What is Kioti thinking?

[Hill Billy Bob]

I've had my CK30 for three years now, and it has never run normal water temperature, always have a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator. (Summer about 33% blocked, winter about 90% blocked) Thinking the sending unit for water temp gauge might be faulty, a few months ago, I installed an engine oil temp gauge, to get a real operating temp. (Being a retired trucker, I like gauges, gauges with numbers) Oil temps ran between 140* and 160*, depending on ambient air temps...this is while mowing for 3 to 4 hours straight.

Yesterday I decided to drain a gallon of coolant from the system, and pulled the thermostat...it was stamped 71*C. That converts to 159.8*F....What is Kioti thinking putting a 160* thermostat in a diesel engine??

Did a bit of research on this, and Stant's site to come up with some part numbers... made a trip to local auto parts, and for $7.48 plus $.60 in tax, I came home with a 180* thermostat and a gasket that needed a slight modification to the bolt holes to fit. Installed it, and in about 10 minutes water temp read between the two dots on the gauge. First time ever for this tractor, it will be a much happier engine running in the 180* to 190* range.
Stant part # 13848, 180*
Stant part # 13849, 195*

These #'s will work on CK and DK series tractors caling for Kioti thermostat number E5800-73011, or E5853-73011......Bob

 

[k0ua]

Mine has always run between the two little dots, hot weather or cold.

 

[Egbert]

My DK50 sits on the lowest dot - never moves, except for the time my screens clogged. I'm with you Bob, all gauges should be marked with useful numbers.

 

[DK35vince]

My DK has always run between the dots. Regardless of time of year or how hard/easy I'm working it

 

[Turbys_1700]

I bet that 160 deg thermostat was put in a few tractors and was not typical of what they normally put it...
Sorta seems like to me they ran out of 180's and got a batch of 160's...

 

[ritcheyvs]

My DK50 sits on the lowest dot - never moves, except for the time my screens clogged. I'm with you Bob, all gauges should be marked with useful numbers.

Same for my DK45S (2006 model).

 

[lakngulf]

My CK30 stays within the dots, EXCEPT when I am bushhogging tall grass and weeds on dry days. The filters get stopped up and the gauge hits RED. A quick clean out of the filters brings it back to normal

 

[grsthegreat]

mine has always run between the dots.....no matter when or how i use the tractor.

 

[RandyT]

Same for my DK45S (2006 model).

Same with my 2005 DK45S, most of the time never reaches the first dot.

 

[IslandTractor]

Mine also runs reliably right in the middle of the acceptable range markers. If it goes up even a smidgin, I know it is time to clean the screens.