3600 antifreeze leak

bweb · Jan 5, 2023

I have a 1976 3600 with the gas engine. When it gets extremely cold (10 degrees and below) it leaks a little antifreeze from the front of the tractor. It never loses any it other time. I have a pan underneath it and it looks like about a third of a cup. It's dripping off the front of the oil pan. I thought it was a radiator hose so I tightened that but it didn't help. Water pump maybe? It's so packed in there with the fan shroud and all I can't really see in there. Think I'll wait until it warms up a little to tear into it.

Old Ford Mechanic · Jan 5, 2023

Find you a pressure tester you can borrow. Pressurize the radiator and pay close attention to the water pump shaft and the thermostat housing. A shaft seal or housing gasket would be my guess. You said you tightened the top hose but, the pressure test will verify that also. A local parts supplier would rent you a pressure test kit.

Curt Cooke · Jan 6, 2023

Not that leaks shouldn't be investigated and cured but I've noticed that atmospheric conditions, including temperature changes, make for exposure of leaking points. Hydraulics and coolant that never leaked before suddenly leak when the temperature changes significantly. For instance, I have a JD B that has sat in my barn full of antifreeze solution all year long with no sign of any leakage. When the temp dropped to 5 degrees last week, suddenly there's antifreeze on the floor! Also, my 715 combine sat for weeks in the barn with no hydraulic leak(s) under the lift cylinders. Temperature drops and voila, leaking hydraulic oil. In short, I don't get excited until spring.

Tom in Mo. · Jan 6, 2023

I wouldn't be concerned, just keep an eye on it.
I have a Chevy S10 that drips antifreeze from a freeze plug around 10 degrees and less. Seals right up when it temps go back up.
Air conditioner compressors can lose their charge when it's that cold around the clutch pulley shaft seal.
Expansion and contraction.

Destroked 450 · Jan 6, 2023

We call them cold water leaks
Usually at a hose connection
Usually tightening a hose clamp will stop the leak but sometimes you have to remove the hose and clean the water neck
It was a pretty common thing on some of the older semi s with their larger hoses

Notices antifreeze on the floor under my 4000SU a couple times when it got cold in November and again recently
Look to be leaking around the bottom radiator hose connection

I ll keep an eye on coolant levels as it s not leaking bad enough to move it ahead of the 2 clutch jobs I have to do

3600 antifreeze leak

bweb

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Old Ford Mechanic

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Curt Cooke

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Tom in Mo.

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Destroked 450

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