Silver Bullet
Supercharged
A Question to the Captains. Last night I was checking the fluid levels on my 05 R3 and noted that the coolant was blue and on the minimum line. Is the coolant supposed to be blue or something else.
I have only seen this color coolant twice before, both occasions were in two new 07 John Deere Tractors purchased for Public Works. Upon inquiry with John Deere to identify the blue substance, they had no idea the coolant wasn't green (glycol base) and later determined it was a coolant supplied by Mercedes Benz for all JD Tractors now being built in Germany. Unfortunately this "blue" anti-freeze does not pass the litmus test we perform routinely for moly based anti-freeze which aids in cavitation prevention in linered engines. We drained/flushed and replaced the coolant with extended life CAT coolant to help manage any future issues with electrolysis and eliminate any doubt we had with the composition of the coolant supplied by JD. Is this blue coolant a European thing?
Since we have discussed water wetters and its function in the cooling system, what say ye with regard to this blue coolant in the R3? I do intend on testing it with strips this weekend to see if it meets Molybase standards for linered engines. Where does one find it? Should one just drain/flush and go with say....CAT extended life? It appears that the R3 has a linered engine? Thanks Don
I have only seen this color coolant twice before, both occasions were in two new 07 John Deere Tractors purchased for Public Works. Upon inquiry with John Deere to identify the blue substance, they had no idea the coolant wasn't green (glycol base) and later determined it was a coolant supplied by Mercedes Benz for all JD Tractors now being built in Germany. Unfortunately this "blue" anti-freeze does not pass the litmus test we perform routinely for moly based anti-freeze which aids in cavitation prevention in linered engines. We drained/flushed and replaced the coolant with extended life CAT coolant to help manage any future issues with electrolysis and eliminate any doubt we had with the composition of the coolant supplied by JD. Is this blue coolant a European thing?
Since we have discussed water wetters and its function in the cooling system, what say ye with regard to this blue coolant in the R3? I do intend on testing it with strips this weekend to see if it meets Molybase standards for linered engines. Where does one find it? Should one just drain/flush and go with say....CAT extended life? It appears that the R3 has a linered engine? Thanks Don
Last edited: