Coolant Ph

[unhappykioti]

I have not seen anything in my owners manual about checking the coolant Ph levels. I own an 18 wheeler and have the Ph level checked at every service because if the Ph is not kept with-in the proper range it will pit the piston liners and eventually corrode the liners and allow water to get in to the pistons. This happens to diesel pick-up trucks as well. Just assuming this will also happen with these tractors.

 

[HODAK]

I believe the manual suggests a change of coolant at a certain number of hours/years. Can't recall seeing this discussed on the other brands either. There has got to be a lot of diesel tractors out there that never had this checked and some are going strong after many, many, many years.

happykioti owner............... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[depratt_equip]

Your tractor does not have liners in the cylinders. Many smaller diesels are no longer sleeved cylinders...

 

[HODAK]

There you go/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[VictorW]

Changing the coolant regularly as mentioned in the manual is probably still a good idea to keep the radiator in good shape. Aluminum radiators like a ph of 7 and can corrode fast if it gets to low. Most car makers suggest the ph be checked and adjusted. Luckily, the tractors still have brass radiators which are more tolerant of ph levels.

 

[Highbeam]

At least the Kiotis appear to be non-aluminum. The kubotas have moved to aluminum cores.

 

[HomeBrew2]

Interesting thought about PH. I've used distilled water in radiators for a couple of decades cuz of hardness. Just did a net search and several hits said "distilled" water has a neutral PH (7).

 

[Highbeam]

Supposedly as antifreeze/water solution ages, the pH becomes more and more acidic. For this reason, flushing the system is recommended at an interval.

 

[HomeBrew2]

Yep, That's my understanding and procedure too ... flush with filtered, refill with distilled and antifreeze.

 

[unhappykioti]

In diesel engines when you add anti freeze whether it is a complete flush and fill or replenishment you need to add an additive to balance the Ph two of the most popular that I know of are NALCOOL and PENCOOL and then the Ph needs to be periodically checked. They also now have coolant for heavy duty applications with the aditive already in it. This is how it is with trucks anyway. If you have ever seen the liners that come out of engines that have had the coolant neglected you would know what i mean