Coolant questions

[windetch]

Finally got around to getting my L185 out to mow an overgrown field.

It did great, except that ~ 2 hours in (I was mowing slow, 3rd low) I noticed the steering rod was damp and a trickle of fluid was flowing out the whistle. Shut it down and let it cool, the flying debris had fully coated the radiator's screen. I knew about checking the screen, didn't think it'd fill that fast. Lesson learned eh.

It emptied most of the top reservoir but there was still a bit in there, enough to cover the bottom. I topped it off with spare green antifreeze (premix) I had for my truck and finished mowing.

I haven't changed out the antifreeze yet so after this I figured I might as well.
It had green antifreeze in it, is that the same as the green automotive antifreeze (hopefully)?

Stopped by Tractor Supply Co. and they had Rotella ELC "Extended Life" Antifreeze / Engine Coolant. Broke the seal when I got home and it's... red.
From a brief Google search it appears that this can be run in place of green, even if some residual green remains. I drained the existing (came out clear, looked fine) and refilled with distilled water. Ran for ~20 min so the water circulated a bit then drained it. Fluid is coming out nice and clean, radiator looks to be the only replacement part on this tractor.

So yeah, I tried searching here but didn't come up with anything.
Would I be better off getting a new thing of green or am I alright running the Rotella ELC red stuff?

Also, when the coolant is hot enough to come out the whistle how much damage did I do?
Obviously not something to repeat, but I killed it as soon as I noticed and it appears to be running fine at the moment.

 

[Blkvoodoo]

first off, your machine is old enough that it won't have a recovery tank also so known as a an expansion tank.
When engine and coolant get hot, the expansion of the fluid has to go somewhere, yours goes out the tube and onto the ground ( older vehicles did this for many years ), technically it is pollution, you will NOT keep the radiator FULL because of this. it will always be "low" when you check it, it is normal for this type of system. If the rest of the system is up to par, it will go so low and stop, this will be the normal level. You could add a recovery tank, if you have the room, and it wouldn't be an issue.

As for which coolant, there is a whole science and chemistry lesson that goes with which coolant to use.

Green coolant, Red coolant, Yellow coolant, usually don't mix well, good way to end up with mud/sludge in your cooling system and cause gasket or other failures you would never think would be related.

Green antifreeze (the old normal) stay with it in this machine, cost wise it's most affordable, and it what the machine was designed to use. If you have a brass radiator, stay with this.

Red, couple different types of Red/orange coolant, DEXcool ( used in CAT, GM and a few other brands ) doesn't mix well with green, has a different chemical makeup. it is designed for the multiple types of metals used in modern engines, helps control electrolysis which will eat a radiator and gaskets from the inside out. newer engines with aluminum radiators, heads are susceptible to "galvanic corrosion" some even have a sacrificial anode ( like a boat or ship does ) to help slow this action down. ( mid '90's GM trucks had a Zinc coupler in the intake for the heater hose connection, is exactly what this was for, put in a steel replacement, you'll be replacing the heater core and or radiator a couple months later )

There are "ANYTHING" coolants out there, I wouldn't use them in my own junk.

 

[windetch]

Sure, I get there might be a little leakage due to the lack of an expansion tank, but in this case my little Kubota got a bit too hot (blocked radiator), so it emptied out most of the small reservoir built into the top of the radiator.

And thanks for the rundown on coolant types.
I'll just pick up a new thing of green on my way home, my '94 F150 runs green so I've always got a little spare on hand anyways.

Agreed on the "Universal" coolants, not entirely sure why they exist when color matching is simple enough.