Cub Cadet 5254 Series - Manual (Page 42)

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• Turn the valve drain cock fully clockwise to
close the valve, and clean any residual oil from
the valve. Refer to Figure 53.
• Apply a light coating of clean oil on the gasket of
the new oil filter. Thread the filter on by hand
until the gasket contacts the filter mounting sur-
face, then tighten the filter an additional 3/4 turn.
• Refill the crankcase to the "FULL" mark on the
dipstick with the appropriate type oil.
• Reinstall the oil fill cap and dipstick.
• Start the engine and run for about 3 minutes.
Stop the engine and check for leaks at the oil
filter and drain valve.
• Recheck the oil level and, if needed, add oil to
bring the oil level up to the "FULL" mark.
WARNING: Never overfill the engine
crankcase. The engine may overheat
and/or damage may result. For best
results, fill to the “FULL” mark on the
dipstick as opposed to adding a given
quantity of oil. Always check the level
on the dipstick before adding more oil.
Dispose of used oil in an environmentally
safe manner. If necessary, contact your
area EPA office for proper disposal
procedures and recycling center locations.
IMPORTANT: The oil fill cap and dipstick must
always be installed securely in place when the
engine is running. Severe engine damage could
result from failure to do so.
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL
Before each use, the engine coolant level in the
overflow reservoir should be checked to ensure it is
within the operating range. Engine coolant absorbs
heat from the engine and transfers the heat to the
air flowing through the radiator. If the coolant level
becomes low, the engine may overheat and could
cause severe damage to the engine.
Use a permanent type antifreeze containing corro-
sion and rust inhibitors for cast iron engines and
aluminum radiators. Dilute the antifreeze with water
at a 1:1 ratio to mix the coolant solution (50% anti-
freeze : 50% water).
NOTE: Distilled water is recommended for the cool-
ant solution if your tap water has a high mineral
content. Minerals cause scaling in the engine and
the radiator coolant passages. System efficiency
will be greatly reduced over time and severe engine
damage may result.
• Check the coolant level when the engine is cold
and the tractor is on a level surface.
• Raise the tractor hood and check the coolant
level in the overflow reservoir on the left side of
the engine. Refer to Figure 54.
• If the coolant level is below the "L" (add) mark,
remove the cap from the reservoir and add
coolant solution to the "H" (full) mark.
NOTE: The cooling system is a closed type.
Normally, to prevent air from entering the system,
the radiator cap should not be removed.
If the overflow reservoir is empty, the remote
radiator cap should be removed and the coolant
level in the radiator checked before adding coolant
to the reservoir. If necessary, first refill the system
through the remote filler neck as follows:
WARNING: It is dangerous to remove
the radiator cap when the system is
hot. Allow the system to cool before
removing the radiator cap.
• Turn the remote radiator cap counterclockwise
to the first stop to release any pressure. See
Figure 55.
• Push downward on the cap and turn counter-
clockwise until the cap stops then lift cap off.
Figure 55
• Slowly pour coolant into the remote filler neck
until the level reaches the bottom of the filler
neck overflow flange.
• Wait a few minutes to allow as much air as
possible to escape through the filler neck, then
reinstall the radiator cap.
• Fill the overflow reservoir to the "H" (full) mark.
• Start the engine and allow it to run for a short
period. Stop the engine.
• Recheck the coolant level in the overflow
reservoir and refill as needed. Reinstall the
reservoir cap.
REMOTE
RADIATOR
CAP
REMOTE
FILLER
NECK
REMOTE
HOSE
OVERFLOW
HOSE