Loaded tires filled with....antifreeze?

[Bill_B]

The place I am buying my tractor from says that they load the rear tires with antifreeze. Is this okay or should I be telling them no? My last tractor I had tubes installed and had them filled with calcium chloride.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

No one really likes filling with calcium chloride anymore.

First, most importantly, where are you? How cold does it get there (specifically). Don't use "wind chill" numbers, but real ambient air temperature numbers. Tractors and fluids don't give 2 shizznits about "wind chill".

Depending on your ambient air winter temperatures, will drive which type of ballast you want to use.

We use Rimguard up here (brand name for beet juice extract) because we do see ambient air temps of -45F. And Rimguard will stay "slushy" at -45F.

 

[mrmikey]

if using actual engine antifreeze (as opposed to plumbing antifreeze) it's toxic. If you end up puncturing a tire and you or neighbours pets get into it, goodbye animals. I use WWAF, yes it's toxic but it evaporates fast and leaves no remnants. There's always plumbing antifreeze which is non-toxic, reason I didn't use it, there was a shortage when I loaded my tires or I would have

 

[AndyMA]

All of my tractors have RimGuard. Earlier I had calcium chloride which over time destroyed my rims

 

[Torvy]

Some use anti-freeze windshield wiper fluid. Less toxic than engine anti freeze. It is also mixed with water.

There are also density differences. CaCl was used because it was heavier than water...but corrosive to your wheels. Beet juice (from sugar beets) is basically syrup. Heavier than water, but can be messy.

 

[rScotty]

if using actual engine antifreeze (as opposed to plumbing antifreeze) it's toxic. If you end up puncturing a tire and you or neighbours pets get into it, goodbye animals. I use WWAF, yes it's toxic but it evaporates fast and leaves no remnants. There's always plumbing antifreeze which is non-toxic, reason I didn't use it, there was a shortage when I loaded my tires or I would have

That's good info. Both types of glycol antifreeze cost about the same. Either one will work to load a tire but neither one is as heavy per gallon as Rimgard....or as expensive.

Plumbing anti-freeze is also called RV or boat antifreeze is propylene glycol and harmless to people and animals. It is tasteless and usually dyed red or blue. In fact, it is used in a lot of foods.

Automotive antifreeze is ethylene glycol which is fatal in small doses. It is attractively sweet-tasting and there is no antidote. Convulsions and death for dogs, cats, livestock, and people. Usually dyed green.

Calcium Chloride is a bitter salt solution that will sterilize the ground if it leaks. Also rots everything metal it touches. Including the valve stem.

 

[Yander]

My dealer said they use a "fancy windshield washer fluid" his words. Don't know what that meant but not worried about it. He said they don't use beet juice because it is too messy. I'm in Ohio, if it is too cold for windshield washer fluid, I won't be on my tractor.

 

[MTGreen]

I learned recently that ethylene glycol antifreeze manufacturers now put a bitterant chemical in to make it less attractive to children/animals. Unclear if it's only some vs all manufacturers or if there's some sort of recent regulatory mandate

 

[Bill_B]

Thanks guys. I am familiar with the two types of glycol because of my 30 years working in HVAC. I am also hoping it is P glycol and not E glycol. My worry is that they are using this as a way to dispose of old antifreeze (E type) that they have drained out of tractors during service work.

 

[kozal01]

Ask for rim guard. I wouldn't put anything else in my tires, seen too many corroded rims from other methods to make it an easy choice for me. Even antifreeze can corrode after a while, especially if its mixed with water like you suspect may be the case.