ]

If the thermostat is stuck open, you will see water rushing in the radiator on a cold cold startup. This case stuck open, if it's stuck closed you'll ususally see the temp gauge soar.

I really don't see the need for cardboard blocking a radiator on a tractor in the winter. The goal of the thermostat is the regulate the temp inside the block. In my L2500 it only needs 160 degrees to open(about 71c). I think people get the blocking the radiator thing from truckers. They might be more worried about ice and total blockage, some even believe it gets better mileage, not so sure about that one. But if you only put a small hole in the middle then you will have hot and cold spots in the radaitor, not sure about that either.

Just let that little $35 thermostat do it's job keeping the engine at the right temp.

 

[Doc_Bob]

I block my radtiator in 10 degree weather.

I would not be happy if my tractor ran cold all winter like yours maybe doing. wear goes up in a cold engine. If you block the radiator and the temp goes up, then maybe your thermostat is stuck open? Does it feel warm after running? Or does it feel cold? How about your oil filter? In 10 degree weather, my oil filter gets warm, but never hot to the touch like it does in the summer. My rad gauge is always running 1/2 way when warm summer or winter.
Bob

 

[herringchoker]

I have a heated cab on my B7800. Without partially blocking the radiator, I can get no more than lukewarm air from the heater in the winter, even if I'm pushing the snowblower hard. With the rad cover I get warmer air in the cab, and the heat gauge never gets much above "C". That's why I use a winter cover for the radiator.

 

[chrisjbell]

I think cold running temps are a Kubota characteristic.

You don't have a B7300! Those tend to run way too hot...

But all of the Kubotas I use have thermostats. I've been running a M6800 early in the mornings and it has been in the 20s lately. It warms right up to operating temperature (on that machine it has a line a bit more than 1/3 up to indicate that) and stays there.

 

[RobJ]

wear goes up in a cold engine. Bob

doc, i think someone said wear goes up in a hot engine to!! i'm confused??!!

of course that's why folks should use the right oil in those conditions. a 5w or 0w (I think they have those). The owners manual and the oil ratings give the proper temp range. all that protection for start up.

for those with heaters i'm trying to recall the heater circuit from memory (i;'m on a bus heading downtown at the moment), probably soon after the water pump which means the water has just been cooled.

rob

 

[Westro]

I partially block my radiator for snow removal. We have to up north. It isn’t good to not let your diesel get into it’s operating range and work it. The reason for restricting air flow. When that air is -10F it doesn’t take much air to cool your BX!

Haven’t you seen a winter front on a pickup truck?

 

[ewoz]

My BX2230 temp gauge reads just like yours...Moves ever so slightly in the summer and barely moves in the winter. In my case I blame it on the temperature gauge. I have measured the resistance of the temperature sender when the engine has been running a while. It measures the proper resistance for water that is at operating temperature while the temperature gauge barely moves. There is a test in the service manual to test the gauge. Mine fails it. It is under warranty but the dealer says if the gauge moves Kubota will not replace it. The dealer says he gets lots of similar complaints. I think the Kubota guages are just kind of junky.

 

[638]

EWOZ,

Put 120 volts across the guage. That will fix it so that it dosen't move. Then ask the dealer to replace it.

ron

 

[ewoz]

That is not a bad idea. I am going to consider it. Thanks.