Tom Bowman
Member
What would make the radiator drain in a TO-20 spontaneously leak, and drain about a quart of coolant?
Background:
1. Last weekend, I drained the old coolant, and flushed the system, using water only, as the old coolant was pretty clean. (I only changed it because I recently bought the tractor, and didn't know when it had been changed last.)
2. I also installed a thermostat - some Previous Owner had removed it.
3. Again, last weekend, put in new coolant/water mix, everything looked fine, no leaks, 'stat seemed to be operating.
4. Yesterday, I installed a new temperature gauge, as the old one wasn't working. (It looked like the cap tube was buggered up.)
NOTE: I didn't open the radiator drain to lower the coolant level - I used the block drain.
5. Ran tractor to confirm new gauge was working. (It was.)
6. An hour later, found about a quart of coolant on the garage floor, that looked to be coming from the radiator drain. It was still dripping, and did so whether drain was open or closed.
7. Replaced lower drain (that was fun) replaced coolant.
8. I haven't run the tractor again yet, because I didn't have time last night.
Please note: the radiator drain hadn't been opened since last weekend, and hadn't leaked until yesterday.
Any ideas? Thermostat stuck? Bad Cap? Or just a bad drain valve, and a coincidence?
Background:
1. Last weekend, I drained the old coolant, and flushed the system, using water only, as the old coolant was pretty clean. (I only changed it because I recently bought the tractor, and didn't know when it had been changed last.)
2. I also installed a thermostat - some Previous Owner had removed it.
3. Again, last weekend, put in new coolant/water mix, everything looked fine, no leaks, 'stat seemed to be operating.
4. Yesterday, I installed a new temperature gauge, as the old one wasn't working. (It looked like the cap tube was buggered up.)
NOTE: I didn't open the radiator drain to lower the coolant level - I used the block drain.
5. Ran tractor to confirm new gauge was working. (It was.)
6. An hour later, found about a quart of coolant on the garage floor, that looked to be coming from the radiator drain. It was still dripping, and did so whether drain was open or closed.
7. Replaced lower drain (that was fun) replaced coolant.
8. I haven't run the tractor again yet, because I didn't have time last night.
Please note: the radiator drain hadn't been opened since last weekend, and hadn't leaked until yesterday.
Any ideas? Thermostat stuck? Bad Cap? Or just a bad drain valve, and a coincidence?